As an avid spa-goer, visiting Mii amo Spa at Enchantment Resort, had been on my short list for quite some time. After all, you don’t rack up a laundry list of accolades ranging from the “#1 Destination Spa in the World” by Travel + Leisure, “10 Best Destination Spas” by Condé Nast Traveler, or recognition from big hitters such as Spa Finder, Andrew Harper, and the Travel Channel, if you’re not doing everything right.
After our all-too-brief stay, my only complaint would be the name. Maybe it’s just me, but I was totally confused trying to figure out the difference between Enchantment Resort and Mii amo, and where I should make reservations. To best explain the difference between the two is that the mother property, Enchantment Resort, sprawls over 70 acres of gorgeously rugged terrain. It’s the gateway to Boynton Canyon and is surrounded by the Coconino National Forest and Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. You are very much secluded yet still only five miles from the touristy town of Sedona.
Luxury accommodations come in a myriad of mountainside adobe that blend into the terrain and offerings range from deluxe studios casitas to one- or two-bedroom suites, and suites with private pools or full haciendas. Each room offers an outdoor deck for enjoying the views of Sedona's magnificent red-rock mountains, and inside you’ll find a bee-hive fireplace, mini-bar, coffee maker, complimentary high-speed internet, in-room movies, and twice-daily housekeeping service. Complimentary bottled water, a newspaper and orange juice are delivered daily.
Tucked into a corner of the property, right across the path from the resort, you’ll find Mii amo, a world-class 24,000-square-foot destination spa. As a guest of Enchantment, you’ll have full access to its facilities, including locker rooms, steam and sauna rooms, a whirlpool, fitness room, the crystal grotto and meditation space among other amenities. There are also activities available like exercise classes, art lessons, cooking demos, and programs by visiting experts.
Okay, now this is where it gets a little tricky. If, however, you’re in the mood for some serious cocooning, don’t play nicely with others or just never want to change out of your gym clothes, Mii amo also offers a separate all-inclusive package for guests following three-, four- and seven-night programs called Journeys. Journeys are inclusive of accommodations at one of their 14 guest rooms and two suites, three daily meals at Mii amo Café, two spa treatments each day, consultations, fitness classes, lectures, and use of the facilities.
In a nutshell, think of a stay at Enchantment as an à la carte proposal while the all-inclusive Mii amo package means you can totally turn off your brain since your meals, activities and spa services are all covered. After we arrived at the hotel and received a sincerely gracious welcome; dropped off our luggage in the spacious, casually-chic casita; and headed outside, we were almost dumbstruck by the singular, raw beauty of the majestic, red-rock cliffs.
The beauty also extends to its variety of restaurants on the property. You can enjoy a sophisticated, gourmet meal at their signature restaurant, Che-Ah-Chi, watch the sunset over drinks at the stylish Wine Bar, or for a more casual bite, stop in for Southwestern food at Tii Gavo. Mii amo Café serves a constantly changing menu full of healthy choices and fresh produce picked daily from the chef’s garden.
Dinner at Che-Ah-Chi (which means Red Rocks), rocked with its stunning floor-to-ceiling canyon views, the guitar player strumming softly, the friendly and professional service, and Chef David Schmidt’s Southwest accented contemporary American cuisine. Along with the food, they’re curated wine list has received Wine Spectator's "Best of Award of Excellence;” and all have joined forces to ensure a truly memorable dining experience.
Standout dishes include the Fois Gras starter enhanced by a dusting of Ras El Hanout and a smear of currant and rosemary honey, the Local Little Gem Lettuce Caesar salad sprinkled with crunchy eggplant croutons, and an intensely flavorful dish of Diver Sea Scallops, on saffron pasta, with short rib ragout and tomato confit.
Aside from dining, as you would expect, Mii amo’s outdoor activities abound in this beautiful location. The hiking program is top-notch and our favorite Red Rock hike was led by Roy, a clinical psychologist as well as an avid outdoorsman. I doubt there’s anything that he doesn’t know about the local flora, fauna and Native Americans. After spending a fascinating couple hours with him, we learned how to make needle and thread from a yucca plant (as well as about 18 other survival tips utilizing yucca), tasted different flours he ground from Manzanita and juniper berry, and marveled over the beautiful arrowheads, sandals, and other trinkets he had carved from a homemade knife. Roy is so knowledgeable that a local Native American tribe reached out to him to teach their teenage boys survival skills. Check which hike he’s guiding and be sure to sign up in advance, since they only allow six people on each hike.
Another crown jewel at the hotel is Gita Wagner, a licensed massage therapist and healer. Wagner has studied in Europe, India, and Africa with extensive training in Spiritual Therapy, holistic massage and Body Oriented Psychotherapy Trainings and Meditation. Neither of her workshops, The Time is Now and Food for the Soul (for women to explore the forgotten art of nourishing oneself), were available during our stay, but I had timed it right for a Spirit of the New Moon spa treatment.
The 90 minutes of sheer bliss is offered exclusively on days surrounding the new moon, which Wagner explained is the perfect time for manifesting your deepest desires and wishes. This powerful treatment begins with a footbath while writing down your intention on parchment. This is followed by a full body and scalp massage to stimulate mental function, activate intuition and enhance inner guidance. It was wonderful.
Needless to say, with everything this hotel has to offer and its array of accolades singing it’s spa’s praises, we will definitely be returning. And hopefully, very, very soon.
