douglas friedman

Welcome to Checking In. In this new review series, our editors and contributors rate the best new (and renovated) luxury hotels based on a strict, and sometimes tongue-in-cheek, 10-point system. If you answer “yes” to each question, you will receive a rating. one point. Could you bring me some caviar from room service? Does your suite have a personal butler? Does the bathroom have a bidet? See below.

Describe the hotel in three words: Peaceful, restorative rest.

What happened?

On this page, Mii Amo may sound a little silly (Gwyneth Paltrow stays here, after all), but it's a destination spa and resort in Sedona, Arizona. has the authority to back up that claim. Originally he opened in 2001, but starting in 2021 he closed for two years and reopened in early 2023 after a $40 million renovation. In addition to revamping long-standing amenities (an outdoor pool with views of the surrounding area, a signature spa area), Mii Amo has expanded in size by 40%, adding seven new casitas, bringing the total number of rooms to 23. I did. , a two-story gym and fitness studio.

Before arriving at your property, you will communicate with a 'tour guide' who will design an experience tailored to your specific needs and wishes. All-inclusive trips (3, 4, 7, or 10 days) include daily credits to use in your room, spa or trail house, specialty programs such as lectures or fitness classes, and 1 credit at the restaurant. Includes 3 meals a day and juice. smoothies etc. Plus, it's located in Boynton Canyon, one of his four “Energy Vortex” sites in Sedona, made of stunningly beautiful red rock. Although you don't pay for it naturally, it is one of the most amazing added perks of staying at Mii Amo.

The Best Room

Our two-bedroom luxury suites have more amenities than any other room, and space to sleep up to six people looking to travel together. Inside you'll find a separate living room with a fireplace, two bathrooms and a private massage room, so you don't even have to venture to the main spa to solve all your troubles. The private outdoor courtyard has a fireplace and Jacuzzi, and an outdoor shower is the perfect place to cool off after hiking the surrounding trails.

However, even the small rooms are well equipped and sufficient for solo travelers or couples. Fireplaces are common, and you can curl up on a daybed on your private patio for an afternoon nap. My bathroom had a spacious walk-in shower and soaking tub, and I enjoyed late-night dessert and tea there one evening. What more could you ask for on vacation?

rundown

Did they greet you by name when you checked in?

Yes, but they gave me a head start after my car checked in at the security checkpoint and before driving to the entrance. A Mii Amo staff member met us at our car, retrieved our luggage, and allowed us to leave it in our room before completing check-in at the front desk.

Was the welcome drink ready and waiting for you when you arrived? (Bonus points for anything other than fruit juice).

yes. As I waited for someone to help me, I was offered a cup of elderberry hibiscus iced tea. Alcohol is also served in the restaurant, but don't expect champagne on arrival at a spa where many guests will be aiming to detox.

Does each room have its own butler?

No, but the staff at Mii Amo are very courteous. After only a day, several of them knew my name and understood my preferences, including where I liked to sit in the restaurant. The staff to guest ratio is high, as evidenced by the fact that he has three staff members for every one traveling guest.

Is the sheet count 300 or higher?

The 100% cotton Filidoro sheets have a thread count of just 300. The fluffy cloud-like bed was the dreamiest landing pad after a spa service, like moving from one relaxing and supportive resting place to another.

Is there floor heating in the bathroom? What about bidets?

It's true that the bathroom floor is heated, which isn't really needed during the day, but is very helpful at night when desert temperatures drop. There's no bidet here, but I personally didn't miss it.

Are the amenities full size?

surely. The spa's signature Body Bliss full-size shampoo, conditioner, and body gel are located by the shower and tub, along with bath salts. Of course, there are robes for going out, as well as robes that are recommended to be worn during your stay, while traveling between services, and even to dinner. All the guests on the trip are relaxing and eating steak, so you can see who is staying in her Mii Amo and who has just arrived at the restaurant.

Do you have a private pool for your room? What about a spa or gym?

As mentioned earlier, the larger luxury suites come with a Jacuzzi in their own private courtyard. Otherwise, you should use a shared pool. During my stay, guests at the adjacent Enchantment Resort were using the pool as that property was closed, but guests at My Amo had a reserved seating area overlooking the surrounding red rocks.

As for the spa – haha! Considering Mii Amo is all about spas, it's definitely worth it. Services range from the more conventional (deep tissue massages, facials) to the more glamorous (hypnosis, Reiki, past life regression). I tried hypnosis, and while it didn't really work for me, some of the other guests had surprisingly positive experiences that they never expected. My personal favorite is the Desert Mist Body Renewal, a 2+ hour experience of scrubs, wraps and massages that will leave you feeling like a new baby. Additionally, traveling guests have access to a private room where a team member will escort them to their treatment. Take in the views while relaxing under a warm blanket. It doesn't get any better than this.

For me, relaxation and spa treatments took precedence over exercise, but I also enjoyed hiking the two trails on site. Then one morning I decided to take a Bosu Ball class at the fitness studio. Since I was the only one who showed up, I basically got a session with a private trainer. For those wanting a full-fledged gym, there was a spacious gym on the first floor that seemed to have everything you need to work up a sweat.

Why not spend your Friday night at the lobby bar?

There is also a bar that serves wine and liquor at night, but during the day we often visited for juices and smoothies. You can make your own or pair it with resort concoctions like Refresher (pineapple, acai, mango, coconut water) and Golden Glow (turmeric, yogurt, pineapple, raw honey, hemp seeds). Replacing your nightly cocktail with a fresh juice will make falling asleep and waking up much easier.

Is caviar on the room service menu? If so, what is it like?

Mii Amo does not have a separate room service menu. In fact, with advance notice, you can have a meal from Hummingbird restaurant delivered to your private casita whenever you want. This is especially useful if you're having a treatment at dinnertime and want to eat later. Although caviar itself isn't served (although the team might be able to make something up), there is caviar from France's Sturia, currently served with the potato gnocchi appetizer and the diver scallop appetizer. The rest of the menu is fairly light, with salads, fish and grain bowls for lunch and hand-cut spinach pasta and duck breast for dinner. The restaurant staff was kind enough to see me off on the two-hour journey to the Phoenix airport with a breakfast burrito.

Would you buy a hotel if you could?

definitely. I received more spa treatments and personalized care in one weekend than I will probably receive in the rest of my life. The calming aura of both Mii Amo and Sedona will definitely have a wonderful impact on my physical and mental health. And there's nothing more elegant than walking around in a robe all day. It definitely helped me get used to it.

Score: 9/10

What our scores mean:

1-3: Fire your travel agent if they recommend you stay here.
4-6: Solid in a pinch, but only in a pinch.
7-8: Very good. We would stay here again and recommend it without any hesitation.
9-10: Forget about weekly reservations. When will I be able to live permanently?

Prices start at $1,400 and include three meals a day (excluding alcohol), daily spa credit, and access to fitness and movement classes.