Arizona The Grand Canyon State has been a popular wellness destination in the US for decades. Since decades, tourists have flocked to the Grand Canyon State in search of rest and rejuvenation, enjoying a warm, dry climate, while admiring stunning desert landscapes. Recently, a new wave of modern wellness resorts has appeared, from boutique hotels to mega-resorts. Some of these offer guests amenities such as mineral-spring-fed soaking bathtubs, in-room spa services, and beautifully groomed golf course. The “World’s Best Awards”, a survey conducted this year, showed that wellness getaways were the most popular. Travel + Leisure The readers have chosen the very best.
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Voting is a Simple Process
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 readers of T+L completed the survey for 2025. More than 657,000 votes have been cast in total across 8,700 properties.).
The criteria used to rate hotels included: their location, amenities and rating.
- Rooms/facilities
- Location
- Service
- Food
- You can also value
The respondents were asked to rate each characteristic. They could select excellent, superior, average, inferior, or poor. The final scores are the averages of all these responses.
Castle Hot Springs
What Readers Loved
Resorts are a great way to relax and unwind. Scottsdale The 2025 winners, who dominated Arizona’s World’s Best Awards in 2018, are located all over the state. They include cities like Sedona Tucson and Phoenix. Scottsdale has long had a reputation for being a popular retreat destination. Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale, No. Readers praised No.2, which was ranked eighth, for its “amazing staff, views and service.”
And while many properties on this list tout their wellness offerings, some hotels, like The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa (No. Families are also a priority for number 8. “My kids love the Kids Club at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa,” one reader shared. They have visited many kids clubs, but this is their favorite. Janet is very friendly and helpful. “The only thing that is bad about the kids’ club is that they never want to leave.”
Over in SedonaL’Auberge de Sedona, No. 3) offers another solid choice for a relaxing Arizonan retreat—one person described it as a “one-of-a-kind property.” Children are welcome, but it may be more suitable for older children (or very well behaved ones). One review even recommended that it was the ideal place to stay for a romantic weekend. A reader described the hotel as “incredibly relaxing and romance with beautiful views, great spa and delicious restaurant.” The perfect place to stay when in Sedona.
One hotel has topped the list this year, and our readers have been following it for a while. Read on to discover who won the top spot. You can also see the entire list.
The Winner
Castle Hot Springs in Morristown, Arizona
Castle Hot Springs
T + L Reader
The food was excellent, as were the service and grounds. There is nowhere else like it. [I] We highly recommend.
— T + L Reader
The winner of this year’s award also won in 2024. Castle Hot Springs Morristown is located in Arizona. The all-inclusive, 31-room resort is about an hour’s drive north of Phoenix. The majority of accommodations are standalone, with some featuring outdoor soaking bathtubs, cozy fireplaces and private patios. However, as the name implies, this property is perhaps best known for its three on-site hot springs, the hottest of which bubbles away at a toasty 106°F. There are also a number of other unique activities that guests can enjoy, such as guided farm tours, a via ferrrata-inspired climbing experience, sunrise yoga and guided farm visits (where many of the hotel’s ingredients come from). It’s important to note that children are not permitted, which could be a deal-breaker for some. A T+L reader said, “This is one the most beautiful and unique properties in the United States.” “The grounds are beautiful, the service is excellent, and the food was fantastic. The place is unique and there’s nothing else like it. [I] “Highly recommend”
The full list
1. Castle Hot SpringsMorristown
Reader Score: 96.71
2. Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale
Reader Score: 93.45%
3. L’Auberge de SedonaSedona
Reader Score: 93.17
4. Royal Palms Resort and Spa, part of The Unbound Collection by HyattPhoenix
Reader Score: 92.63%
5. Enchantment ResortSedona
Reader Score 92.62
6. Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, a Gurney’s Resort & SpaScottsdale
Reader Score: 92.16
7. The Ritz-Carlton, Dove MountainMarana
Reader Score: 91.81
8. The Westin La Paloma Resort & SpaTucson
Reader Score: 90.86
9. Hotel Valley HoScottsdale
Reader Score: 90.00
10. Andaz Scottsdale Resort & BungalowsScottsdale
Reader Score: 89.68
