Castle Hot Springs All-Inclusive Resort, Arizona, Hotel Review

I arrived with my husband at Castle Hot Springs on Thursday evening around 10:30. We were in the hot springs within an hour. 106-degree water poured over reddish-brown rocks and into a 4-foot-deep pool. We couldn’t see stars—the sky was cloudy—but to make up for it, we were treated to a light drizzle and a show of water droplets bouncing on the pool’s surface. We used pool noodles to lean our faces up towards the rain.

We were following a guide up the 400-foot Castle Peak on the resort’s via ferrata. I clipped my carabiner into a steel wire and hauled myself to where my husband had left. The resort’s via-ferrata led us up the 400 foot Castle Peak. The trail veers to the west face of the mountain at half way (so 200 feet above the ground with a harness). You can’t see the climber ahead of you until you bravely follow them up a vertical hairpin to the opposite side of Castle Peak.

My husband shouted “Good thing we’ve already figured our life insurance out,” as he disappeared from my view.

This was our very first trip together since our nine-month old son was born. It was a good time to face our mortality, and I suppose, it’s never too late.

Castle Hot Springs is a great place for couples to get away. Getting to the resort is seamless—we took a JSX flight from Burbank to Scottsdale, where a black car arranged by the resort picked us up. We were soaking in remote hot springs just four hours after we kissed our son goodbye—and spent a glorious three days getting massages at the spa, enjoying three-course meals with farm-fresh ingredients at the restaurant, and playing pickleball (my husband won if you’re counting the points, though I think my superior gameplay transcends score).

Every night after dinner, we’d have cocktails by the fire while listening to live music—the blues pianist who played on our last night was particularly memorable—and then change into swimsuits and hop a golf cart ride up to the hot springs for a soak under the stars before bed.

Here, my full review of Castle Hot Springs—which is, in my opinion, one of the most luxurious all-inclusive resorts in the world.

The Rooms

Castle Hot Springs offers only 31 accommodation options, most of which are independent. My husband and I stayed at Castle Hot Springs for the second time. We chose a 575 square foot Spring Bungalow with a covered porch, a fireplace on both sides, and a large bathroom. The patio looks out over a babbling stream, which is charming. However, it’s not as lovely as the outdoor stone soaking tubs filled with mineral water from the hot springs.

Sky View Cabins come in smaller versions, measuring 378 square feet. They have two twin beds or one king-size. Each cabin has its own patio but is slightly raised from the ground. This makes it less accessible for people with disabilities.

There are also two accommodations with multiple bedrooms. A historic cottage, painted a vibrant yellow, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and the top floor of the main inn—which houses the check-in area, bar, and restaurant—also features three bedrooms.

Food and Drink 

Bar 1896 and Harvest restaurant are both in the stunning main lodge—a bright-yellow fixture flanked by a pool, a meadow with a greenhouse and string lights, and a lovely herb garden.

Harvest serves five-course meals each evening and has a reliable à la carte menu at breakfast and lunch. At dinner, the third course is always a surprise “farm-inspired chef creation”—usually a well-prepared garden vegetable—and chef Chris Knouse does a particularly delicious soup course. Although not Michelin starred, the food is excellent and far superior to what you’d expect from an all-inclusive resort, even if it costs more.

At the bar, they brew their own lager with—get this—mineral water from the hot springs. Ian Beger, Castle Hot Springs’s agronomist who manages the site’s 300+ vegetables, fruits and herbs, grows agave for house mezcal. At the moment, however, bartenders make good use of high-quality mezcal when making the Sonoran old fashioned. The bartenders serve two other old-fashioned variations, one with bourbon and the other with rye. They also have a selection of signature cocktail and mocktails. The coquito mocktail with coconut, cinnamon and chai was my favorite, but I also liked the cocktails made using the fresh flowers and herbs.

Activities and Experiences

This resort is more than hot springs, via ferrata and a spa. a schedule of daily activities. Over two visits to Castle Hot Springs (one in 2021, the other in spring ‘25), I’ve tried most of them and highly recommend Rise and Shine yoga and the farm tour, which includes a look at the impressive on-property greenhouse. Other activities include guided hikes, e-bike rides (on my most recent trip, my husband and myself chose to self-guide a walk along the Castle Canyon trail from the lower barn of the hotel up to the entrance of Crater Canyon), and sound baths. Some of the activities, like paddleboard-yoga, are seasonal. I did it during my visit in 2021 and would highly recommend it.

Upon arrival, you will be given a list of available activities. Some, like wine-tasting and ebiking are charged extra. The rates for these range from $50 per person up to $250 per individual. They also give you a hiking map—the trails around the resort are beautiful and range from an easy walk to a fairly steep hike to a 400-foot summit.

The resort has a few other amenities, including a swimming pool that isn’t given much attention. It’s not as impressive as the hot springs, a patch of green grass where golfers can hit balls across the sparkling pond, pickleball courts, and the firepits that are scattered throughout the 1,100-acre property.

The Spa

The Spa is a collection treatment tents along with a creek which provides the soundtrack for your massage, body wrap, or facial. When I have visited the spa with my husband, we’ve had a couple’s massage and I added CBD oil to our massage. The two times I visited the spa, I felt relaxed enough to go straight back to my hotel room and take a nap. The spa has an adventure massage and a Thai sports massage that is meant to finish off a hiking or biking day. It also offers a 60-minute Watsu in the hot springs pools.

Family Friendly Offerings 

The resort is not family friendly—it’s only for guests age 18 or older.

Accessibility and sustainability

There are two ADA-compliant bedrooms and all common spaces are accessible. The resort is situated on an incline and the hotsprings are located at the top of the hill. The hot springs are accessible by wheelchair-friendly golf carts.

There are three aspects to sustainability The resort has acres of farmland from which it sources the majority of its produce. In order to reduce the amount of plastic used for single-use, each guest receives a Yeti bottle that they can refill and take with them. The resort also has charging stations for electric cars and a recycling program.

Location

You don’t come to Castle Hot Springs to explore the surrounding area—you come to stay at the resort and never leave. The three incredible hot springs pools, the excellent restaurant and the wide range of activities available would make you want to stay at Castle Hot Springs.

It’s hard to leave, too. The resort is located down a bumpy dirt track, and it takes about 30 minutes to drive on a winding unpaved road. For those who are car-sick or just want to arrive in luxury, you can arrange for a 15 minute helicopter transfer at the Scottsdale Airport which is located 47 miles away. After our stay concluded on Sunday, my husband took me and landed the helicopter on the lawn in front of an outdoor dining terrace. I’ve never felt more pampered.

The Best Value for Your Stay

Castle Hot Springs doesn’t have a loyalty programme, but is a part of the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts Network, which offers guests $100 resort credit as well as early check-in and late checkout.

Castle Hot Springs offers all-inclusive rates starting at $1,875. The price does not include alcohol, certain adventure sports, or private resort tours. The only days that guests can arrive are Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday. They must also stay for a minimum two nights.

Each T+L hotel is reviewed by a reporter or editor who has visited the hotel. The hotels are chosen based on our core values.