Sedona hotels

I’ve visited many Sedona resorts on wellness retreats. Enchantment Resort, one of the best luxury hotels in Sedona, stands out for its beautiful setting, abundant amenities and top-notch spa. Located in Boynton Canyon, one of Sedona’s famed vortex sites, which are believed to give healing energy, the resort is surrounded by red sandstone formations that change colour throughout the day.

The resort’s Mii amo Spa specializes in transformational “journeys” with experiences such as meditation in a crystal grotto, astrology, aura photography, and, my favourite, craniosacral therapy, which is supposed to balance energy and reduce stress. Southwestern-inspired casita guest rooms and suites with patios or decks overlook the canyon.

One of the best things about staying at Enchantment is exploring the canyon. Guests can hike and bike for miles. Stop and marvel at the Kachina Woman spire, where the vortex energy is supposed to be strongest.

L’Auberge de Sedona sits on the banks of meandering Oak Creek. Accommodations include lodge-style guest rooms and luxury cottages with Sedona’s best showers. In the open-roof cedar showers, guests stay warm while enjoying the desert’s cool outdoor air and clear sky views.

The resort’s wellness experiences include grounding custom body treatments at L’Apothecary Spa and immersive experiences verging on the metaphysical, such as sound healing sessions and astrology readings.

One of the best hotels in Sedona for art lovers, the resort hosts a “living” art gallery curated by Goldenstein Gallery. You can often see local artists working on their craft around the property.

While it feels secluded, L’Auberge de Sedona is just minutes from Uptown’s restaurants, art galleries and new-wave shops where browsing healing crystals in every shape and colour is a must.

Sedona visitors looking for natural beauty and authentic experiences should consider The Wilde Resort & Spa at the base of Thunder Mountain.

It’s as good for outdoor recreation as it is for wellness. The property’s lush green gardens, courtyards and labyrinth contrast beautifully with the red rock landscape surrounding the hotel.

The Wilde is close to Sugar Loaf and Soldier’s Pass trailheads, and there are tons of fun on-property activities such as yoga, cocktail classes, storytelling around the fire pits and stargazing.

The property is one of the best hotels in Sedona for travellers looking to explore the region. Many off-property excursions are offered, like wine tasting, kayaking in the Verde Valley and a day trip to the Grand Canyon. The 105 contemporary guest rooms and suites feature saturated colours and fun patterns. Of course, the Wilde has a wonderful spa, too, where an outdoor soak is a necessity.

Tucked next to the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, El Portal Sedona is one of the best hotels in Sedona for travellers who want to be transported south of the border. The outdoor mall with courtyards and fountains is patterned after Guadalajara.

With adobe Arts and Crafts architecture, rustic wood accents and Native American artwork, the hotel feels more Old World than other hotels and resorts in Sedona, but I loved how this tied in nicely with the surroundings on my visit.

Specializing in unpretentious luxury, the hotel offers personalized concierge services and guest rooms with handmade furniture, cashmere blankets and Egyptian cotton lines. The owners clearly want the hotel to feel more like a home away from home than a traditional hotel.

El Portal Sedona has many common indoor and outdoor areas, with comfortable furniture and fireplaces for guests to relax and socialize.

Marriot’s healthy lifestyle brand, Element, is a good fit for Sedona’s active and wellness-loving culture and one of the best hotels in Sedona for travellers looking for good value.

The hotel’s clean-lined design and natural materials complement rather than detract from the landscape. Comfortable and functional, accommodations offer plenty of space, cozy bedding and amenities like fully equipped kitchens, so guests feel at home.

Guests always start their day with a complimentary full American breakfast with eggs, cereal and fresh fruit. This provides needed fuel for outdoor adventures like hiking to Devil's Arch. It's a little over 30 minutes from the hotel to the trailhead. The highlight is standing atop the arch with panoramic canyon views.

You can also find ways to unwind and recharge on the property, which has a fitness centre with ellipticals, exercise bikes, free weights, a swimming pool and relaxing outdoor spaces.

Perched on a hillside, Sedona Views Bed and Breakfast offers expansive views of red rock and evergreen tree-covered Oak Creek Canyon from every vantage point.

One of the best hotels in Sedona for personalised service, Sedona Views hosts make guests feel welcome by offering insights into local culture and recommendations for what to do, see and eat.

Guest rooms, all suites, are larger and more lavish than the typical bed and breakfast, with warm wood floors, large picture windows and fireplaces. The Morning Glory suite even has a two-tiered patio with a hot tub and Cathedral Rock views, one of Sedona’s most recognizable landmarks.

Adjacent to Coconino National Forest, it’s not unusual to see deer grazing on the property, but the hotel is only half a mile to Uptown. The hosts know the best restaurants, like Elote Café. I'll never forget the slow-roasted duck carnitas with pastilla chile sauce. It is a revelation.

Situated on Airport Mesa, one of Sedona’s famed vortex sites, Sky Ranch Lodge is a secluded escape and one of the best hotels in Sedona for travellers looking to disconnect and escape into nature. The lodge has beautifully manicured gardens where you can stroll and relax in outdoor seating areas. The panoramic views of Sedona’s red rock formations are stunning.

The 94 hotel rooms are earthy and elegant, with wood-beamed or vaulted ceilings, leather chairs and soft throws. Try to snag one with a brick fireplace. The family who owns Sky Ranch is keyed into guests’ needs. A lobby workstation and a complimentary shuttle will take guests anywhere within an eight-kilometre radius from 2 pm to 10 pm. The wine bar in a 1970s airstream is simply one of the most fun places to toast a day of adventure in Sedona.

"Tree Lodge" is the theme of Amara Resort & Spa, a social and central resort on the verdant banks of Oak Creek. Wood, rock and natural materials cover every surface. Guest rooms are contemporary, with pops of navy and wooden headboards.

One of the best hotels in Sedona for wellness, the luxurious spa offers fun treatments, from a wrap where turquoise clay sage infused with lavender is applied to the skin to an aromatherapy massage.

Walking to art galleries, restaurants and shops like Blackbird Vintage (where you can score vintage concert tees and leather jackets) is easy, but there are reasons to stay put like the infinity edge pool and the hotel’s SaltRock Southwest Kitchen. It serves mouthwatering Mexican cuisine and creative cocktails with agave spirits. The Desert Oasis with tequila, Aperol and prickly pear is one of the most well-balanced cocktails in Sedona.

With red-tiled roofs and a colour to match Sedona’s red rock landscape, Las Posadas Inn feels refreshingly authentic and at one with the landscape. The property, one of the best hotels in Sedona for reflecting its cultural heritage, features traditional adobe architecture, rustic decor, and local artwork.

Villas and suites have residential style and cozy comforts like fireplaces and fresh-baked cookies. Rooms with private balconies or patios have views of red rock formations or the inn’s gardens, where guests can enjoy Sedona’s pleasant weather.

The inn is a short drive from golf courses and hiking trails, like the Broken Arrow trail. I love this moderate trail for a run with red rock views, but it can be very hot in the summer.

Next to a Coconino National Forest, this laid-back hotel offers access to the outdoors and the town’s centre. The Marg’s Draw Trailhead is just down the street, but it’s a four-minute drive to downtown and attractions like Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, one of my favourite places to shop in Sedona, and the Sedona Arts Center.

The hotel has different accommodation options, including standard rooms, suites and cottages with modern amenities and cozy furnishings. The two seasonal outdoor pools with shaded patios with tables and chairs for lounging provide a comfortable retreat after exploring Sedona. Business travellers will appreciate the lobby's computers and printers. As a bonus, parking is free, with room for large vehicles.

There’s complimentary breakfast and an on-site Mexican restaurant. Arabella Hotel Sedona is also one of the best hotels in Sedona for pets, with complimentary dog treats and a dog park on-site.