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

My husband and I got to Castle Hot Springs at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday night. Within an hour, we were wading into the hottest of the resort’s three springs, where 106-degree mineral water pours over burnt red-colored rocks into a four-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 grabbed pool noodles and used them to lean back, faces turned up toward the soft rain.

Less than 12 hours later, I was standing on a metal rung, clipping my carabiner onto a steel wire, and hauling myself up to the rocky perch my husband had just vacated. We were following a guide up the 400-foot Castle Peak on the resort’s via ferrata. Halfway up the trail (so, 200 feet off the ground in a harness), the course veers onto the western face of the mountain, and the climber in front of you disappears from view until you’re brave enough to follow them around a vertical hairpin turn to the other side of Castle Peak.

“Good thing we already figured out our life insurance,” my husband yelled as he vanished from my sight.

This was our first trip as a couple since our son, now nine months old, was born. And, I guess, as good a time as any to confront our own mortality.

Back on solid ground, over lunch salads with red-leaf lettuce and radishes from the on-site farm, we agreed: there are few places better for a couples’ getaway than Castle Hot Springs. 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 has only 31 accommodations, and most of them are standalone. This was my husband and my second stay at the resort, and we once again opted for a 575-square-foot Spring Bungalow, which has a covered patio, a double-sided fireplace, and a spacious bathroom. The patio overlooks a babbling brook, which I find thoroughly charming, though not nearly as charming as the stone outdoor soaking tubs that fill with mineral water directly from the hot springs.

There are also lovely standalone Sky View Cabins, which are slightly smaller, at 378 square feet, and have either two twin beds or a king-size bed. Each has a private patio, but they are slightly raised off the ground, and much less ideal for the mobility impaired.

Finally, there are two multi-bedroom accommodations. 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. While not Michelin-starred fare, it is well-executed fine dining and certainly several steps above what you would expect at any all-inclusive, even at the highest price point.

At the bar, they brew their own lager with—get this—mineral water from the hot springs. Castle Hot Springs’ agronomist, Ian Beger, who oversees more than 300 vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers grown on-site, is also growing agave to produce house mezcal. For the moment, though, the bartenders are making good use of top-shelf mezcal in the Sonoran old-fashioned. They serve two more old-fashioned variations (one rye, one bourbon) alongside a nice selection of signature cocktails and mocktails. My favorite mocktail was the coquito, with oat milk, coconut, cinnamon, chai, and nutmeg, though I was also partial to the cocktails that made use of the home-grown flower and herb garnishes.

Activities and Experiences

Beyond the hot springs and the via ferrata, the resort has 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. There are also e-bike tours, guided hikes (on our most recent visit, my husband and I opted for a self-guided walk from the hotel’s lower barn along Castle Canyon trail to the entrance of Crater Canyon), sound baths, and a whole lot more. Some of the activities are seasonal, such as paddleboard yoga, which I tried during my 2021 visit and highly recommend.

Upon check-in, the team greets you with a schedule of activities and adventures (some, like wine tasting and e-biking, cost extra, with rates ranging from $50 per person to $250 per person for via ferrata). 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.

Finally, there’s a pool, which doesn’t get a lot of love because, while picturesque, it pales in comparison to the hot springs; a patch of grass from which to hit golf balls across a sparkling pond; pickleball courts; and firepits scattered around the 1,100-acre resort.

The Spa

The Spa is a collection of treatment tents set along a creek that lends a soundtrack to your massage, facial, or body wrap. Both times I’ve visited the spa, I’ve done a couples massage with my husband and added CBD oil to my massage. And both times, I left relaxed enough to head straight back to my room for a mid-day nap. The spa offers an adventure massage, a Thai-inspired sports massage meant to cap off a day of hiking and biking, and a 60-minute Watsu therapy in a dedicated hot springs pool.

Family-friendly Offerings 

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

Accessibility and Sustainability

All common spaces at the resort are accessible and there are two ADA-compliant rooms. The resort, however, is on an incline, and the hot springs are at the very top of the hill. Golf carts are available to transport guests, including wheelchairs, to the hot springs, equipped with an accessible chair lift.

As for sustainability, there are three acres of farm land from which the resort sources most of its produce, and to reduce single-use plastics, each guest is given a Yeti water bottle to refill as needed and take home. Charging stations for electric vehicles are also available, and the resort has a recycling and composting 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. With the slate of activities on offer, three phenomenal hot spring pools, and an excellent restaurant, you wouldn’t want to leave, anyway.

That said, it’s also hard to leave; the resort is down a very bumpy dirt road, and the drive along a wind unpaved road is about half an hour. If you tend to get car sick, or are just looking to arrive in style, you can also arrange for a 15-minute helicopter transfer from the Scottsdale Airport, which is 47 miles away. When our stay wrapped up on Sunday morning, my husband and I took a chopper ride (it landed right on the grass in full view of the outdoor dining terrace) back to the airport, and I never felt more pampered.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Castle Hot Springs does not have a loyalty program, but it is part of the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts network, which gets guests a $100 resort credit, plus early check-in, late checkout, and a room upgrade, all based on availability.

Castle Hot Springs is all-inclusive, and nightly rates start from $1,875. Spa services, alcohol, certain adventure activities, and private resort tours are not included. Guests can only arrive on Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday, and must stay a minimum of two nights (or three nights if they check in on Thursday.)

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.