Scottsdale's Tranquil Oasis: Intercontinental Montelucia Resort & Spa - LA's The Place

~ A LA’s the Place 2010 Top Pick

If you’re looking for a type of stay-cation this year, LA’s the Place reveals the perfect destination to explore not too far from home but exotic enough to have a bona fide adventure – Scottsdale, the Beverly Hills of Arizona. Just 6 hours from LA by car or 1 ½ hours by plane, Scottsdale has a myriad of top-notch cuisine, art, and unusual sites to enjoy. It also offers a welcome change in scenery and climate with its red rock mountain ranges and toasty sunshine.

A Place to Unplug

But if relaxation is just what the doctor has ordered for your vacation, we discovered an oasis of luxurious tranquility: the Intercontinental Montelucia Resort & Spa. Voted as the #1 resort in Arizona by Travel & Leisure Magazine and where President Obama stayed, the Spanish-Moroccan inspired property transports you to a far away land with arched walkways, handcrafted 16th century wooden doors, decorative fountains and lush floral accents. Erica Rich, Public Relations Manager of Intercontinental Montelucia, says, “We have designed the resort in such a way so our guests can literally and figuratively unplug from their daily life and relax.”

Old Meets New

Whether you choose to stay in a deluxe room, a Camelback View room, a one-bedroom suite or the Andalusian Presidential suite with a private pool, they each are decorated with old-world charm accents complete with 21st century amenities. The beds are really worth mentioning as most vacationers complain about bad sleep due to cheap mattresses when traveling. Montelucia spared no expense when it comes to their guests getting a good night’s rest – each room features featherbeds and high quality linens. Another distinctive feature is their large walk-in shower with dual showerheads and a separate inviting jacuzzi tub. And you won’t have the feeling you’re missing out on a better room because all rooms have private terrace patios with mountain or pool views and living-room style seating.

Lounging in Style

With five pools on the property, lounging poolside while sipping a exotic cocktail is a must. Or treat yourself to a private cabana. Fresh fruit and water is served throughout the day as well as anything else you crave from the poolside restaurants ROQ and Oasis Pavilion. If you’re not one to enjoy ducking inflatable toys and kids flying through the air, there is an adult only pool or one with stunning views of Camelback Mountain on the roof of their Joya spa.

Royal Spa Treatment

Despite its exquisite outlook, the rooftop pool pales in comparison to the elegant, $1000 per square-foot Joya Spa. Imagine yourself in a bathhouse fit for the King of Morocco – green iridescent hand-tiled walls, soft candle light, harem-type resting beds surrounded in billowy curtains and scents of citrus-rose wafting through the air.

As the only spa in Arizona to offer a traditional Hamman, try their signature Moroccan Ritual that includes a serious body scrub with Herbal Black Soap that leaves your skin feeling like satin followed by hot and cold alternating treatments and then a massage. Of course they offer all the standard services, but if you want to try something non-traditional, here are a few to consider: a flower essence consultation, belly-dancing lessons, diamond magnetic body experience or henna tattooing. The overall experience is one you can lose yourself in for a day and leave wanting more.

The Grand Palace Spa Suite for the ultimate royalty experience.

Here are a few highlights of their 2010 Summer Spa Specials:

Coconut Cream Massage ~ 50-minutes starting at $105-125 (regular price $145 to $155)   Allow the delicious scent of coconut to lure your senses to a faraway exotic location while leaving your skin moisturized and smelling just like summer.

Moonlight Massage ~ 50-minutes $125, 80-minutes $175  . Indulge in a heavenly experience with a romantic moonlight mountain massage. This 50 or 80-minute custom massage will begin at sundown and continue as the sun slowly sets in the twilight of the evening sky. Offered exclusively on Saturday from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. space and reservations are limited.

Amira Jewel Facial ~ 110 minutes $210-235.   This renewing treatment begins with the Age Regeneration Mask by Jan Marini Skin Care, incorporating technology with a host of powerful anti-aging and anti-inflammation properties including Resveratrol, a red wine longevity extract, and finishes with a remarkable skin rebuilding peptide blend application leaving skin rejuvenated and summer ready.

Cooling Parsley Facial ~ 50 minutes $105-125  . This calming, cooling facial features a parsley and cucumber exfoliation followed by a seven herb facial masque with a cranberry and pomegranate face, neck and décolleté massage. This facial is excellent for sensitive skin.

Cherry Festival ~ 80 minutes $155 (Mon-Thurs) $175 (Fri-Sun). A sour cherry wrap with herbal infused mud is followed with moisturizing cherry plum body soufflé. High in vitamin C and anti-oxidants, this wrap is designed to tighten, lift, hydrate, and firm.

Enjoy a girls getaway at Joya Spa.

Award-Winning Cuisine

Prado Restaurant.

After a full day at the spa feeding your soul, its time to feed the belly. Among their six restaurants, Prado is their award-winning jewel. Under the direction of Chef Claudio Urciuoli, the Italian-inspired menu is driven by locally-grown, seasonal ingredients. The wine menu pairs well with the Italian cuisine offering an international selection. If you want something more casual, try the Mbar’s tapas and tequila while watching the mesmerizing flamenco dancers. Mbar also features happy hour specials with $6 tapas, wine and select cocktails Monday – Friday, 3-6pm. The service in both the bar and restaurant is impeccable and gracious – they truly make an effort to see you happy in an affable manner.

Once you’ve decompressed, you might be ready for some action. Intercontinental Montelucia’s resort activities range from yoga, golf clinics, guided hikes up Camelback Mountain, chocolate tastings, cocktail mixology classes, kickboxing and a plethora of additional options to explore.

The MBar Lounge.

Child’s Play

Kids are also well looked after at the Intercontinental Montelucia. Planet Trekkers is a day camp for kids age 5+ with sports, sundae making, Wild West water balloon fights and much more. In addition, Joya Spa offers 3 hours of free child care at Planet Trekkers when you book a treatment. Prefer more personal child care? They also offer in-room babysitting.

Summer Packages

If you’re still not convinced to take a trip to the Sonoran desert, summertime is off season which means you get incredible savings. Take advantage of Montelucia’s summer package from now until September 6th. Rooms are from $159 per night, stay two nights and receive $100 resort credit, stay 3 nights and receive $150 resort credit, or stay 4 or more nights and receive a $200 resort credit! Now that’s a sizzling hot deal.