Amara Resort and Spa, a Kimpton Hotel

Wow, what a waste of money! We were so disappointed in this hotel and the customer service. This was our first and last Kimpton. My husband and I like nice hotels and are happy to pay for them but paying for this hotel made us feel like fools. Every where you turn here it feels like they are grubbing for money. A $ 27 a day resort fee that pays for no services we would use. Maybe it supposed to be for the morning yoga but if I did want a yoga class it wouldn’t cost $ 27. Checkin and the valet service was horrid and we had to actually go back to the valet to try to find our luggage after waiting 15 minutes in the room for it. The luggage was sitting in the lobby while the valets talked to each other-​they weren’t busy! Despite the fact they weren’t bringing the luggage up to the room the valet said we could not take the cart to the room ourselves ! Help they are holding our luggage hostage! For reasons I won’t go into on our last day the women at the front desk actually made a snide comment and rolled her eyes in disgust at something my husband said. She later had the good sense to not ask us on checkout how we enjoyed our stay. I think they are trying to be a cutesy camp for adults with games, yoga, a cocoa bar etc. These are not services my husband and I need or are very impressed with –we do pretty well at planning our own trips. Again we are happy to pay for nice hotels but this place just seemed like a wanna be. We just came back from a trip to Florida where we paid 2−3x a night more for our hotel room and it was so worth it. AND NO ONE, NO ONE should EVER make fun of a customer by making snide comments or rolling their eyes! Such behavior is immature and intended to be hurtful. Not exactly a place you want to spend your money.
I saw some good reviews and my guess is that those people don’t travel too much and aren’t aware what they should be receiving — or maybe they are just happy to find a place that has water bowls outside for their dogs. Whatever it is, it’s beyond me. Our experience was was entirely substandard and a waste of money.

If I could give them a half of a star I would. This hotel lost us a checkin and never got us back. My wife and I like to stay at nice hotels and this isn’t it. It felt like throwing money away. On check in the valet insisted we couldn’t touch the baggage cart but then proceeded to have us unload our own luggage onto the cart (so weird!). Then he said he would meet us up in the room with the luggage. After waiting at least 15 minutes and no luggage we went back to see what happened and it was just sitting on the cart in the lobby with with three valets (including the one who said he would bring it up) just standing around talking outside– they weren’t busy.
They also have a resort fee of $ 27 a night that pays for nothing. They allow you to use the steam room at the spa but not sure that is worth the resort fee. We never used it.
They also make you call for ice– a way to help their staff makes tips (probably the same issue with the luggage cart they won’t let you touch). Again it just feels grubby. They need to pay their staff decently enough that the place isn’t run for employee tips.
The room itself showed some signs of wear. There was a glass shelf in the bathroom that was so broken and tilted it really should not have had glasses on it. I kept wondering how hard would it have been for the people that clean the room to put in a work order to have it fixed. The toilet paper holder was totally non functioning-​the toilet paper wouldn’t stay on-​again it really showed no one cared or took «ownership».
As I said we like to stay at nice hotels and are happy to pay for them. We just got back from a trip to Florida where we paid 2x as much a night for our room and it was so worth it. Find a nicer place to stay or save your money and stay at a Hampton Inn — at least you won’t feel stupid throwing your money away.

Stayed three nights for a very special long weekend. Be careful on the room they choose for you. Opened our drapes and viewed a ladder against a fence and what looked to be a construction site behind the fence. Notice their website only shows the beautiful view! There were three of us in the room and we had to request wash cloths and towels twice. Hair dryers are very cheap and overheat quickly so we had to request more since there was only one hair dryer in the room. Too much money for a view of a ladder and construction area. To arrive at our room, we had to enter and exit three buildings. It is very dark between the buildings at night. Of course we were assigned a room as far from the front entry as you could possibly be. Not impressed with this hotel.

Could not have asked for a better spot! Right by the creek, amazing vista of the red rocks. Rooms are pristine, hotel grounds are immaculate! The little things this hotel offers go a long ways: smores kit by the fire, wine-​hour in lobby, make your own trail mix. All sort of little amenities and the staff is very attentive and kind.

This hotel is gorgeous! The pool area is relaxing and the view is amazing. We loved the hotel staff. The font desk ladies were helpful and personable. The food was delicious and we had a great server. I sing understand why people would give a bad review.

This is a good location, downtown Sedona with lots of local flavor in close proximity. Staff and hospitality seems to be top priority and the facility is fairly quiet. Mostly adults at this location great for couples retreat or newlyweds families with kids not so much…
Great view from the court yard and nice fireplaces to sit by at night, the turf is a plus in this rocky red earth.

We stayed one night and had nothing but a great experience! The location is great, the staff nice, the food good, and the room was nice and clean.
They have a nightly wine «happy hour» that was a nice little extra.
We had our 2 dogs with us and they were VERY dog friendly! They put dog bowls, poop bags, treats, and a dog bed in our room.
We will definitely be back in the future!

We visited late December and took our pet. The room was nice a clean. In the morning there was complimentary coffee and at night wine for social hour. We also ate at the restaurant for breakfast and it was very good.

A surprise on many fronts. Following a business trip to Phoenix, my husband surprised me with a trip to Sedona. He then surprised me by making hotel arrangements. I was enthralled with his choice. The room was clean and spacious. The maid actually left us a note to thank us for the tip we left. We had two meals at the hotel: who knew that deviled eggs with maple syrup and a tart onion marmalade would work so well. The staff chose a delightful tequila for my husband and I sipped a hot tottie. We spent a day hiking (we got lost or it would have been shorter.). Returned to hotel for a much anticipated couples massage. Our stay was too short. Weather became a factor, so we reluctantly left early (us SoCal folks can really wuss out.). My husband promised to return to Sedona in the spring and there will be no guessing where we will stay. Amara has it all: great location, beautiful accommodations, great food and wonderful spa. See you in April!
PS. Staff is also top notch!

This place was awesome!!!
I just returned home from a 2-​nights stay in Sedona and totally enjoyed my time here. The hotel/​rooms were very nice but I wouldn’t say overly fancy. What they may lack (and I say «may») in over-​the-​top plush rooms, (tho they were very nice and comfy) they totally excel in when it comes to service! EVERYONE was so accommodating! We had a sign in our room that summed it up. It’s the typical sign that says «did you forget something because we’ve got it» and lists out all the commonly forgotten items but the sign finishes it off by saying, «…or we’ll go get it»!! That’s great! The front desk staff is very helpful in providing recommendations or printing out information on local attraction. The morning yoga, included in the resort fee ($ 22 which also covers your parking), is totally a must do! It was such a great way to start the day. (sign up in advance!) They have an evening «wine hour» with little nibbles and a morning coffee bar (yes, I know these are kinda common) but they also have a «make your own trail mix» bar to accommodate anyone going out for a hike. (Which it seems to be the most popular thing to do in Sedona!) AND, as if that isn’t enough to encourage you to make your reservation right now, they have a shuttle service that will drop you off/​pick you up when you are ready to head to dinner! (Who needs Über???) They are also dog friendly! I’m definitely going back!

Great service, outstanding location (right in the center of downtown, but tucked far away form the street so it’s super quiet), perfect views of the red rocks and next to a lovely creek, coffee in the morning, free yoga, wine in the evening, free shuttle to nearby spots, and an anniversary surprise awaiting us upon check in? Of course this place is awesome!
There may have been a few too many kids for my liking but, the real problem with the kids was their parents who chose not to control them. There’s nothing like 5 – 6 kids running around ‘playing’ and shrieking very loudly, building a fort out of outdoor seating cushions, and having said fort fall over and break a wine glass during the ‘relaxing’ wine hour overlooking the red rocks. Again, not the hotel’s fault, but, perhaps an employee who saw such shenanigans could have politely said something to the little changelings or perhaps to their parents.
That being said, I’ve never met a Kimpton property I didn’t like and Sedona’s is a great one, too! In fact, a friend of mine has chosen to stay there now based on my experiences (minus the kid part, of course!).

I’ve had a soft spot for Kimpton properties for a long time, probably close to 20 years. We were going to Sedona for part of a vacation and when I saw Kimpton had a place there, I didn’t have to think about it. But the dark side to my love of Kimpton is that they’ve always been amazing and I have really high expectations.
If I were to compare the Amara to just any hotel, I’d be ecstatic. And if I were to compare it to a really nice hotel like a Waldorf-​Astoria, I’d still like it. But for a Kimpton, I have to say that even though we really liked it, it was the least flawless experience I’ve had to date. Maybe it’s because Kimpton hotels were acquired in 2014 and changes are happening behind the scenes. Maybe I just didn’t have my usual luck. I don’t know but here are some examples:
The message light on the room phone is on. We press the message button and nothing happens. Call the front desk to tell them we can’t get our messages and they tell us we have to dial 444 for messages. We dial 444 and the automated system says there are no voice messages but we should call the front desk for a message. We call the front desk back and this time they’re happy to give us our message.
The toilet in the room is having trouble and I report it, they say they’ll take care of it. The fix lasts for 4 or 5 flushes and we have to call them back so they can try again the next morning.
The artwork in the bathroom is a sign that says «Let’s stay home.» What are you telling me, Amara?
And after I left they charged some minibar items to my card even though I had a «Raid the minibar» credit and it should have been free. It was fixed with a quick call.
These kind of things don’t normally happen at a Kimpton property. Things just work at Kimptons and that’s all there is to it. Everybody without exception was really friendly. Everything was very nice from the pool to the wine hour to their pet-​friendly policy. I love it all, but for problems to be where a guest can see them is just unusual.
Please Kimpton, I hope you aren’t starting to turn into just another hotel chain.
Okay, more about the Amara. The views are as amazing as anywhere in Sedona and access to the creek is a real plus. But the driveway is a minus. It’s steep, it’s curvy, it’s dark at night. And in parts, pedestrians have to share the narrow road with people who don’t know where they’re going. The hotel’s shuttle give you a lift up to the street if you want and then come get you if you need them to. At night, take them up on this.
Although much of the review deals with small problems, I was really happy with our stay at the Amara. Nothing significant went wrong and that’s something I’ve always been able to count on. Seriously, stay here. You’ll be pampered, you’ll have a terrific time, and you’ll probably get to meet a few friendly dogs in the lobby as well!

Awesome location right in the center of the action in uptown. The views and the infinity pool are breath taking.
Great spot to check out shops and a nice launch point to explore the rocks and vortexes in the area.
Valet is comp and make sure to check out the wine hour at 5 daily.

I stayed here once on a work trip and absolutely LOVED it. Cushy things for sleeping, nice bathrooms, nice artwork, and Mezcal at the bar. Could a girl ask for anything more?
Yes. If I were absurd, I could ask for yoga classes in the morning and a mat in my room so I didn’t have to think about packing one. GUESS WHAT! They have yoga classes in the morning and a mat in your room so you don’t have to think about packing one.
I haven’t stayed in many places in Sedona, so I can’t say this place is for sure the best, but I can definitely say that I would come back and recommend this place to anyone.

The service we received here was fantastic from the valet guys to the front desk and everyone else we ran into. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, anyone we came into contact with offered a greeting and offered assistance if we needed it, great staff! The location is nicely tucked off the main street and right by the creek, peaceful and quiet. We had a room facing the creek and we made use of our patio in the evenings listening to the nightlife. While we overall had a nice stay there were just a few dings that made this resort feel like it wasn’t worth what we paid.
For starters we were there to celebrate my birthday and while it was never mentioned (completely ok) my boyfriend had requested a bottle of Veuve be waiting for us on arrival. The champagne was there along with some flutes and that was all. Really? No ice? Even if we had gotten in late and it had been sitting in a bucket of melted ice we would at least know they tried. Then came the second problem, they don’t have ice machines. You need to call room service for small ziploc bags of ice. We did and 45 minutes later I called back to check on the ice. Another 20 minutes later we received the ice and started chilling our warm champagne. Maybe a slight oversight but at a place like this I would expect more.
Bedding was comfortable except for the pillows, they were very thin and just plain terrible. The room was spacious and nicely decorated. The bathroom had a great huge spa tub, clean and well stocked. However, the rug was frayed and old looking. So while we had a great time around Sedona and the staff was friendly and resort clean, we were surprised by the lack of attention to detail.
As for the Spa itself it was AMAZING and I think that’s what really won us over. The spa building sits right in front of the entrance to the lobby on the opposite side of the driveway. We walked over one morning for our 10 a.m. massage appointments and the minute you walk through the door you begin to relax. The receptionist showed me to the ladies room and explained the procedure of getting ready to wait for your masseuse. You are given a locker to store your belongings and clothing while you’re there, a robe to change into and some sandals. There is a complete array of toiletries in case you take advantage of their showers and by complete I mean deoderant, lotions of all types for face and body, hair products for every kind of hair style, rubber bands, q tips, cotton balls, face wash, makeup remover, the list goes on. Anyway once you have undressed you have a plush robe to head out to the waiting room. There is a typical questionnaire you need to fill out about yourself and your body. The room has comfortable chairs, low lighting and quiet music playing. There is a water station with hot tea to sip while you wait. My boyfriend and I enjoyed an extremely well done hot stone couples massage that left us feeling like jelly afterwards. I wish I remembered our therapists names because they were so sweet. When the massage was over they walked us over to a little inlet with two lounge chairs that could be closed off with a curtain. They brought us a bottle of apple cider and cheers-​ed us for my birthday! I was so touched, it was the perfect little unexpected detail. We would be back to visit the Spa in a heartbeat.

We stayed here for two nights on our way to Grand Canyon. Crazy friendly staff all around. Very clean establishment and lovely décor. Complimentary happy hour every day and build your own trail mix bar :)
Love the infinity pool and view of the red rocks.

Loved this place.
The pool was amazing. The staff was super accomidating. The wine hour was fantastic, especially with the «yard» area. At night it is a wonderful place to have cocktails by the fire.
The rooms were fine. The only problem is if you are at the end of the complex you are going to be walking forever to get anywhere, but it was fine.
Everyone was great. Definitely stay here if given the chance.

Looking for a five-​star hotel and amenities with three-​star prices? Look no further. Actually, you get a three maybe four star hotel room but the hotel is upgraded to a four-​star hotel due to high level of service, the majestic views and all of the amenities, including a day spa, complementary yoga classes, a beautiful pool, a nice restaurant (reasonable prices), valet parking and a convenient shuttle.
The most outstanding thing about the hotel is the incredible service you are provided. Everyone in the hotel is very nice, very professional and outstandingly helpful. The one negative is that you have to take the shuttle or walk up a steep hill to get to the main strip.
One surprise bonus to the hotel is the creek in the back. Its nice to see some natural waterflows in a dry desert environment.
Everybody was prompt in their service, whether it was the check in, the valet or room service.
See my review on the restaurant. The punchline is that it’s excellent.
I was a little surprised by the fact the in room movies were actual DVDs you had to get from the front desk. The selection was pretty good but it would have been nice to have a streaming service with new releases like so many other hotels.
It was a little distracting with several little dogs barking. This hotel is dog friendly.

This place is a dump! Booked a four night stay here and immediately regretted it. The place looks and feels like a dirty old motel with modern furniture. And guess what?! That’s EXACTLY what it is! It’s outdated, cramped and GHETTO. When Kimpton bought this old crappy hotel two years ago they only spent 1M to revamp it. For those of you who have never renovated a house, 1M IS NOT REAL MONEY. And this isn’t just a house — this is an entire resort. From the crappy 80’s-style original metal railings to the motel balconies and the DISGUSTING old mattresses, this place is a crap hole! We tried switching to the Enchanted or the L’Auberge but since it’s high season they were sold out. Stay away from this place! Yuck!
The 2 stars is ONLY for the staff! The guys at valet and the shuttle are the BEST!!!

Sedona was great, but it was really staying at the Amara that was the icing on the cake.
First off, the place itself is cozy, yet with an eclectic/​upscale vibe that makes you feel somewhere special. To elaborate: there was a mixture of bright colors to accent features, yet still wooden aspects as well. I guess you could call it «hipster» for lack of a better term. The infinity pool reflects one of the impressive rock formations in the area, and they have a restaurant that overlooks the pool and grass area where people can enjoy a drink and relax. One other thing: they are right on the creek and have a nice walkway down to this so you can enjoy a stroll on the creek.
The service was spectacular as well. The valet gentlemen there are the highlight though! There is free valet which is a huge benefit because you are able to walk to a lot of the shops and restaurants in the area. The valet guys though are extremely personable and literally run to your car to guarantee efficiency in timing. One of the maids went out of her way to wish us a happy day, and the concierge upon arrival was really nice as well.
For me it is also the little things that make a place great and unique: there was a water bowl outside welcoming the dogs that were guests at the hotel as well, you have free access to yoga classes and a sauna that are offered by the spa, there is a complementary wine hour and they have really great quality shampoo/​conditioners.
One con though! There were no coffee makers in the room. They did have complementary coffee until 10 in the lobby, but I am someone that appreciates waking up in your robe and having a cup of coffee without going to fetch it. And the room service coffee is $ 4 a cup!
Overall I really loved this place and know that there will not be another place in Sedona that I will venture to.