Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, AZ

Before flying out for a job interview in 2014, I hadn’t been to Arizona. So once I moved to the state, it was time to explore and that meant a trip to the Grand Canyon. Although the drive from Phoenix isn’t bad, the Grand Canyon Railway provides a direct route from Williams (which is about three hours from Phoenix) without any of the hassle of driving yourself. There’s plenty of parking at the train station and an air conditioned building with a gift shop that has food to purchase and bathroom facilities. The historic train also has food and toilets along with the ability to watch the scenery instead of having to focus on the road.

Before boarding the train, there’s a show which involves a shootout and a threat that the train will be robbed (which becomes part of the entertainment on the return trip). The jokes were silly, but it was a fun show.

The train has different levels of accommodation, so I went with First Class on the trip up and the Observation Dome on the way back. The seats in First Class were much more comfortable than the Observation Dome seats, but they are in groups of four that face each other with a table in the middle, so you might end up with strangers across from you (the Observation Dome is the traditional groups of two that all face forward). The view from the Observation Dome is much better as one might expect. Both sections offer complimentary snacks (cheese, crackers, fruit, and vegetables primarily), bar service, and entertainment. Other sections have different amenities. I think splitting up the trip as I did is the way to go as it saves money and the sparkling wine toast included in the Observation Dome ticket is only done in the afternoon. On the way up, my section had a musician playing guitar and singing songs about being on the road (like On the Road Again by Willie Nelson). On the way back, there were some magic tricks and then the staged train robbery. The entertainment is all a little cheesy, but it’s fun to pass the time during the two hour each way trip.

Tocaloma Spa & Salon in Phoenix, AZ

Having been to a number of other resort spas in the Phoenix metro area, Tocaloma Spa & Salon at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort was a bit of a surprise. It's a small facility that the front desk staff describe as “intimate.” Although there are lockers and robes available, there are no locker rooms so the staff seems to prefer to have people wait fully clothed. For those who do change into robes, there's a bench in a curtained off area with the lockers otherwise guests wait across from the front desk.

Although the spa is small, they do have fruit and fruit-infused water as well as a salon area for hair and nail services.

While this spa might not be for large groups or those looking to spend an entire day luxuriating at the spa, the services offered are fantastic and the staff make sure the guests have a great experience.

Because of the small space, there’s no showers (although showers are available nearby) and the fitness center and pools are some distance from the spa. A shuttle is available to transport guests to the different areas of the large resort.

The Club at PHX at Sky Harbor Airport

Update: The Club at PHX closed in 2019.

Although I usually fly out of Sky Harbor’s Terminal 4, I only recently had the chance to use the Priority Pass lounge there because the hours were previously limited. Until earlier this year, The Club at PHX was only open for Priority Pass users from 8am-3:30pm which didn’t work for me as I typically fly very early or very late. Last month I finally got to check out the lounge now that the hours are 5am-11:30pm.

The lounge is upstairs from the Concourse B boarding area. Although there are no bathrooms in the lounge, small ones are located just outside the door. As I approached the entry, a woman greeted me and asked to see my ID, Priority Pass card, and boarding pass. With it being just after the opening time of 5am, I ended up being the only person there for about 30 minutes. Though it was nice to have the space to myself, it also meant the bartender was no where to be found. He eventually showed up as others filtered in.

The selection of breakfast food was pretty good—fresh fruit, yogurt, and pastries plus shelf-stable foods like granola bars and oatmeal. Of course, there was also a sign indicating that the food should only be consumed while in the lounge. Non-alcoholic beverages like coffee, tea, and water were also available.

There were plenty of comfortable chairs, but no outlets located at these chairs. The computers and a few hi-tops had outlets, but these were not anywhere near as comfortable or convenient. If it had been a high traffic time, it’s likely that people would’ve been waiting to use outlets. In addition to the lack of outlets, there's no monitor to check flight information although there was a TV tuned to a cable news channel. The Club at PHX is a decent enough airport lounge, but I would've been disappointed had my entry fee not been a perk of one of my credit cards.

The Red Door Spa & Salon in Phoenix, AZ

Update: The Red Door Spa rebranded as Mynd in 2019, but then closed in 2020.

When spa week rolls around (in April and October), I’m always excited to take advantage of one or more of the $50 treatments. October 2017 saw only a few spas participating in the Phoenix area, so I ended up only receiving the de-stress body treatment at the Red Door Biltmore. It was my first visit to the spa which is located in the outdoor shopping mall that also houses Saks and Macy’s.

After being offered a choice of cucumber or lemon water, I was led past the front desk to the locker area which had all sorts of hair products (even brushes!) and perfumes to fix yourself up after your service.

The lockers had two hangers and although the space was longer than most spa lockers, it's not quite the length of a dress.

Once I’d changed into the very soft robe (my only complaint about the robe was that it didn’t have a pocket to store my glasses—I put them on the counter in the room), I headed to the relaxation lounge which had low lighting, plush chairs, and an assortment of current issue women’s magazines.

The wait wasn’t long before Michelle introduced herself and brought me to one of the treatment rooms. The de-stress treatment I had focuses on hydration (minus the face). It began with exfoliation via gloves, then a copious amount of olive oil was applied before I got wrapped up “to cook.” During that time, I was given a warm neck pillow (which I loved so much I purchased) along with a blissful scalp and shoulder massage.

On a return trip a few months later, I received a manicure. There’s a separate area for the hair and nail services, so this time I went straight to that section without a stop in the relaxation lounge. I was offered a selection of lemon water (always my pick), tea, and coffee. I also got to make use of that excellent warm neck pillow while my cuticles were soaked then trimmed, my hands were moisturized, and my nails were painted with Essie polish.

Tocasierra Spa & Salon in Phoenix, AZ

2014 was the year I moved halfway across the country and realized how little traveling I’d done. With a regular job affording only the standard vacation time, I don’t have many opportunities to explore but am doing my best to visit new cities. It’s been easiest to check out the southwest (my new home after leaving the northwest), but I’m working on plans for the east coast as well as some west coast cities I haven’t been to yet.

I live in Phoenix these days, so I’ve never stayed at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort but its proximity to my apartment makes it ideal for my family to stay at when they visit. On the first trip they (diamond members) were upgraded to a casita while the other trips have been stays in king suites. The suites are spacious, but lack a microwave. (There are a few restaurants on the property as well as within walking distance, so the hotel may not expect guests to want to warm up food in the room.) The casitas are more like homes with a full kitchen and living room separate from the upstairs bedroom(s). The casitas also have covered parking which is a huge bonus if one visits during one of the many hot weather months.

Resort guests have access to amenities like the River Ranch which features a lazy river, waterslide, and miniature golf.

While I’m not that familiar with the rooms, I’ve spent quite a bit of time at Tocasierra Spa and Salon which is the resort’s spa and fitness center. For guests, it might be a little inconvenient as it requires a walk across one or more parking lots (depending on where on the property your room is located) and there's no pool attached to Tocasierra (one must walk back to the part of the property where the rooms are). But the spa is wonderful.

I’ve experienced a number of services from facials to massages to pedicures (served up with a margarita for an extra $5 on Friday and Saturday evenings). Each service has been excellent, but I do particularly enjoy those margaritas.

It’s also where I have my hair cut and colored. There’s just one salon client at a time (unless you’re booked as a group), so you always get the full attention of the cosmetologist, Tracy.

If you're indulging in the spa services, there's a nice lounge area and plenty of lockers plus showers and a sauna. The gym has a variety of machines plus a daily schedule of classes including pilates, yoga, and zumba. There is an additional fee to use the gym.