By Babs Harrison
Time is the most precious commodity we have, especially when it comes to travel. We want to get the most we can out of our vacations, build memories with family and friends, explore new things, and have fun.
Part of the enjoyment of travel is the act of savoring the upcoming experience. Not only does it heighten the enjoyment of the experience when it happens, but also when it’s remembered. However, we first have to visualize and plan the experience. That’s why the pre-arrival service at Castle Hot Springs Resort Arizona is so valuable.
How many times have you arrived at a destination and not been aware of something you wish you had known beforehand or discovered an activity or service that you would have liked to do, but now is fully booked? If only you had known earlier, you would have planned better.
At Castle Hot Springs Arizona, the pre-arrival begins with a simple phone call. Take the call. (Or email if you prefer). This is your chance to share your desiderata for a perfect vacation. What type of getaway do you envision, and what would you like to do? Challenge yourself with a new physical activity? Rejuvenate with yoga and spa treatments? Relax with self-guided hikes, long soaks, and leisurely meals? Want to know more about the farm tour and wine-tasting class? Ask questions and get answers.
The pre-arrival team designs your personalized itinerary with you, incorporating your desires, sharing the wide array of activities and services, and helping to whittle down the choices.
If you’re unsure about an activity, or just need more information, they can tell you more about it and even connect you with someone who can go deeper. I was on the fence about doing the Via Ferrata, unsure if it was within my physical capability. After sharing my hesitation, they allayed my fears and I agreed to give it a try. It ended up being my favorite experience of the trip.
The guest services team wants to create an itinerary that will make you happy. “Perhaps you’d like dinner a bit later to allow more time to relax after chakra balancing,” they suggest. Or, “We could move horseback riding to Sunday afternoon and fit in Watsu the next morning.” When I mentioned I can’t decide between two wellness sessions, they talk to the wellness team who agreed to do both in one long session, and they rearranged my itinerary to make it all work.
Share your desires and the team will create an individualized itinerary to exceed your expectations. With the scheduling done beforehand, the arrival is that much sweeter, freeing your mind and allowing more space to savor the anticipation of the trip, the actual experience of the trip, and the enhanced memories afterward. Plus, reserving in advance is wise as some activities are limited to four guests to ensure maximum attention from the guide.
While the guest service excellence begins with pre-arrival, it continues throughout your stay.
Once you arrive at the gate and announce yourself, a friendly voice reaffirms they are expecting you. As you drive through the allée of palm trees, a staff member greets you by the cheery yellow lodge, taking your luggage and car. Inside, you are welcomed with a refreshing cold tea, a printed itinerary, and a room key. Soon on your way to your cozy abode.
The hospitable staff you encounter throughout your stay takes pride in what they do, exuding confidence in their craft, whether it be making a cocktail, climbing the Via Ferrata, or tending the regenerative gardens. Their enthusiasm is infectious.
It’s a beautiful and rich experience that unfolds.
Time seems to expand here, as you deeply immerse yourself in the rhythm of nature. But departure still comes all too soon. Guest service excellence ensures your last meal on the patio is perfect, and your car loaded with luggage is waiting with a newly cleaned windshield and a bright red iced tea for the drive back.
When you come to the mountain, as the resort is sometimes referred to, there is a feeling of having arrived in a utopia of such incredible natural beauty and contemplative calm, it seems as if you’ve stepped through a portal to another world. You feel at home, safe, welcomed, and coddled by a staff who seems genuinely happy to be here.
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” said Maya Angelou.
That feeling of being at home, with everything seamlessly arranged for your enjoyment, is part of the intangible aura of Castle Hot Springs in Arizona that keeps guests coming back.