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About
4.5
#1 of 1 resort in Carefree
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tucked among 20+ acres of succulent-studded Sonoran Desert, CIVANA offers a path to a happier, healthier you through inspiring human connections. Daily sweat and meditation. Curated personal growth and discovery content. Outdoor adventures. Access to world renowned wellness guides and healers. Comfortable accommodations. A world-class spa. Delicious food and drinks. Ample time to relax and recharge. A surprise to two. At CIVANA guests have the delightful adventure of enjoying two warmly inviting and wondrously inventive restaurants led by Executive Chef Scott Winegard and his culinary team. Enjoy hyper-seasonal offerings and high vibe food at Seed, CIVANA’s cafe and specialty market, now open for breakfast and lunch. As the sun begins to set, enjoy a change of venue at Terras, the resort’s signature dinner destination offering a delightfully fresh and modern take on regionally inspired cuisine.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
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CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa is often lauded for its relaxing spa and a diverse array of classes, set against a backdrop of picturesque views just outside Scottsdale. The hotel's serene atmosphere and impeccable cleanliness in common areas receive consistent praise, although the rooms, while spacious, are noted by some guests as needing updates and improved comfort.
While the service generally garners compliments for being attentive, there are occasional remarks about lapses in professionalism. Opinions on the resort's value are mixed, with experiences seemingly justifying the cost for some but not for others.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Serene
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Relaxing
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My sister and I went here for 3 nights and had the best time! I definitely recommend the all inclusive package. The room was so clean and modern, we brought a small speaker so we could listen to spa music in our room too. The mixology class was really fun, the spa is absolutely gorgeous and makes you feel so welcome. The staff is all so nice and helpful, we can't wait to go back. We rented a car as its 45 min from the airport but there is also a car service that can pick you up. (Uber isn't reliable in that area from our experience)
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Camila Frederico, General Manager at CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa
Responded Mar 15, 2021
Afternoon Tourist564240, Thank you so much for the kind and thoughtful review! We are so thrilled to hear you and your sister enjoyed an all inclusive wellness weekend together! We are so grateful that you chose us and so glad to hear you enjoyed all of our wellness offerings. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Warm Regards, Camila Frederico General Manager
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Wonderfully located out of the city and perfect for a getaway from all the craziness of 2020. I was able to customize my itinerary for both classes and the spa ahead of time and loved that they were operating at limited capacity and had air purifiers everywhere. The staff was friendly and the food was great. Would definitely recommend to a friend.
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Date of stay: October 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Camila Frederico, General Manager at CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa
Responded Dec 23, 2020
Thank you for taking the time to write your feedback in regards to your most recent stay at CIVANA. I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us. I know it may sound silly, but we are genuinely trying to change the world, one person at a time and it is amazing to hear great feedback. Positive reviews from guests like you help others to feel confident about booking and choosing a destination - especially one that focuses on wellness. We are looking forward to welcoming your staff at CIVANA for a retreat. Please reach out if there is anything we can do for you. Looking forward to welcoming you back soon. Warmest Regards, Camila Frederico
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Civana definitely delivers on the wellness/relaxation/retreat experience in every aspect. The service is phenomenal, every piece of the guest experience and every corner of the property are mindfully planned, the classes and instructors are great (value is great too for all the options they offer), the pool area is charming and offers beverages service, the spa therapists are very professional and massages are amazing! The two downsides we saw were limited assortment of food/drink options & hours (while food was fresh and delicious and bartenders were awesome) and the remote location is tricky if you don’t have a car in the property and want to go out to other restaurants or even for hikes and activities nearby. Very worthwhile though!
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Date of stay: July 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Camila Frederico, General Manager at CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa
Responded Jul 9, 2021
Dear GiseleValle, Thank you so much for such a kind and thoughtful review! I am so thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic stay with us here at CIVANA. It is so great to hear you enjoyed our hardworking and attentive staff, incredible wellness instructors, and charming pool. We are sorry to hear you did not feel that there were enough food/drink options. If you have some time we would love to hear what you felt was lacking. As a newer Wellness Resort we are always looking for ways we can improve! We hope to welcome you back in very soon. Be Well, Camila Frederico General Manager Camila@civanacarefree.com
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While the property itself was beautiful I didn't get the sense of luxury that I expected. The staff seemed a bit like they didn't know what whey were doing sometimes. Little things like there were only 3 towels in the room for the 4 of us and we called before we went to breakfast and asked for them to bring another. When we got back from breakfast 2 hours later it still had not been brought to the room. Another phone call and finally someone came with extra robes and not the extra towel. Yes we finally got the towel but every day it was the same thing where all our towels were taken away and we were left with 3. That kind of summarizes the whole trip. Also, my friend got a massage which as you can imagine was extremely expensive and the person giving her a massage literally talked the whole time about her personal problems. The classes were good but nothing special. Not enough options of times and classes. Overall we had a nice time but was a little disappointed. Doors were very loud to open and close so if you neighbor got up early you will know about it. Could hear the tv next door at night.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from TomBerk1, Front Office Manager at CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa
Responded Feb 10, 2020
Dear Jocelyn, Thank you for taking the time to complete our survey. Your feedback is essential in our effort to improve our service standards. On behalf of Civana, I would like to extend my apologies for the opportunities you experienced in your daily housekeeping services. I can assure you I have spoken directly with our Director of Rooms to use this information as a tool to ensure seamless service for the next guest. Please let us know if we can do anything further to assist or serve you. Deepest Gratitude,
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Got an email offering 30% off normal rate. Have been before and thoroughly enjoyed. Booked two nights for wife at $258 per night to Detox using their spa facilities after family Thanksgiving & grandkids visit. Arrived at Civana, got COVID screened and signed liability paperwork. When entering their Spa the following morning heading to their steam and jacuzzi, which is why we came. Spa attendant informed wife a $200 treatment was required and only 30 mins. were allowed in Spa facility. Here’s the problem. No one informed us of their new Spa policy. Neither when booking or during checking in at front desk or on their Website. What a bust. Blasted out of there our first morning to the Hilton in Scottsdale after to speaking to Jessica the manager. Don’t think we’ll ever be back.
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Date of stay: November 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Loved my stay at Civana, hope to go back and have recommended to all my friends. The spa treatments and classes were great, and the resort is beautiful. I got spoiled by their delicious filtered water! My favorite classes were Aerial Yoga and Sunset Sound Healing. I also loved walking the labyrinth in the morning and at dusk. The staff are all so friendly and seem very genuinely interested in providing an intentional wellness experience for guests.
My advice is to book spa treatments and classes ASAP after making a reservation - if I’d waited until Guest Services contacted me, I don’t think there would’ve been any availability. The resort has limited capacity COVID, so I appreciate their efforts for safety, but I heard a couple other guests who couldn’t get any spa treatments because everything was full. Only other small #firstworldproblems complaint is that the Terras dinner portions are pretty small for the price (but all the food is delicious).
I’d go back for another week right now if I could!
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Date of stay: April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Camila Frederico, General Manager at CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa
Responded Apr 13, 2021
Afternoon Svfish, Thank you for such a kind and thoughtful review! We are so thrilled to see you got to enjoy our fabulous offerings! We hope to welcome you back in very soon! Best, Camila Frederico General Manager
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This was my second trip to Civana. My first was a mother/daughter trip in October 2019. This was a much anticipated anniversary trip with my spouse. Due to my spouse’s job, we have never been together for an anniversary and Civana made our stay this past weekend perfect.
Our check-in with Tasha (sp?) was seamless and she was so friendly and explained all the changes and new policies in place which was helpful since things have shifted since my last stay. We were upgraded to a spa Suite, given a beautiful welcome gift and wine/cheese were sent up to our room.
We had consistently wonderful service at the spa, poolside, bar and restaurant. We enjoyed massages, classes and all amenities. As always, the service and food was amazing and on point. I love the class schedule and love the new class additions that have been incorporated. I will be back in April for a girlfriends weekend and can’t wait to show our group around and enjoy all amenities.
A few of our favorite things (please keep these going!) are the happy hour, discount services offered at the spa, the vitality pools, bottle and board special and Sunday brunch. The couples massage we did was amazing. Both of our massage therapists were exceptional! While services are expensive, I always do them as this is one of the best spas I have been to.
A few things I appreciated, the implementation of a fee for missed classes. During my first stay, classes filled quickly yet there was no accountability so oftentimes guests wouldn’t show up. Having a fee linked is great and ensures we all have access to classes. I really love that happy hour is until 7pm; really great!
A few things to improve on that I noticed, class sign-ups on paper are a bit challenging. If there is an App or a way to do this online that would be great! Paper and pen and waitlists are causing a bit of confusion I saw with guests. I know a fee per day is now associated with using the spa pool if you book after Jan 1 2020, this was a bit disappointing. For guests who pay to stay, I feel having access without an additional resort fee would be best. I really dislike tacked on resort fees. The food is fantastic, we loved everything, expanding the poolside menu would be great especially since many of us eat at the resort daily.
Overall, all of the special anniversary touches didn’t go unnoticed; thank you to everyone who went above and beyond. We truly enjoyed this time to reconnect and Civana was just fantastic. See you in April!
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Thomas Berkley, Guest Services / Front Office at CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa
Responded Feb 20, 2020
Dear Joanna, We cannot explain enough how wonderful it was to have you both here for your anniversary. It was such an incredible celebration and we are humbled to be a part of both of your journeys. This review is so beautifully written and supportive, it means the absolute world to each and every one of us. I will personally ensure your next visit is seamless and perfect, please let me know if I can do anything else for you before your next arrival. Thank you again for sharing your love with Civana, we appreciate you. Rachel Carroll rachel@civanacarefree.com
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The Civana remodel was excellent, but the wellness operations are not quite there yet. The class offerings and the spa services are fabulous, but you'll have to book early to get them, then manage your own Excel spreadsheet to figure out how all the pieces fit together. Also, there are some delicious items on the mostly vegan (with option to add meat/seafood) menu, but it's the same menu every day, so if you stay awhile, it gets repetitive. Also, despite offering an all-inclusive menu, you have to wait in lines and sign checks for every single item/snack/meal, and this slows down an already lengthy process every time you want to eat. The service/hospitality elements of the operation all have great, kind, sunny people behind them... but everyone is either new to their jobs or trying to figure out how to work with and around a growing business now that Covid restrictions are loosening. For us, the property was not overcrowded at all, but the staff seemed quite overwhelmed. Every appointment and class was spoken for, and if you hadn't reserved absolutely every element in advance, it was going to be nearly impossible to get something once on property.
Civana represents an excellent value, and we are feeling happy and refreshed upon our return. That said, there is a lot more tinkering to do if Civana wants to elevate the guest experience to a truly carefree getaway.
If you're typically a Miraval or Canyon Ranch vacation-goer, Civana feels just as beautiful, but the property is not nearly as expansive, and the guest experience isn't as hands-free and integrated... yet! I'm sure they will keep working to get there.
I do recommend trying it, as it is a great value.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2021
Value
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Camila Frederico, General Manager at CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa
Responded Mar 30, 2021
Afternoon Stlreviewer1, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review about your recent experience at CIVANA! We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your time and saw the value CIVANA brings! We truly appreciate your patience as we do work through some challenges of operating a new Wellness Resort in the midst of a pandemic. We are striving to get better each and everyday and hearing guest feedback is a great way for us to know where to focus next. Thank you for your feedback! We hope to welcome you back in soon. Warmest Regards, Camila Frederico General Manager
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I was excited to try Civana's concept of a wellness resort that doesn't require an all inclusive stay, but unfortunately the very high cost of everything at the resort is not matched by quality service. The spa was a high point- it's spacious and attractive, and a full tour was provided when I first arrived. Service at the spa pool was helpful and attentive, and I really enjoyed both of my services /technicians, although the services are (like everything else) incredibly expensive, and one of my 60 minute services only lasted 50 minutes which was frustrating. The classes I took were fine. The teachers were friendly, but nothing was overly impressive. Classes taking place in a giant conference/ballroom space also kind of ruined the ambiance.
The lobby and bar area are beautiful, but the buildings where the rooms are located were dated and not in great condition; the rooms themselves were a pretty minimalist design, which would be fine if it were highlighting the outdoors, but my room was located on a public walkway on the ground floor, with the sliding doors being the only light and directly facing the bed, so I wasn't able to keep them open without people being able to see directly in.
The biggest issue was with the restaurant. The food and drinks are very pricey, and for that I was expecting a high level of service, especially for dinner. While I was seated quickly, it often took a while for someone to actually check in on me and take even a drink order. However after finally ordering, there was no pacing of the food, so the whole experience felt really rushed after waiting for so long to be helped, which just wasn't enjoyable. The second night, my entree came out as I was starting on an appetizer; the kid who brought it over asked if I was ready for it and I expressed that I wasn't, to which he made some joke that I could "mix them together." Guests are also encouraged to make reservations for the restaurant, which is done through OpenTable, but when I booked using points to redeem a reward, no one was actually familiar with the OpenTable system and I ended up having to speak with three different people, including a manager, to try and use it. The food itself was tasty, but I ultimately felt like I was paying the cost of a fine dining experience, and did not receive anything close to that. The design of the bar and restaurant was also strange- the bar is located entirely indoors and there is no service offered in the outdoor seating areas, so you had to order at the bar and then carry everything back out yourself through the lobby/restaurant seating in order to enjoy them outside.
Regular services you would expect from a nice resort were also lacking- no one was available at the front doors when I drove in to assist with bags, nor was any help offered in carrying them to my room. There was also no tour of the property offered, despite some of the classes being located in strange locations, like across the street. For the high price of the rooms, spa, and food, I was disappointed in the level of service received, and left feeling somewhat taken advantage of rather than relaxed and pampered.
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Date of stay: May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our second stay at Civana, and our first outing of any kind mid-pandemic. We specifically selected this property since it had actually closed during the pandemic, and we knew it would be super clean, which it was! We were able to use the pool daily, and took full advantage of the delicious and healthful dining options. There was plenty of space for all registered guests to enjoy the amenities. Temp check upon arrival and wearing masks in common areas was super easy and everyone was in compliance (both guests and staff). Felt comfortable the entire time. The staff was very personable and really connected with us, following up the next day to see how our evening was, etc. I would highly recommend this stay, especially if you are looking for a quiet escape with healthful food options. It was just what we needed.
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Date of stay: October 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:We've been in the same building both times (closest to lobby/dining) convenient
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Camila Frederico, General Manager at CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa
Responded Dec 23, 2020
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review and provide us feedback in regards to your most recent stay at CIVANA. I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us! I know it may sound silly, but we are genuinely trying to change the world, one person at a time and it is amazing to hear great feedback. We are so glad you got to have your quiet escape and we cannot wait to welcome you back! Warmest Regards, Camila Frederico General Manager Camila@civanacarefree.com
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Giugliano in Campania, Italy18 contributions1 helpful vote
First of all, i commend you for taking sometime for yourself to recharge. It was a great experience for me.
With the outfits, I recommend that you have at least one workout outfit per day. However, if you sweat a lot, you might want to change in between classes depending on what classes you sign up for. It is a relax atmosphere when dining. I have seen folks who walk from their rooms to the spa in robes too.
It gets chilly in the morning and at night so layer up. We were there in December.
Hope this info helps.
We didn’t go into town with an Uber but I don’t think it would be difficult if you scheduked an UBer in advance. That is how I scheduled our return to the airport with Uber. You can schedule a ride in advance and they confirm they will be there. We had Uber take us back to the airport with no problem. Have a great trip - CIVANA is a wonderful resort!
There are more places to choose from in the Carefree area.
PRICE RANGE
C$502 - C$685 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
carefree hotel carefree, carefree resort and conference center
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
CIVANA Carefree
LOCATION
United StatesArizonaCentral ArizonaCarefree
NUMBER OF ROOMS
184
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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