Ambiente Sedona - A Landscape Hotel — Hotel in Sedona

First I want to say I never write reviews. I wrote one other review on here but thought this was worth writing! I have stayed at many luxury hotels before and this one was no exception with the standard they have set. Some things are worth noting that won't dock the five stars but in hopes they read this review, they can take that feedback as they will.

Service - Really amazing and over the top. From the minute we walked in, we were greeted with champagne, whisked away with our bags on a cart to our room and texted to let us know we could use their text concierge for any requests. It was mine and my husband’s 2nd wedding anniversary on NYE just a few days ago and we were greeted with a bottle of Veuve and a nice note. We did ask for a box fan initially but had to ask again. We also texted for extra bottles of waters to be sent to the room which happened the first time but we asked again for more the next morning as they only brought two tiny bottles to us at our first request. They never brought those bottles. Not a huge deal but good to call out. They do a nice turndown service where they had tidied up our room and drawn the curtains in. When we left, we could text to have our car ready and they whisked us back in the cart with our luggage. Was a nice touch that without our request they did leave two bottles of water in the car and an Ambiente leather keychain with the heated seats already turned on. They also provide two luxury cars that they could drop you off and pick you up up to two miles into town which we did not take advantage of either but thought that was a nice touch.

The room- the room was absolutely beautiful. We did spring for the best view of room (landscape atrium) and I was slightly disappointed we didn't get one on the edge where we could only see the landscape view. We were obstructed with 2 layers of hotels in front of us and to the right, an overview of the pool. I guess it's luck of the draw which is unfortunate as expectation vs. reality, we should have thought of more. We still were able to see the whole horizon but the other rooms, and a giant tree did obstruct the view a lot. Loved the dual showers and being able to set the exact temperature on the water to your liking. Really good water pressure too. The bed was super comfy. I would be careful of the edges of the bed as it's so easy to hit your shin which I did. Loved the fully stocked fridge with coke products, coconut water, tea, and snacks which were "free". Also breakfast was "included" and it was really good! We had the French toast, waffles, and quesadilla in bed. A few things I've seen at other luxury hotels that are less than the $2500 a night we paid that they do better is a better hair dryer (nobu has a dyson), better toilet paper (was barely a step above toilet paper you would find in a public bathroom), and they need bigger body towels. I could not wrap the entire towel around my body and I'm a 5 foot petite woman. Again, these are not worth docking stars because the whole experience/room/service was amazing but interesting as I have seen this done better at other hotels. The rooftop is incredible and unobstructed compared to inside the room and the fire pit and daybed are definitely a nice addition.

The spa - loved the spa. My husband and I got a couples massage. They let you pick out your own fragrance and then you wait with citrus water, cookies and tea. We both agreed these were the best massages we have ever had as we both fell asleep which neither of us had ever done before. They also have a sauna afterwards which we did not take advantage of.

The restaurant forty1- We ate here for dinner and it was incredible. Every dish. The ribeye was perfectly salted and full of flavor while perfectly medium rare as we requested. My husband got a whiskey milk and I got a mezcal version of an aperol spritz, both which were perfectly balanced. We did not come here with high expectations as we have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world but everything was a hit.

Overall, would...

The Ambiente is a stunning resort with such potential (4.5/5). The rooms are luxurious, the setting is serene, and the amenities are nearly all there, but it's the service and staff that truly shine. I detail our experience below, but to the point: If you’re asking if you should stay here, the answer is emphatically YES.

The Service & Staff: Each employee was kind, attentive, and never miffed by a request. On one occasion, we had just exited our room, and both realized we forgot our keys. A nearby employee, seeing us befuddled, standing in our robes and sandals, quickly inferred our dilemma. He kindly offered to get us new keys and deliver them to the pool area, which he did expeditiously. We ordered a pizza one evening and were delightfully amused when the delivery person arrived on a cart driven by a resort valet. ‘Twas the season, so our nightly turndown service included a “12 days of Christmas” inspired confection. I must also acknowledge the restaurant staff, who graciously accommodated all our custom requests (thank you for the muffins, negroni sbagliato, and serving French fries with my steak). I could go on, but suffice to say, the staff were a 10/10. Were there some hiccups? Yes. Our first night we were abruptly awoken at ~2 AM by the on-site security guard attempting to open our door. Our momentary terror quickly dissipated once we spoke with the front desk, who explained and sincerely apologized for the error.

The Room: The room was exquisite and inviting. We booked a forest reflections room but were generously upgraded to a landscape room, which offered spectacular views. I adored the automatic curtains, dual head shower, and the Hinoki tub. Do I have suggestions? Sure. Our main complaint was the nearly incessant bass coming from the poolside speakers, one of which was attached to a support post under our room. At our request, they would kindly turn down the music. The bed was also less than ideal. It was comfortable, but the bedding didn’t breathe: We would wake up nightly, sweating profusely even with the temperature set at 65°. Alas, the lighting was not ideal for getting primped. That all said, the accommodations were superb.

The Restaurant: Though we occasionally dined off property, I dare say we would have been just as content to have eaten exclusively at Fourty1. The food and drinks were delectable, and I very much enjoyed the house yogurt & granola, carne asada tacos, and apricot old fashioned. We were grateful to discover that breakfast was included, because it was easy to drop nearly $100+ on any meal. The vibe is quite and intimate, no doubt due to its small size and calming aesthetic. You can also dine fireside or poolside, as the staff service nearly all the outdoor areas.

The Spa: I had such high hopes (sigh). The staff were all wonderful, but the overall experience was lackluster. To start, our original appointments had to be rescheduled because of a staffing issue. When we arrived, I simply thought, “This is it?” There are no traditional spa locker rooms with saunas, showers, or other amenities. Instead, there are two bathrooms with lockers adjacent to the lounge area, which is a little too public and, well, not that comfortable. I was very excited for the O2 soaking experience. Skip it. Just enjoy the tub in your room. We found the Japanese-style tubs uncomfortable and awkwardly positioned: the tubs face the door and it’s difficult to see or talk with your partner. I also found the artificial sound of running water unsettling; I kept thinking the faucet was on or the tub was draining. I did express our disappointment, and the spa concierge graciously offered us a discount. On a positive note, I appreciated the complimentary bath products. Our massage therapists were great; however, the treatment rooms are adjacent to the lounge area and staff room, and one cannot help but be distracted by conversations and the sounds of doors opening and closing. Ideally, they’ll one day relocate the spa to its own building and create the luxury experience the resort...

If we could give Ambiente, 10 stars I would! The best hotel we have ever experienced, beyond amazing. Ambiente way surpassed our every expectation and more. We came across them accidentally, after cancelling another hotel for our stay in Sedona in September 2023. Because they were so new, only opened since Feb of this year.

We were originally splitting our stay between another hotel and finishing our last 5 days at Ambiente. When we arrived at the first hotel, the AC wasn’t working in our room, the Wifi wouldn’t connect, etc. So, we called Ambiente and asked if they could accommodate us that night and for the full 10 days and they said come on over! We were so happy that hotel’s AC and WIFI didn’t work because it was the best blessing that could have happened.

Ambiente is truly the most amazing place! From the beauty and sustainability of the hotel itself, to the beyond wonderful service and staff, the pool and spa and the delicious food at the restaurant! We truly felt as if we were staying with family! But better lol.

The beautiful atrium rooms are romantic, exquisite and beautifully designed. Each one has its own roof top deck and firepit which was wonderful for watching sunrise, sunset and the star filled nights. The free standing double tub and shower were amazing, the bed was comfortable and the whole Atrium was stunning!

Ambiente has an amazing pool area. I am a pool person and I literally want to build that same pool in my backyard! The whole pool area which includes the restaurant was beautiful and welcoming. Comfortable lounge chairs, fountains, and waterfall from the large hot tub and the fire pits at night all around. My spouse loves the water but won’t go in if it’s too cold and they made sure to turn up the heater for our entire stay!

The staff! I can’t say enough about every person that we interacted with during our stay. We have never experienced service like this anywhere and we love beautiful 5 star hotels. Ambiente is beyond anything we have experienced, they should be 10 stars!! From the management down everyone was friendly, helpful and kind. We loved that they did everything via text. If you need something you text them and they are all on the same text, so whether you need your car brought up, a ride somewhere, housekeeping, water and snacks or room service they answer immediately and most times they were at our door almost before we could hang up.

A few mentions for the staff, sorry if we missed some, were Heiner the manager who greeted us most mornings and evenings, he was wonderful, he took care of us as if we were family!! The restaurant staff were truly amazing. Emma, Brittany and Macauley greeted us with smiles every morning with our coffee the way we like it and always great conversations about our days. Abram, Megan, Alana, Daniel and all the others were just fabulous and attentive and helpful!

The front desk staff, Ashley, Tristan, Isa, and all the others (sorry for the names we forgot) were accommodating friendly and always greeted us with a smile and a welcome back!! Brent the general manager was amazing, he spent time talking with us at the pool and was genuinely concerned with how our stay was and if there was anything he could do to make it better. And the owners are often on site walking around, they were friendly and welcoming as well, we loved watching everyone rescue Koi fish for the lagoon.

The restaurant was wonderful! They have indoor and outdoor seating. The breakfast that is included was delicious and a great selection of options to choose from. Most days we even had lunch there after our hikes and before our pool time. Originally, we had made reservations for dinner most nights around Sedona but after eating dinner at Ambiente we cancelled most of them and choose to stay and enjoy their wonderful restaurant experience.

We had such an amazing stay we booked 10 days for next year at the same time. We have never booked another stay while we were still there. We can’t wait to be back...