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The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa: Traveler Reviews

Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating:
  • A summary score based on quality, quantity and age of traveler ratings.
4 of 5 stars 168 Reviews
5.0 of 5 stars
99
4.0 of 5 stars
31
3.0 of 5 stars
12
2.0 of 5 stars
16
1.0 of 5 stars
10
TripAdvisor Popularity Index:
  • Measures overall traveler satisfaction based on ratings, reviews and other sources.
#1 of 3 hotels in Carefree
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  • Hotel class: 5 of 5
  • Rooms: 199
  • Address: 34631 N Tom Darlington Dr Carefree, AZ 85377
Property Type: Resort
  • Hotel featuring an assortment of amenities, sports facilities and leisure activities.
Description: Resort Hotel offers popular amenities, restaurants, golf course; situated in the Sonora Desert foothills; staff is multilingual. This description is based on information provided by the hotel.
Business Center Fitness Center Free High-Speed Internet Pets Allowed Restaurant Swimming Pool
Check Rates: $369 Avg. Price
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TripAdvisor Traveler Reviews

Reviews of The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa

( 79-83 of 168 )
“Perfect Relaxation”

The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa

Oct 9, 2006
4/4 found this review helpful

Upon arrival the staff valet parked our hire car at no extra charge and took us to our room in a golf cart.
ROOMS - spacious, comfortable beds. Slightly outdated bathrooms - but spacious. We had a scorpion in our bathtub but flushed it down the drain - I guess to be expected in the middle of the desert.
SPA treatments - fantastic - I am 7 months pregnant so opted for a maternity massage with Regina - very professional and overall a wonderful relaxing experince. All amenities in locker rooms.
FOOD - Breakfast one day at Spa Cafe - exceptional - ate on the terrace overlooking pool and boulders, very tranquil. Service staff very friendly and polite.
Dinner one night at Latilla - VERY good. My husband had the 5 course wine pairing menu and I had the regular 5 course tasting and it was delicious. Large portions for a tasting menu - which isn't a bad thing, but left us VERY full for dessert!
Spotted Donkey - in nearby shopping mall. Very good food with excellent service, reasonable prices.
Lodge Pool lunch - excellent.
Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Boulders.
A few pointers:
1) If you're unable to walk far (due to age, illness or pregnancy ) and are not using the spa I would advise to request a room nearer the lodge as we were in Room 284 and was quite a hike from the lodge and eating areas (but, very close to the spa). Saying that, the golf carts are always available to take you to and from your rooms.
2) Try to book spa appointments in advance - they get busy.
3) If you're intersested in Horseback Riding - the concierge make reservations for guided trail rides - my husband did and enjoyed very much at a nearby ranch - he is a novice rider and had a great time.
We would definitely return to The Boulders but book in advance (we only booked a week beforehand) to ensure a room with a view.

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — Decor, spacious
    • Disliked — Quite dark room, not much view. A little outdated.
    • Tips/Secrets: — Book well in advance and request a golf course view and upper floor for better light.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
ny123's Summary
Date of Stay: October 2006
Traveled with: Spouse / significant other
Visit was for: Quality time with family
Age group: 35-49
Member since: August 30, 2004
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun, Outdoor / Adventure, Great food / Wine, Golf, Spa
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $369 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
“Great place....great service”

The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa

Oct 2, 2006
4/5 found this review helpful

We spent 3 nights at the Boulders in September 2006. The scenery is amazing at the resort...the views of the boulders, desert and golf course are one of a kind. Early check-in was a breeze and we were escorted via a golf cart to our room.

The resort consists of a main building with the hotel rooms or casitas spread out in 1 to 2 story clusters. Everything (the spa, golf course and shopping center) is about a 5 minute walk from the main building. Our sonoran casita had views of the golf course and was spacious. There was a sitting area with two leather club chairs, a fireplace (didn't need it in Sept), wet bar and large king-size bed. The bathroom was very large with a double sink, huge soaking tub, separate shower and toilet area and a large walk in closet. As mentioned in previous reviews, the food on the resort is good but expensive. We only had breakfast at the resort and opted to head off the resort for dinner. We had dinner at the Blue Wasabi, Mastro's Steakhouse and Elements (all of which were excellent).

We spent one day at the spa getting treatments. The treatment itself was great but the service at the spa was ok. There were no attendants around to help in the locker room but the service around the pool was much better. The spa pool is open to all resort guests and was clean, quiet and not too crowded. We also played golf one day and were impressed with the course. Apparently, the golf course is one of the highest rated women's courses in the US and there were several ladies out there hitting the links. The course was scenic and in good condition. There was even one hole where the back tees were set near the main building and you have to hit over a driveway to get onto the fairway.

The thing that impressed us the most about our visit was the service. From the bellman, to the front desk, to the wait staff to the concierge, all staff was extremely helpful and went out of their way to make our trip a special one. Thank you and we will definitely be back!

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — Service
    • Disliked — Nothing
    • Tips/Secrets: — Book at tee time!
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
MDTourists's Summary
Date of Stay: September 2006
Traveled with: Spouse / significant other
Visit was for: Romantic getaway
Age group: 25-34
Member since: April 02, 2006
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Outdoor / Adventure, Great food / Wine, Golf, Spa
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $369 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
“Beautiful Grounds, Service Could be Better”

The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa

Save Review
4 of 5 stars
Antioch, California
Sep 12, 2006
3/3 found this review helpful

The resort's grounds and rooms are very nice. The turn down service provided special touches that were appreciated, like essential oils one evening, lip moisturizer another -- all from the spa.

The room was tastefully decorated; the lighting was nice. Bathroom and walk-in closet were roomy. I expected more personalized service from this resort. The room rate was very reasonable for the Labor Day Weekend as was the golf rate, but the prices for food and drink on property are outrageous. The spa has nice amenities but no service attendants to assist or provide an introduction. My husband and I went to the Camelback resort last year (same weekend) and found the pool areas far superior. At Camelback, for example, they limited guests to those using the spa services. While at the Boulders anyone could use it which took away from the serene, calming atmosphere I think they were going for -- too many people, a lot of chatter and service was just ok poolside.

All in all a nice, very picturesque resort if you can get a good rate. Also, a new restaurant opened on the property (albeit in a nearby shopping area) – the Spotted Donkey. Very good food and atmosphere – would definitely recommend that restaurant.

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — Scenery
    • Disliked — Waiting for the shuttles between room/spa; room/golf course.
    • Tips/Secrets: — Stake out a lounge chair early for the spa pool; fills up by afternoon.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
cbctraveler's Summary
Date of Stay: September 2006
Traveled with: Spouse / significant other
Visit was for: Romantic getaway
Age group: 25-34
Member since: March 08, 2005
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
most likely
I recommend this hotel for:
An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Golf, Spa
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $369 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
“Had a wonderful honeymoon!”

The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa

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5 of 5 stars
ridgewood, nj
Sep 11, 2006
1/1 found this review helpful

My husband and I just returned from our week long honeymoon at the Boulders. We had a wonderful time! We did have a scorpion in our room the first night, but the staff promptly took care of it. Speaking of the staff, everyone was so friendly and helpful. They truly went out of their way for us. The food is delicious and the spa is heaven! For a real authentic south west experience check out the saloons in nearby Cave Creek, AZ - particularly Bufalo Chip Saloon. Oh, and try Indian Fry Bread across the street. Delicious!

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
jane-doug's Summary
Date of Stay: September 2006
Traveled with: Spouse / significant other
Visit was for: Honeymoon
Age group: 25-34
Member since: September 08, 2006
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun, Museums / Cultural / Historical sites, Outdoor / Adventure, Great food / Wine, Spa
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $369 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com
“spoiled and pampered”

The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa

Sep 7, 2006
1/2 found this review helpful

My girl friends wanted to just get away and relax. We had the best time at The Boulders. The Golden Door Spa was amazing, and all of us had the best treatments. However we spent the majority of our time at the main pool basking in the sun and getting pampered by the staff there. They gave us frozen grapes and frozen water spritz everyday it was a great experiance and exactly what we were looking for. Did I mention the frozen mojitos pool side. I would recommend The Boulders to anyone!!!!!!!!!!-Sandie

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — the main pool
    • Disliked — I loved everything and had the best time everyone was great
    • Tips/Secrets: — drink lots of water
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
sandietravels's Summary
Date of Stay: August 2006
Traveled with: Friends
Visit was for: Quality time with friends
Age group: 25-34
Member since: September 07, 2006
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Spa
Was this review helpful? Yes No
Check Rates
Average price*: $369 (year-round)
Call now to book: 1-800-45-HOTEL from hotels.com

Reviews of The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa

( 79-83 of 168 )
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The Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa Also Known As

Address: 34631 N Tom Darlington Dr, Carefree, AZ 85377