Arabella Hotel Sedona

“Arabella Sedona was great!”

Lovely hotel nestled in the red rocks. Staff was friendly. Breakfast was generous and delicious.

“Four Stars. Recommended. Go to Sedona regardless — the rocks alone are worth the journey.”

I confess without embarrassment that Sedona arrested my breath upon arrival in a manner that no hotel lobby, however grand, has ever managed. The vermillion towers of sandstone, rising from the desert floor with the imperious confidence of cathedral spires, constitute one of the genuinely sublime s… more

I confess without embarrassment that Sedona arrested my breath upon arrival in a manner that no hotel lobby, however grand, has ever managed. The vermillion towers of sandstone, rising from the desert floor with the imperious confidence of cathedral spires, constitute one of the genuinely sublime spectacles available to the modern traveller. I would return to Sedona were there nothing to sleep in but a canvas tent. That I was instead directed to the Arabella Hotel was, on the whole, a fortunate circumstance — though not without its complications. Let me begin, as gratitude demands, with what is excellent. The manager, one George, is a gentleman of the first order. His command of his establishment, his attentiveness to the guest, and his manner — which manages the considerable feat of being simultaneously professional and warmly human — are of the sort that one encounters perhaps once or twice in a lifetime of travel. In a lesser hotel, George would single-handedly elevate the experience to respectability. In a hotel of genuine ambition, he would be the crowning ornament. I observed him resolve a difficulty for a fellow guest with such quiet efficiency and good grace that the guest appeared to depart the exchange not merely satisfied, but genuinely cheered. This is a rare gift. The Arabella ought to be aware of what it possesses in this gentleman, and compensate him accordingly, lest some more alert establishment relieve them of the asset. The setting, as I have intimated, is incomparable, and to the hotel’s credit, the situation has been exploited with reasonable intelligence. The views afforded from the property toward the red rock formations are, on clear mornings especially, of a quality that renders one briefly incapable of the practical business of the day. One simply stands, and looks, and feels appropriately insignificant. In this regard, the Arabella benefits from a natural advantage that no interior decorator, however gifted, could manufacture. And now — for I am constitutionally incapable of leaving well enough alone — let us turn to the difficulties. The carpets. I must speak of the carpets. I do not know by what process of deliberation the carpets of the Arabella were selected, but I can only conclude that the selection committee had either taken leave of their aesthetic faculties, or were operating under instructions that remain opaque to the reasonable observer. In a setting of such savage and magnificent natural beauty — where the earth itself provides a masterclass in the harmonious deployment of terracotta, rust, amber, and sage — the carpets manage the remarkable achievement of being in conversation with none of it. They are, to deploy the most charitable description available to me, confused. A hotel in Sedona has been handed, free of charge by Providence, the most coherent colour palette in the American Southwest. To deviate from it so thoroughly in one’s floor coverings suggests either wilful contrarianism or a procurement process conducted entirely by correspondence, without anyone troubling to glance out of the window. This connects to a broader observation. The interior design of the Arabella, while not without its moments, does not consistently honour the landscape that is its single greatest competitive advantage. There are rooms and corridors where one might, closing one’s eyes to the view, be in any moderately appointed hotel in any moderately appointed city. The opportunity to create an interior that feels organically born of the red rock country — through material choices, through earthen tones, through the incorporation of local craft and indigenous artistic tradition — has been only partially seized. What has been attempted is agreeable enough; what has been left unattempted is a source of some melancholy to the aesthetically minded guest. The soft furnishings in the guest quarters, I noted, showed signs of wear that suggested a cycle of replacement somewhat overdue. A cushion here, a curtain hem there — small matters individually, but collectively they produce a cumulative impression of a property coasting upon its natural advantages rather than actively maintaining itself to the standard those advantages demand. When one’s surroundings are this beautiful, the obligation to match them is, if anything, greater — not reduced. I would also note, with the gentleness appropriate to a minor observation, that the dining experience, while perfectly adequate, did not fully rise to the level of an establishment in this location and at this price point. The ingredients available in this region — the produce, the game, the particular character of Southwestern cuisine at its finest — offer a kitchen considerable creative latitude. That latitude was not, during my visit, being exercised with the ambition it deserves. The food was good. In Sedona, with George presiding over the front of house, it ought to aspire to be rather more than good. The Arabella Hotel in Sedona is a fine establishment in one of the most transcendently beautiful places upon this earth. Its manager George is, without qualification, exceptional, and his presence elevates the entire experience in ways that are difficult to quantify but impossible to ignore. The setting is, of course, beyond reproach — though the hotel may take only partial credit for that. The comforts are real, the welcome is genuine, and the red rocks at dawn will rearrange something permanently in your interior life. And yet the carpets remain what they are. The interiors do not yet speak with the full authority the landscape demands. The soft furnishings require attention. The kitchen has not yet found its voice. For these reasons, and with the precision that honest assessment requires, I award the Arabella Hotel four stars out of five. It falls short of the summit — but the summit, in Sedona, is very high indeed, and four stars in the shadow of those red rocks is no cause for embarrassment. Attend to your carpets, engage your kitchen’s ambition, and let George continue doing precisely what George does.

less

“Relaxing convenience”

Our room was a little bit dated but clean and in good shape. The amenities and the property are great with a super friendly staff. Beautiful setting for outdoor live music and places to relax. Convenient place to stay for exploring the area.

“Overall a decent stay but please listen to your guests Arabella!”

I always try to be honest, fair and consider every aspect of a hotel when giving a review. I am a seasoned traveler throughout the United States and have stayed in many different hotels throughout the years. The good: This resort is convenient and has a wonderful hot tub and pool. My favorite pa… more

I always try to be honest, fair and consider every aspect of a hotel when giving a review. I am a seasoned traveler throughout the United States and have stayed in many different hotels throughout the years. The good: This resort is convenient and has a wonderful hot tub and pool. My favorite part about this hotel is the access to trails right off the property and for these reasons I would definitely stay here again. They have a water filter station to fill up your water bottles and free coffee which is a nice touch. The front desk staff are friendly as well as the knowledgeable concierge that will answer any questions that you have. The beds are comfortable. The Redflower bath products that are supplied are amazing and I really enjoyed these while staying here. The swing on the porch is relaxing and I really enjoyed it. They have live music and activities which are family focused which is nice. The bad: Do not get a downstairs bottom unit. You can hear every movement and when I read the reviews prior to our stay, I should have taken their advice. We did not sleep well because of this. I have stayed at other places where the walls are thin but this is beyond acceptable. It's downright loud and the subfloors obviously need to be replaced. I feel so strongly about this that I would suggest them not even having the bottom rooms be used till this was updated. There is no excuse to have this in a $400+ room. Also the rooms need updated. They are currently building a new "spa addition." I feel that the reviews of guests should be looked at before a new "spa." The rate of the hotel per night doesn't reflect on the actual room experience. The carpet needs to be removed and luxury vinyl/ tile would be a better option because it is more sanitary. The bathroom needs to be replaced with updated showers as well as the sink vanity area. The tv is small and there is no microwave. They did have a fridge. The beds were comfortable and towels were great. Overall, it DOES feel like a motel six room and not a $400/ night resort. Thoughts to consider: This is a dog friendly hotel. If you have allergies this may be a problem for you. If they do end up remodeling rooms, they need to have designated dog occupied rooms so that people with allergies don't have to suffer. I am an avid hiker and would stay again but I'm sure there are other places that would better suit the justifiable cost of $400/night.

less