Travel Review: My Stay at Civana Resort in Arizona

My stay at Civana was paid for by myself. Links in this post may contain affiliate links.

Ever feel like you just need to get away and take a moment to relax? Between a full-time job, three kids, household responsibilities and just dealing with a pandemic, I was definitely ready for a “momcation”. I discovered Civana Wellness Resort & Spa in Carefree, Arizona and immediately fell in love with the property and amenities. I quickly recruited a friend to join me and we made our way to Arizona!

Getting to Civana

Civana Wellness Resort & Spa is located in Carefree, Arizona which is about 45 minutes north of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Your transportation options are:

• Rental car
• Ride-share like Lyft – new to ridesharing? Sign-up using this link and get a credit for your first ride.
• Private transfer

We used Lyft from PHX to Civana and it was about $60 with the driver tip. On the return, we made the decision to book with a private car company as we had heard it was difficult to get a Lyft from Civana given it is on the outskirts of town. Next time, I would definitely consider booking the private car round-trip. Expect to pay about $100 each way. Need a rec? Ford Car Service was amazing – clean vehicles, safe drivers and on-time. Call or text Sedric at 480-370-8253 to make a reservation.

While a rental car is convenient, you really do not need to leave the resort. So, unless you have concrete plans to dine off-site or visit a spot, you can skip the rental car. Plus, the rental car center at PHX is a bit of a trek so you need to allot extra time.

Accommodations

Civana offers four room types:

• One Bedroom Suites
• Spa King
• King
• Double Queen

We stayed in the Double Queen and we found the room comfortable and clean. It had an oversized shower, balcony and small fridge. Since most guests rarely leave the property, you will find yourself using the room more than a normal trip so not a bad idea to splurge on a more spacious room or one with a tub if you’ll use it.

Fitness Offerings

Civana Resort offers over 70 classes each week ranging from cardio to yoga to personal growth. The schedule is published a few months in advance and available on the Civana website. As soon as you have confirmed dates and the resort has published the offerings, contact your concierge to reserve two classes per day. Once you’re at the resort, you’ll have the option to add additional classes, space permitting.

Some tips:

• Try to add a mix of classes to your itinerary – add a fun cardio class, find a yoga style that suits you and don’t forget to consider trying something new!
• Prioritize classes that are likely to have a cap due to equipment – think aerial yoga stretch and spinning as there are limited set-ups for both or hiking as the van can only transport a certain amount of passengers. You can add on others than have more availability once you arrive.
• Ensure you read course descriptions. As an example, aerial yoga and aerial yoga stretch recommend long or capri length pants due to the nature of the activity.
• If you plan to do anything more adventurous off-site like hiking, paddleboarding or kayaking, be sure to bring appropriate gear. We did the hike and I brought a hat, sunglasses, extra sunblock, sturdy shoes and my CamelBak backpack specifically for this.
• A few of the courses/excursions do have a fee but it is minimal.
• If you sign-up and do not cancel before 5pm the day before, a $15 fee will be assessed.

The Spa at Civana

Another perk of this property is the beautiful spa. With two levels of treatment rooms and amenities, you can spend all day here! What to know about the spa:

• Once you have your dates booked, make spa treatments. We tried to add some additional treatments a few weeks before and it was fully booked.
• The spa area has a huge saltwater pool, a hydrotherapy circuit, sauna, steam room, locker rooms and relaxation rooms. You can only access these amenities on the days you are having a treatment. So, if you’re thinking of getting more than one treatment, consider booking on two separate days so you can get multiple spa visits in.
• I got the Deep Tissue Massage and the Sonoran Facial – both treatments were excellent!

Dining Options

As mentioned before, Civana is a bit remote so eating on-site is your best bet. There are two spots: Seed (Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks) and Terras (Happiness Hour and Dinner). The menu is very heavily plant-based but they do offer meat and seafood options as well.

Seeds was my go-to spot. I would grab something in the morning before (and after) my workouts and then return again for lunch. Everything I tried was fresh, healthy and delicious. The drink options also did not disappoint – from coffee beverages to unique smoothies, all choices were top notch.

For dinner, we ate at Terras each evening. Book a table on OpenTable and earn dining reward points that you can use for future meals. They have a wide array of starters, entree and desserts as well as a full beverage menu.

Need another desert destination? Check out my post on Joshua Tree National Park and Palm Springs!

Closing Thoughts

I cannot say enough great things about Civana. Our three night stay was absolutely perfect from start to finish. One key component was the staff – they went out of their way to ensure we had a positive experience. Some other tips:

• We fully expected triple digit temps on our trip (July) but we had one day with a monsoon! While the hotel does have umbrellas, we were not prepared with any other rain gear.
• Overall, the resort is very casual so you will find most people in athleisure wear. At dinner, some people did dress up a bit.
• You will be provided a reusable water bottle when you get to your room and there are water stations throughout the property to refill it.
• Try to make time for the Daily Set: Intention Ceremony (8:15-8:30am) and the Daily Reset: Gratitude Circle (5-5:15pm). These do not count towards your two pre-booked classes.
• Have excellent service but no cash? You can add a gratuity through the front desk and have it added to your final bill.
• Speaking of the front desk, you can text with them throughout your stay. Makes it so simple to get answers to questions.

Ready to Book?

Head over to the Civana Wellness Resort & Spa website to book direct. Be sure to visit the Offers page to see current promotions.