Travel + Leisure, an essential, trusted source for travel guidance and inspiration around the globe, announced the 2024 winners of the annual T+L 500 Awards including Arizona’s 1,100-acre luxury desert oasis, Castle Hot Springs. Derived from votes by readers in the annual World’s Best Awards survey, the 500 highest hotel scorers make up this prestigious list.
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Each year, the discerning readers of Travel + Leisure — the largest travel media brand in the United States, with an audience of more than 36 million — vote for their favorite destinations, city hotels, resorts, and more in the World’s Best Awards survey. Drawing from the 2023 results, the 2024 T+L 500 list recognizes the best hotels around the globe in a prestigious, non-ranked directory, categorized by geographic region and alphabetical order. The honorees are grouped into eight geographic regions: Africa and the Middle East; Asia; Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific; Canada; the Caribbean; Europe; Mexico, Central America, and South America; and the United States. This roster of properties serves as a trusted resource for millions of enthusiastic travelers.
You can read the full T+L 500 list in Travel + Leisure‘s May 2024 ‘The Hotels’ issue, currently out on newsstands, or digitally on Apple News+.
Tucked against the Bradshaw Mountains just 50 miles outside of central Phoenix,the sprawling 1,100-acre property is comprised of 30 cabins & bungalows and was once the wellness retreat of choice for America’s titans of industry (The Cabots, Vanderbilts, Wrigleys, Roosevelts, Astors, etc.). Adjacent to Lake Pleasant Regional Park, the expansive nature-driven resort melds its natural surroundings with an array of adventure activities paired with restorative wellness programs designed to cater the traveler looking to experience the perfect combination of ‘soft adventure’ and ‘slow travel.’ Guest accommodations have been built with the intention to immerse guests with the environment at every moment – commune with nature, enjoying the sights and sounds of Mother Nature, taking time to reflect, relax and reconnect. At the heart of the desert oasis lies a natural spring boasting mineral-rich world-class hot springs under towering palm trees, alongside a ‘digital detox’ philosophy to calm your mind and prepare your body for an immersion as you have never experienced before,alongside a formidable culinary and ‘Flavor Farming’ agricultural program.
All visitors are encouraged to dive into natural tranquility in the three mineral-rich natural hot springs (85 –106F) and participate in the Castle Hot Springs Soaking circuit, featuring a quick dip in the property’s NEW cold-plunge pool (43-46F). Contrast hydrotherapy and the minerals found within the watersare known to remedy anxious minds and soothe aches and pains, whilst also improving mobility and boosting skin health. Those in search for an extra layer of water relaxation and learnings can opt into the NEW Connecting with Water Guided Tour. Where an activity guide will take guests on a walking tour of the hot springs and share/educate guests of the hot springs’ geology, natural components of the water, therapeutic benefits, water infrastructure, and lead a guided soak in which guest will be invited to experience the waters using all five senses.
Visitors can also participate in Paddleboard Yoga or book a Watsu Water Therapy session, where a spa therapist will gently move you through a womb-like rhythmic dance within the thermal waters. In turn, you’ll leave feeling rebirthed with natural pain relief, decreased muscle tension, increased flexibility, improved circulation, and overall enhanced well-being.
Additionally, a culinary evolution is underfoot at Castle Hot Springs led by the Resort’s Executive Chef, Chris Knouse. At Harvest restaurant, guests can enjoy a true farm-to-table experience, serving hyper-seasonal & nutrient-dense dishes with the freshest produce picked at their prime. Chef Knouse frequents the on-property farm (a stone’s throw from the restaurant) multiple times each day, both for inspiration and to ensure sustainability and flavor are at the forefront of the culinary direction, where they incorporate the farm’s produce to the ever-evolving menu of seasonal creations.
The 2024 T+L 500 is featured in the May 2024 ‘The Hotels’ issue of Travel + Leisure and select highlights of the list will be found at https://www.travelandleisure.com/top-500-hotels-2024-8620054.
