The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Marana earned an enviable distinction this week: It’s only the second resort in the state to earn a five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide.
There are only 115 hotels worldwide that hold the honor, including the Canyon Suites at the Phoenician, a boutique hotel on the grounds of the Phoenician resort, has been a five-star hotel since 2013.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain opened in December 2009 and has 253 rooms and suites. The resort features three swimming pools, a 235-foot water slide and splash pad, 27 holes of adjoining Jack Nicklaus signature golf, daily sunset vista cocktail hikes, guided rock art tours to discover ancient Hohokam petroglyphs, GPS-guided geocaching, morning nature walks, cactus discovery tours showcasing the rare and ancient Saguaro, astronomer-guided stargazing and access to miles of scenic and beautiful hiking, cycling and four-wheel drive trails.
The hotel has a spa with an open-air design, private serenity pool with tanning island, spa cabanas, day beds and treatments inspired by the healing therapies of centuries-old Native American civilizations.
Award-winning restaurants are complemented by weekend sushi in the lobby, the Roadrunner Food Truck that cruises the resort grounds with holiday weekend ice cream, acclaimed wine and spirits experiences and the resort’s own Dove Mountain Cuvée wine label.
Properties for the Forbes award are evaluated anonymously against up to 800 rigorous standards.
