The Grotto
by keida84Rumor has it that this was an outpost for Al Capone and his men. Today you can not recognize what this place is from the street because it has a guard gate and a thick wall around it!
Leave the cell phone at home because this exclusive resort frowns on it. Rest, relaxation, meditation and quiet is the theme of this hotel.
Accomodations vary from a hotel room to a villa to a house all contained on the property. Breakfast is included in the price but the spa treatments are not, although there are some lovely package deals to be had.
Summer rates are far more reasonable than winter rates.
On one occasion we were upgraded to a villa after a miserable night without A/C in our hotel room, the front desk was not staffed at night and we did not know to call the gate. In the AM the staff was horrified to learn our A/C had failed and whisked us off to a gorgeous 2 bed 2 bath villa replete with kitchen, living room, dining room and a jacuzzi in the back yard (when do I move in?)
The spa has a wide menu of spa treatments including hot mud baths (my girlfriend hated it, I loved it) Just bring an old bathing suit or go in sans the suit.
Massages are done in huts, with the hot desert air wafting through it was a wonderful experience.
The grounds are a wonder to behold as pathways meander throughout the resort down to a lake/pond with a creek running through the property. There are benches and chaise lounges discreetly placed for meditation or reading.
There are 2 main characteristics of this hotel.
One, you MUST converse in whisper tones in the common areas. Hence the rule of NO cell phones. I have actually seen the staff firmly but politely insist that this type A executive turn off his phone and respect the peace and quiet. I silently applauded and cheered.
Two, is "The Grotto". the Grotto is the natural spring that comes up out of the ground and is captured in one of the most beautiful hot tubs I have ever been in. On another visit I brought my husband and I floated him up ontop of some floats and did a "Watsu" type treatment for him, he said after that it was the most relaxing experience he had ever had while in the water.
