My mom and I took our first mother-daughter trip in October and it was an incredible getaway. We ended up choosing Miraval in Arizona thanks to generous offer from Hyatt Privé that included a guaranteed upgrade and an extra $100 per person resort credit on top of the already fantastic credit of $525 per person. Overall, it was an amazing retreat so I’ll break down everything you need to know before booking Miraval.

What to know: Booking

Miraval is part of the Hyatt portfolio so it can be booked with points (45,000 per night) or with cash. It’s certainly a high-priced points redemption but it is a full-board property, meaning all your meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are included. The points bookings do also come with the $175 credit per person per night. Keep in mind, points bookings may not be eligible for extra resort credit offers you may see online.

You can book Miraval directly on the Hyatt website, and be sure to look out of offers that included additional resort credits or experiences. I booked via Hyatt Privé as a travel advisor and was granted a guaranteed upgrade from the Dreamcatcher room type to the Sunrise room immediately upon booking as well as a total of $625 resort credit per guest. This credit can be used for spa treatments, classes, workshops, off-property hikes and experiences.

What to know: Arrival

Miraval includes a complimentary shuttle transfer to the property from the Tucson airport, which we gladly took advantage of given it’s 1 hour distance from the airport. We were greeted promptly on arrival and happened to be the last passengers they picked up so we did not have to wait long to get on the road. We were provided with Miraval branded totes, reusuable water bottles and cold water bottles as we entered the van, which was a great start to the trip.

The drive is 1 hour through the Sonoran desert and is very beautiful. We landed at 9:30am and were at the resort by 11am.

Upon arrival to the property, we were greeted in the lobby by the front desk staff and asked to sign a waiver promising to limit the use of our “digital devices” aka phones and laptops throughout the common areas of the resort. We were gifted little “phone sleeping bags” which was an adorable touch and then sent to check in.

Since we booked using Hyatt Privé, we were able to immediately check into our room early, Sunrise Double room #601.

After checking in, we were given a fabulous tour around in a golf cart to familiarize ourselves with the hotel and since we had booked a massage for 1pm, we went straight to lunch to grab a bite beforehand at the restaurant.

What to know: Rooms

There are a number of room types, suites and villas available on property, starting with the Native Spirit rooms, the Dreamcatcher rooms and Sunrise rooms. Note that if you book on points, you will be booking either the Native Spirit or the Dreamcatcher. The only difference between the Native Spirit and Dreamcatcher is that the Dreamcatcher has an outdoor patio space so be sure to select Dreamcatcher if you are booking on points. If you are booking on Privé, you will get a guaranteed upgrade to the next room type, essentially bumping you from Native to Dreamcatcher or Dreamcatcher to Sunrise. The Sunrise rooms are stunning, with large glass doors, a firepit and an outdoor shower, making this a very worthy upgrade.

We were upgraded to the Sunrise Double room and I would highly recommend this room category. This 600-square foot space is elegantly furnished with two fluffy double beds (read: extremely comfortable), a small dinette, indoor and outdoor shower as well as a bathtub. My favorite part of the room (besides the outdoor shower) was the incredible patio space overlooking the mountains with a large firepit, two chaise loungers and two comfortable lounge chairs. The patio was the perfect place to end every day with a glass of wine by the firepit.

There is a fridge in the room with one carafe of water with a filter to refill it as you need as well as a somewhat mediocre coffee machine and tea supplies. While they don’t have room service, you can call and request bottles of wine to your room by calling the bar or front desk and they will bring ice and wine glasses.

The bathroom features Miraval’s signature spa products as well as standard toiletries and a drybar hair dryer.

Overall, the room was extremely comfortable, quiet and serene. We absolutely loved the bedding and fully blackout curtains. The 600 village is one of the farther room blocks and is a bit of a walk to the main area, but you can always request a buggy to pick you up and take you back as needed.

What to know: Food & Beverage

Miraval is a full board property, meaning your meals and snacks are included as well as non-alcoholic beverages. On property they have a cafe with to-go coffee, snacks, smoothies and sandwiches as well as a bar and restaurant. The smoothies are excellent, as is the coffee. The focus of the dining experience is around health, nutrition and minimizing waste. There is a broad range of options across the meals and both breakfast and lunch feature both a buffet and an al la carte menu.

Breakfast included staples like omelettes, bacon and more to order as well as a buffet of pastries, pancakes, eggs, meats and plant-based items. Lunch featured a delicious burger (plant based or regular) as well as a variety of salads and proteins. There was always a daily special for lunch and dinner that was typically delicious and very fresh. Dinner is a la carte only and offers a larger menu that rotates daily.

The bar is located across from the restaurant and offers a light snack as well as the chargeable bar with cocktails, wines, beers and more. Most guests had a sundowner in the afternoons sitting by the fire pits or the indoor fireplace and it was a lovely place to connect with other guests.

We did take part in the Cook for Me session on our last night and it was for sure the best dining experience we had. The chef is fantastic, fun and makes delicious cuisine with the wine pairing. We would 100% do that again and highly recommend it.

Overall, the dining experience was excellent for breakfast and lunch and lacked a bit of service in the evenings. Dinner service is definitely an area the property needs to improve as it was a stark contrast from the high quality, friendly and efficient service from breakfast and lunch. One this to note about dining is this is a very relaxed property and there is no dress code. While I brought some nice dresses to wear, I did regret not just going in my lounge wear like most guests. It truly is a “come as you are” property and I loved that about it. They are true to their word of being “luxury without being lavish”.

What to know: Spa & Wellness facilities

A main area of focus for Miraval is its spa and wellness facilities. Miraval sells more as a retreat than a traditional resort and as such, many of the activities are centered around wellness. Miraval has a full service spa as well as both free and paid classes such as floating meditation, yoga, cardio classes, stretching, meditations and more. You can see the full activities calendar here.

The spa provides unlimited access to guests to use the facilities with or without a treatment. The facilities include a separate pool, women’s locker room with steam, sauna and jacuzzi, men’s locker room with a steam and sauna as well as a relaxation lounge. I took part in both a massage and body treatment and both were excellent. You can find the full spa menu here. The spa has indoor and outdoor treatment rooms – I personally preferred the indoor treatment rooms to the outdoor tented style rooms due to the indoor rooms being much quieter.

The resort also has another pool near the fitness center as well as endless lounge areas across the property for exploring and enjoying nature. The fitness facility is beautiful, with nice equipment and was never too crowded. The fitness classes take part across the property ranging from yurts to a beautiful yoga studio and more.

What to know: Workshops & classes

Miraval offers an extensive selection of workshops and classes, all aimed at fostering mindfulness, wellness, and personal growth. We spoke with a number of guests who have explored other resorts in the area that are incredible, but they do not have as many activities and workshops as Miraval does. So if you are looking for an educational and fun experience, this is definitely the property for you.

For the artistically inclined, there are photography workshops teach technical skills but also encourage participants to view their surroundings with a fresh, appreciative perspective, taking it from a normal photography class to something almost meditative. Cooking classes are also offered, with a focus on preparing healthy and sustainable meals. We took part in a cocktail making class that was fantastic and we learned how to make a healthy version of a spicy margarita.

Alongside these unique offerings, Miraval also provides a range of traditional wellness classes. These include yoga, Pilates, and tai chi. We did both a yoga class and a floating meditation and both were excellent options.

They do offer a suite of workshops and classes focused around astrology and clairvoyance with a number of well known instructors and the ones we went to were excellent. We did several classes and a private tarot card reading and really enjoyed getting out of our comfort zone through these activities.

It’s important to note that while many of the workshops and classes are included in the cost of your stay, most do require an additional fee and they do book up in advance. Therefore, it’s recommended to reserve your spot as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out on experiences you are excited about. I did pre-book most of the classes, but that being said we did find that it wasn’t too difficult to get into classes once you were onsite as people’s schedules change. My recommendation is to pick a few per day that you know you want to do and then add on as you wish based on feedback from other guests or things that inspire you while you’re on property.

Separate from the workshops and classes, there are also daily vendors that set up in the main building near Cactus Flower restaurant. We loved seeing new jewelry and goods every day from local artists and even got matching permanent bracelets. This is a great and thoughtful addition to the regularly scheduled program at Miraval.

Overall, the workshops and classes at Miraval offer a diverse range of opportunities for personal growth, exploration, and relaxation. Whether you’re looking to try something new, push your boundaries, or simply enjoy a peaceful retreat, there’s something for everyone at Miraval. I will point out that there were plenty of people who were just there for the spa and the pool with no intention of going to classes, workshops or anything else.

Pro tips & recommendations

Some of the top tips I can provide about an experience at Miraval are as follows:

• Sign up for 2-4 activities per day in advance that you know you want to attend but leave space to add or change while on property
• The offsite hike is a very long drive from the resort so we ended up joining a on-property hike that was lovely
• Sign up for the Cook for Me session- you will not regret it
• If you budget for it, be sure to experience something out of your comfort zone like the Elements of Healing session with a famous clairvoyant or a zip line adventure if you’re looking for some adrenaline.
• Sign up in advance for the morning yoga class to start your day off right
• Book during a deal period to get extra resort credit (email me for help if you want to book with Privé perks)
• If possible, fly into Tucson in the morning to start your vacation early

It’s easy to see why so many guests return to Miraval year over year. With endless classes, a relaxing and device free property and full board food package, it’s an amazing retreat from every day life that can be as activity filled as you want. If you’re looking to secure the best deal, be sure to reach out but if you’re looking for a great experience in southern Arizona, Miraval is a great choice.