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Those of you who know me also are aware that I’m a huge fan of the business/leisure “staycation” — especially since I moved to Arizona. I was delighted to hear that hotels were back in business!
Reserving a room at the Boulders was especially fitting this Memorial Day weekend because:
- Three years ago, I launched this site from my porch at the resort.
- The on-property Mexican restaurant — The Spotted Donkey Cantina — brings back some great memories (and serves a mean spicy skinny margarita).
- Even though it’s only 20 minutes from my apartment, I feel as if I’m on another planet when I visit.
- Having drinks served poolside is always a treat. I finished a chick-lit novel, got a killer tan, and did some work on my business plan for June and beyond (hence the “B” in Bleisure).
Commemorating the “reopening of Arizona” and supporting independent businesses is critical right now.
I do have an important tip for post-pandemic travelers: When you book, be sure to ask detailed questions about what services will and won’t be available. I checked-in online so I wasn’t aware that housekeeping services (bed-making, linen-changing, and coffee replacement) wouldn’t be available or that the spa was closed. I understand and respect that hotels are doing what they can to keep guests safe, but more details would be appreciated upfront.
Hospitality businesses are operating with skeletal staffs and that can sometimes reflect on employees’ stress levels and service quality. The bar is even higher right now for 4- and 5-Star resorts to stress the importance of smiling and saying thank you (even if it’s behind a mask). The pool staff was clearly stretched thin, but they didn’t fail to deliver the highest possible level of attention and care.
We’re all scaling new boulders (real and metaphorical) and my loyalty to this amazing resort is unwavering. Caffeine deprivation or not, I’ll be back!
What do you think?