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| - The Biltmore is beautiful and exudes wealth and glamor. The grounds are expansive and impeccably maintained and the lobby is truly grand. The swimming pools are spectacular and the gym is wonderful (be sure to arrive early for fresh squeezed complimentary orange juice, coffee, tea, and apples). I didn't find the spa's amenities until the last day--be sure to take advantage of them starting upon arrival.
Despite what much of the literature suggests, this is not a Frank Lloyd Wright building... its design is based on his ideas with some input from him, but most of his recommendations went unused. Be sure to take one of the free bi-weekly history tours to learn more about this historical gem.
The employees were incredibly kind and helpful. If you asked where to find a room or pool, they would always walk with you until you found it. In the bars, the wait staff was very friendly and eager to make your experience perfect.
For athletes, the Biltmore is a godsend! They have granny bikes for check-out, tennis and basketball courts on-site, and they lead local hikes. Triathletes will be in their element with a richly-appointed weights and cardio area in the gym. They will also love:
Swimming: The 20-meter Ocatilla pool is good for lap swimming and usually empty during typical lap swim hours. The other pools are either busy, awkwardly-shaped or awkwardly-distanced, or there is no room for flip turns.
Running: Just outside the front doors is the nearly 70-mile long Arizona Canal Path. I ran 16 miles (8 out and 8 back) on this perfectly maintained canal-hugging dirt path. There is no water until the five mile mark so be sure to fill your bottles on your way back--it will be hot and the bellmen won't have water.
Cycling: While cycling is allowed on the Arizona Canal Path, it is dirt so limited to use by mountain bikes and hybrids. For cycling, the path is more suited for transportation. Instead, pull out that road or tri bike and head out to Carefree (yes, that's really the name of the town) and Bartlett Lake. From the Biltmore, it's 100 miles roundtrip with a generous 5,550' of climbing. If you have time, kick off your cycling shoes and enjoy a quick swim in the lake before your return.
There are vast options on-site for hanging out and talking with friends, laying around while relaxing in the sun, or putting on a wedding or conference event. We were there for a conference and it ran exceedingly well. The catered food was delicious (just say "Yes!" to gelato) and the rooms and tables were well-adorned. I especially liked the tables that had fire pits in the middle (it was cold outside and I could warm my hands). The area surrounding the resort is also nice. It's a hotspot for foodies and a great place to shop and saunter along as the sun sets.
I give the Biltmore four stars instead of five for several reasons.
1.) I liked our room a lot, but our view was terrible... we overlooked a rooftop.
2.) My husband (who tends to always be hot) and his colleagues were freezing during conference meetings. He had to wear a coat to all lectures.
3.) I've stayed in many five star hotels out of the country and find them to have a panache uncommon in US hotels. At five-star hotels, I've come to expect bellhops to greet me with a cool, lavender hand towel, cold drink, and a simple process of checking in (e.g., seamlessly moving me from the car to the registration desk and my luggage from the car to my room).
4.) Like what I found in the gym in the mornings, I've come to expect fruit-infused water, tea, and coffee in the lobby and snacks or fruit sitting around for guests. I'm used to these being ubiquitous (they were only in the gym at the Biltmore and only available in the mornings).
4.) I hated having to carry my key everywhere. They had a new key system allowing guests to unlock doors with their phones, but none of the staff were able to make it work with our phones.
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