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Whether you’re getting a massage, facial, scrub or wrap, there’s no need to dress to impress at The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician. Casual clothes are ideal at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Phoenix spa, although you won’t be wearing them for long. Upon arrival you’ll be escorted to a locker room where a soft robe awaits. Wear it for the duration of your visit. Comfortable workout clothing is required for some treatments, like the unique Table Thai session, which focuses on stretching and acupressure, or the Clinical Sports massage. If you plan to use the gym or take a fitness class, be sure to pack gym shoes and workout-appropriate clothing. And don’t forget a swimsuit — spa-goers get access to the resort’s beautiful (and fun) pools. 

Fall in love with massage oil or a skincare product from Pevonia Botanica used during your treatment at The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician? Pick up a bottle on the way out at the Spa Boutique. Located right by the front doors, the shop offers many products used during treatments, including oils, body scrubs and lotions. While not every product used during treatments is available for purchase, there’s no lack of options to choose from at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Phoenix spa.

The Centre for Well-Being at the Phoenician has a decidedly grown-ups-only feel; however, children 16 and older can join an adult for some spa day fun — including massages, wraps and facials. While ages 16 and over are welcome in the locker rooms, be sure your child is comfortable with nudity as the sauna, steam room and whirlpool are all clothing optional. On a recent visit, we noted that, unlike at some spas, swimsuits in the locker rooms were not a common choice. Your child might feel more comfortable at the outdoor pools, where there’s a waterslide for them to enjoy, rather than inside the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa. 

The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician resort is more than happy to pack up the pampering and move it to your room. A 60-, 90- or 120-minute massage is easy to book and perfect for those days when you just can’t be bothered to leave the room. If you are an early bird or night owl, expect to pay a bit more for an in-room treatment at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa — a $20 fee is added on for treatments before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m. But it’s certainly worth it if you just want to stay cozy in your room and not trek down to the spa. 

Down a wide, sand-colored outdoor staircase, past the potted plants, cacti and native desert flora, you’ll find two glass doors that lead straight into the reception area at The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician. The entrance to this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Phoenix spa isn’t ornate or over-done. But the simple act of heading down the stairs (or grabbing a nearby elevator) to just below ground level does give you a sense that you’re leaving the world behind for a few hours. It can be easy to miss the entrance if you’re tooling around the sprawling Phoenician grounds by foot or golf cart — the signage for The Centre juts only slightly above ground level and faces an interior resort street — but it’s close to the free parking garage and easy to find from the resort entrance. If you get lost, chances are one of the exceptionally friendly resort staff members whizzing by in a golf cart will offer to give you a lift or, at least, directions. 

Centered on healing and overall well-being, The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician is all about comfort and relaxation, so if you have a therapist preference, relax. This Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Phoenix spa is more than happy to accommodate. During the reservation process, the friendly spa staff will ask if you have a therapist gender preference and, if your choice is unavailable, they will find you a new appointment time. After checking in, a same-sex attendant will escort you on a brief tour of the intimate facilities, where relaxation and meditation is king, before bringing you to the locker room.

Spa days in the desert sun can leave you parched, but The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician in Phoenix has refreshments down pat. Arranged in a line at the Waters Bar in the relaxation area, infused waters, iced and hot teas keep spa-goers hydrated. The locker rooms are stocked with water (infused and plain), but the real treat is the rooibos teas — a red tea from South Africa touted for its antioxidants and health benefits. Sip a cup or 10 while relaxing in the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa, and maybe take one for the road, too. Upstairs at the gym, you’ll find apples and oranges alongside the beverages. 

If you’re feeling famished post-treatment, or just looking to make a spa day complete with a light, healthy meal, The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician has you covered. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa doesn’t have its own culinary facility, but a luxurious meal from any of The Phoenician resort restaurants, including room service or something from one of the many upscale dining options, can be ordered and delivered at any time. Just ask the friendly and helpful staff. You can even place an order at check-in to be delivered just after the soothing — and free — meditation class that takes place at noon every day in the sun-drenched Meditation Atrium.

Calm, minimalist and intimate, the waiting area at The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician is just the right size and perfectly soothing to the eyes after the richly colored green grass of the golf courses outside. After heading down the outdoor staircase and past the native plants and potted trees, you’ll find yourself opposite the reception desk, where you will be greeted immediately and escorted into the men’s or women’s locker room. This is a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa with a purpose — getting you deep into relaxation in one of the treatment rooms — and the waiting area is just the right introduction. You won’t be wandering the halls here or wondering if you’re in the right place. From the moment you walk in, your brain will quiet and the flow of the space will take over. Should you find yourself waiting in the reception area, be sure to check out the bronze sculptures or just embrace the Zen atmosphere and relax on the plush sofa or chairs. 

Soft, light and take-me-home comfy, the robes at The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician are like a gentle hug — not too much, not too little. White, clean and not overly thick, these robes are like the ones you wish you had at home (but don’t). Between the multiple hot tub dips and steam room visits, we found the robes to be a little on the cool side during our recent winter visit; however, they strike the perfect temperature balance when lounging in the warm Phoenix sun at one of the resort’s many pools. You’ll find all-purpose black plastic sandals instead of slippers here. Though they don’t necessarily bathe your toes in luxury, the sandals are perfect for padding around the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa’s wet areas and wandering out to the pool.

While this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa doesn’t skimp, the relaxation lounge and locker rooms at The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician take a back seat to the outstanding treatments.

The locker rooms provide all the basics in a small space — including everything you forgot to bring from home — but the limited showers and restrooms means that on busy days there will likely be a line. The dark wood lockers are top of the line and outfitted with coded locks, but each area has just one bench for sitting and chatting — or, more likely, for juggling your belongings while slipping into and out of robes. The small changing rooms are just big enough to get out of your clothes and into the soft robes, but with only two in the locker room, they aren’t empty for long.

Seating inside the locker rooms and wet areas is limited, but the zero gravity leather chairs in the Meditation Atrium are not to be missed. With sunlight filtering in from above and a slow waterfall bubbling within, emptying the mind and meditating is easy here. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the daily, free meditation class offered by the spa or catch up on some light reading. Grab a tea or water from the nearby refreshment bar and empty your mind, but don’t expect to grab much of a nap — the soothing space tends to double as a waiting area for treatments.

The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician is all about the relaxation of body, mind and soul, and the interior design reflects that with a distinctive meditative feel. Painted in colors that can only be called spa-neutral, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa uses blues, purples and greens to get you out of the hustle and bustle and into a Zen-like state. There isn’t a whole lot on the walls to distract you from the mission of meditation — a few bronze sculptures, some well-chosen pieces that reflect the native arts of Phoenix, a flush of potted plants — but the minimalist style works. After all, a visit here isn’t about wandering the halls admiring the art. This place is about putting your feet up and letting the cares of the world whoosh right into the bubbling terra-cotta fountain in the Meditation Atrium. 

Tucked inside the locker rooms, the sauna, steam room and hot tub maximize the small space at The Centre for Well-Being at the Phoenician. When you first walk in the locker room door at the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa, you’ll find the hot tub immediately to the right. A tiled space, there are screens around the open tub to create more privacy. While the hot tub is the perfect space to melt your stress away, its central location in the locker room isn’t screened from the sounds of hair dryers and showers. Be sure to turn on the jets as you step into the bubbles — they help keep the noise level from reaching you. The sauna and steam room are just past the hot tub in a more secluded area. The steam room has just the right amount of mist, not too much that you can’t see, but just enough to allow the stress to melt off you. The sauna is lit well and has two high benches for relaxation. The small space keeps traffic down and makes for the perfect escape. The entirety of the wet area has towels at the ready, in case you leave yours behind.

The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician is all about total wellness — mind, body and soul — and the treatments at this luxurious Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa reflect that focus. Many of the staff members have been with the spa since the early days, and their commitment to the mission of relaxation and total health is reflected in the outstanding massages, facials, wraps and scrubs. While it’s hard to go wrong here, whether you want a traditional massage or something more unique, these are the five treatments we think are best:

1. The Desert Serenity scrub, wrap and massage. Unique to the spa, this package is every treatment you want — and have to have — rolled into one. A full body and mind relaxation package, Desert Serenity takes the best the desert has to offer, like detoxifying aloe vera and rich clay, and mixes it with a traditional full body massage. The treatment starts with the scrub and wrap, and after a soothing shower, finishes with an expert massage. You’ll leave with glowing skin, soothed muscles and a calm mind.

2. Holistic massage. A truly apt title, this experience brings together a variety of massage techniques that are tailored exactly to you. It goes without saying, but we’re saying it anyway: The masseuses here are top-notch, and while this massage has a seemingly simply description, the result is anything but.

3. Shea butter wrap with honey avocado foot therapy. Is desert air turning your skin lizard-like? This wrap will have it glowing in no time. A 100 percent shea butter is massaged over the entire body before you’re cocooned. Next, your feet are exfoliated and coated with a foot masque that would make the Greek gods jealous.

4. Personalized facial. If you’re in serious need of some deep cleansing and toning, but worry that a facial will leave your skin in worse shape than when you started, this is the way to go. The treatment begins with a skin analysis, and the rest is customized based on your needs and particular skin-type.

5. Well-Being stone ritual. A Native American healing ritual, this treatment is perfect for sore joints and muscles. Warm river stones and cool marble stones are placed on the body and, using gentle pressure, melt away stress. This treatment has a spiritual note to it, bringing mind, body and soul together in the name of relaxation. 

From the lush golf courses to the stunning restaurants, The Phoenician offers couples a romantic getaway — and The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician is equally perfect. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa offers a traditional Swedish or therapeutic side-by-side massage, as well as the comprehensive Perfect Pair package, which includes a 60-minute couples massage, a manicure/pedicure for one and a 50-minute aromatherapy skin treatment and pedicure for the other. The real gem here, however, is Massage 101 for Couples. A two-hour private lesson in Swedish massage techniques and a sample of The Phoenician massage oil translates into excellent massages at home — for life. Want to get a couples massage? Go for the side-by-side. Want to get a couples massage for life? Opt for Massage 101 and stop by the Spa Boutique on your way out to stock up on massage oils. 

The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician offers a 50-minute aromatherapy massage as part of its massage menu. A traditional Swedish massage at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa is enhanced by your choice of scented oil in a gentle, full body treatment. Aimed at ultimate relaxation, the expert masseuses work with your preferences to create a holistic experience by combining the soothing scents with the ultimate in relaxation.

The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician has a decidedly adults-only vibe; however, kids 16 and older can join in for some spa-day fun, including massages, wraps, scrubs and facials. There aren’t any special treatments for children, but the Ice Cream manicure or pedicure is a fun treat for kids of all ages. The treatment begins with the selection of a bath ice cream ball flavor and includes a Shower Sherbet exfoliating sugar scrub and a body icing massage. And, of course, Häagen-Dazs ice cream. 

The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician doesn’t offer a wide range of acupressure treatments, but the Table Thai signature experience incorporates acupressure techniques into gentle rocking and stretching movements. The 80-minute treatment works to increase flexibility and range of motion all while creating an atmosphere of relaxation without oils. The movements, which involve a wide variety of positions, are enhanced by the usage of acupressure. Be sure to wear comfortable gym clothing for this treatment — it keeps you moving.

From traditional to unique, The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician brings the body and mind together through its deeply relaxing and soothing massages. Some of the traditional options include the Holistic massage, which combines a variety of massage techniques that are tailored exactly to you, as well as reflexology, aromatherapy, lymphatic, therapeutic and Swedish massage. The unique Well-Being Stone Ritual draws on Native American healing techniques to melt away joint pain and sore muscles. The craniosacral massage, a truly unique option, uses powerful motions along the spinal column to relieve tension in the head and shoulders, while the Phoenix Energy Balancing uses Reiki and oils to sooth the body, mind and soul. It’s hard to go wrong with any of the options and, should you want to bring the massages home, be sure to book the Massage 101 for Couples to learn some Swedish massage techniques that your sweetie will love.

If you’re looking to get all wrapped up at The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa has several options. The stellar Desert Serenity scrub, wrap and massage is a full-spa experience designed to detoxify and renew. Aloe vera, clay and essential oils are applied to skin and, after a shower, a full body massage awaits. If a wrap is all you really want, the spa doesn’t disappoint. From the shea butter wrap with honey avocado foot therapy, where your body is covered in 100 percent pure shea butter, to the Papaya Quench wrap, which stars a papaya-pineapple masque, the wraps will get your skin back into top shape — and leave you glowing and fresh.

The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician has a little fun at its Salon Mila with some funky and traditional nail services. The Ice Cream manicure or pedicure is a refreshing treat, especially in the Phoenix summer sun. The treatment begins with the selection of a bath ice cream ball flavor and includes a Shower Sherbet exfoliating sugar scrub and a body icing massage. (And, of course, a Häagen-Dazs ice cream.) The salon at the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa also has alliteration-based fun with the Luscious Lemon and Lavender hand and foot treatment, which includes a lemongrass sugar scrub and a lavender paraffin application. The delightful manis and pedis include a hand or foot massage, and more traditional nail services, like a gel or French manicure, are also available. 

Whether you have a big night out on the town planned after a day of luxury at The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician, or you’re just looking for a quick cut, Salon Mila at this Phoenix spa has you covered. The Out-on-the-Town package puts together an evening hairstyle and makeup application, while the Miracle Moisturizing hair treatment conditions and restores shine — perfect after a day of pampering. From a basic gentleman’s haircut to eyebrow shaping, this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa does it all.

The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician takes skin rejuvenation seriously. After all, the goal here is wellness for the body, mind and spirit — all of which shine after a decadent scrub at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Phoenix spa. The Desert Serenity scrub, wrap and massage is a full-service package that includes a gentle exfoliation, an application of rich clay and aloe vera and a full body massage.

But if all you’re really after is a scrub, the spa has three basic options: gentle, medium and aggressive. The Jojoba Body Polish combines crushed jojoba seeds and agave nectar — a desert staple — for a rich, soothing scrub. If you’re after a more aggressive approach, check out the Lavender and Sage, a treatment that combines the plants’ soothing scents with an invigorating scrub. Both the vanilla-coconut and lime-coconut scrubs finish with a massage, while the Aromatherapy Sea Salt, the most aggressive scrub, combines aromatherapy oils and salt to leave the skin feeling revitalized and silky.

Focused on the health of more than just the body, one of the most unique treatments at The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician combines traditional technique with Eastern-inspired healing to relax and unite the body, mind and spirit. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa’s Acussage treatment combines acupuncture — which uses very fine needles quickly and painlessly poked into skin to restore energy balance — with therapeutic massage for an experience that helps ease chronic pain and improve energy levels. This Phoenix spa’s holistic approach continues with the craniosacral massage, which uses powerful holds along the spinal column to help with headaches, neck pain and stress relief. The Phoenix Energy Balancing draws on Reiki balancing, while the Table Thai treatment calls on acupressure and deep stretching for healing. This is the place to go if you’re in need of some serious work — whether on stress relief or chronic pain — as the spa’s philosophy and dedicated staff ensure that you will be cared for inside and out.

All treatments are open to both sexes, but The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician does offer a specialized treatment for men at the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa with the Men’s Prerogative package. This luxurious treatment promises to “enhance your gentlemanly aura” with a 50-minute massage, 50-minute toning facial and 30-minute scalp treatment. If you’re looking to groom your hands and feet, the salon also offers a manicure/pedicure customized for men. 

The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician is open until 8 p.m. The latest facial can be scheduled at 5:30 p.m., and a 50-minute massage can be booked as late as 6:30 p.m.. We recommend arriving a bit early if your busy schedule can spare it. The sauna, steam room and Meditation Atrium are the perfect places to relax away stress — and it’s simply no fun to get kicked out just as you’re settling in for a deep meditation.