A Hotel Worth Knowing: Amangiri
The Hotel
When you drive up to the front gates of Amangiri, Aman’s flagship US property in the 180-million-year-old Utah desert landscape, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in the wrong place. A rickety wooden gate and an intercom are the only signs of life for miles, and as you head up the dirt track that leads to the hotel, surrounded only by Mars-like rock formations and vast, empty skies, you start to question if you’re being led into a trap.
You’re not. Discretion is a hallmark of Amangiri and that begins with the property itself. The entire space is designed to feel like an extension of the natural world it inhabits – a tour of the property reveals cavernous open-air spaces between rocks, architectural stone-washed walls that appear to have been born out of the dusty earth beneath them, water features designed to feel like desert mirages and the jewel in the crown, the swimming pool, which was carved into the pre-historical rock formations. Living walls and olive trees are quite literally the only signs of life – step outside of the main areas, where everyone speaks in hushed tones, and you feel like you’re the only people on a deserted planet, with just the occasional bowed-head employee pit-pattering past you.
The Rooms
Rooms are white and airy, with private front and back terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows showing off the vast landscape. Your own firepit for s’mores is a bonus as long as you’re visiting outside of summer months, where desert temperatures drive you inside in search of air con. But you won’t be sad about hibernating – enormous fluffy beds take centre stage in the middle of the room, while double showers and deep tubs provide a private sanctuary away from the hotel’s shared areas.
The Food
The hotel has one central restaurant, housed in the tasteful main reception space. Menus focus on elevated American fare – think fish tacos, truffled pizzas, poke bowls and burgers – with an adapted version available around the pool until 3pm. While the food is delicious, the atmosphere in the evening is lacking – there’s a slight airport lounge feel about the place – so instead, hop in a buggy and dine at Camp Sarika – the property’s glossy take on desert dining. Akin to a luxurious safari lodge, it’s an intimate, pool-side terrace restaurant serving up a relaxed Spanish-inspired tasting menu – we enjoyed succulent octopus, spice-laden corn and tender chicken. The tinkling of wine glasses and sky glittering with stars provide all the atmosphere you need.
The Spa
Oh, the spa. Cranking open the double-height door and padding down the pitch-black entrance corridor, lit only by candles, is a monastic experience, while the various sunken pools, trickling waterfalls and sofa-clad relaxation areas, all shrouded in silence apart from background desert noise, exacerbate the sense of holiness. There’s everything on offer here, from massages to indigenous healing therapies and meditation and wellness practices; we had an indulgent facial in one of the impossibly comfortable treatment rooms, before a private sound bath in an echoing hall-like space which was truly transcendent. An impressive gym sits on top of the spa, boasting high-tech equipment alongside ice-cold coconut water and a steady supply of electrolytes.
The Extras
Amangiri is just 30 minutes from the also much-Instagrammed Antelope Canyon and Lake Powel. You can read more about the best way to experience these sites here. Naturally, the hotel can facilitate private tours of all local attractions but take no offense to you choosing an external (read: cheaper) supplier, instead packing your car with sandwiches, brownies and ice-cold water before you depart.
The Verdict
Look, it’s not cheap. Almost as famous as Amangiri’s showstopping architecture is its jaw-dropping price. But for a truly unique experience, it really delivers – it’s hard to marry incredible scenery with impossible comfort and luxury, best-in-class facilities and a real sense of calm and intimacy, but the property manages it. The service is a dream – by American standards – and there’s something fun about all-inclusive at this level. Just give us a few years to save up, and we’ll be back.
Visit AMAN.COM
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.