Note: All travel is subject to frequently changing governmental restrictions—please check federal, state and local advisories before scheduling trips.

Resorts have always been an escape hatch from reality—it’s hard not to love room service, bath butlers and the siren call of a margarita whizzing in a blender. And if you’re looking for sheer weather predictability, Arizona wins the resort destination stakes—hello, endless sunshine! While some travelers might still be nervous to venture out to a resort right now, many top properties have gone all in on resort-wide COVID-19 protocols that include timed slots in the gym, QR-coded restaurant menus, upgraded cleaning procedures and mandatory masks, so guests can also feel more confident about their next stay. If you’re looking for a relaxing winter escape, these ten resorts overflow with amenities like lavish spas, gorgeous pools, fun bars and lots of on-site choices for dining. setting you up for a stress-free vacay.

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ADERO Scottsdale, an Autograph Collection Hotel: Scottsdale

If you find Scottsdale’s daytime temps too toasty for outdoor fun, check into the region’s newest resort, ADERO Scottsdale, where on-staff astronomers packing hi-def telescopes will take you, literally, into a different world. The resort’s location within a Dark Sky Community means you can hike by moonlight, too, where you’ll discover desert wonders like fragrant night-blooming cactus and scuttling scorpions (which glow blue in the moonlight). There’s also plenty to do during the day at this 177-room resort, including a pampering spa, two pools and meals at Cielo, which sits on a bluff overlooking the Sonoran Desert. Masks are required in the fitness center, spa and when entering restaurants; housekeeping is by request.

ARRIVE: Phoenix

Open since September, 2020, this tri-level resort blends sleek mid-century design notes—think low-slung furnishings and bright, large-scale wallpaper—with cool in-room amenities like mini-fridges, Apple TV, old-school turntables (with access to a far-reaching vinyl library) and, in a few cases, private fire pits. ARRIVE‘s rooftop lounge is slated to open in late fall; in the meantime, cocktails—some of which are enriched with soft-serve ice cream—and Hawaiian-inspired eats are served poolside at the retro (and super popular) Lylo Swim Club; all food and beverage offerings can also be delivered to your room. Though the vibe is playful, ARRIVE takes Covid precautions seriously, disinfecting rooms with a hospital-grade electrostatic system, providing bath linens in sealed containers and maintaining 50% occupancy.

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows: Scottsdale

Design geeks will have a hard time choosing a room at Andaz Scottsdale, a hallway-free 185-room resort offering bungalows and suites inspired by various mid-century icons, including Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen. Once you’ve picked your favorite look, you’ll need to figure out what kind of outdoor space you prefer: All rooms have outdoor terraces, but some crank up the privacy with walled terraces, outdoor showers and even tented bungalows that open onto one of the resort’s three pools. Dig into B, L and D from an outdoor table at the stylish Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen with views of Camelback Mountain; lighter lunch fare is also available at the Turquoise Pool Bar. There’s room service, too, and it’s available 24-hours a day. The desert-themed spa is also operating (though hours are limited) with interesting treatments that include CBD-infused massages and facials boosted with products containing DNA.

Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain: Tucson

Desert zen meets laid-back luxury at the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, an expansive mountaintop retreat. Start your day strolling through the resort’s citrus orchard, plucking the makings of your breakfast as you go. Later, consider golf on Jack Nicklaus-designed courses; get some sun time in at one of the three pools (don’t miss the spicy Watermelon Pizza, which is served at the water’s edge at Turquesa Latin Grill) or exploring the surrounding Sonoran Desert by foot or on one of the resort’s complimentary mountain bikes. At night, choose from one of the nearly 75 whiskeys offered at Ignite to sip by a fire pit under a sky ablaze with stars, or retreat to your room to take in the scene from your balcony or patio. Due to Covid, the holistic spa is operating only on weekends and masks are required in public spaces. Restaurants are open, but with limited seating and hours; room service has been paused.

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Sonesta ES Suites: Flagstaff

Outfitted with full kitchens (with dishwashers!), free premium cable and, in many guest rooms, fireplaces, this aparthotel makes it easy to curl up after a day exploring Sedona’s rugged landscape. But you’re not completely on your own at Sonesta ES Suites: You’ll also find a bar, grab and go cafe and workout facility; outdoor grills and a pool make the al fresco spaces inviting and functional. Sonesta has implemented a company-wide Covid protocol that includes a requirement that guests mask up in all indoor public areas, rooms and surfaces are sanitized using hospital-grade Ecolab products, and the hotel mandates daily health checks and enhanced Stay Safe with Sonesta training for all staff members.

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain: Scottsdale

Beyonce and Jay-Z famously spent their honeymoon tucked away in Sanctuary Resort and it’s easy to see why: Watching the sun set into the jagged mountains couldn’t be any more romantic and privacy abounds in the resort’s seven freestanding villas. There’s plenty of room to roam, too: The resort’s 109 rooms—some of which have outdoor soaking tubs and fireplaces—are scattered over 53 acres of blooming gardens and neat terraced lawns. Though the resort is close to town, tons of fun activities like tennis, SUP yoga in the pool, reformer Pilates and a restaurant helmed by celebrity chef Beau MacMillian will keep you happily occupied within the bubble. Covid precautions are a big deal at Sanctuary and include mandatory masks in all areas, including the gym and spa, limited capacity in all public areas and temperature checks. There are no elevators or internal hallways within the resort.

Amara Resort & Spa: Sedona

It’s all about the landscape at this 100-room resort: from Amara‘s massive greenspace, the zero-edge infinity pool, the outdoor dining space and, in most rooms, uninterrupted views of Sedona’s awe-inspiring red rocks. Sporty types will love free daily yoga and access to complimentary mountain bikes to explore nearby trails; additional amenities covered by the daily resort fee include coffee and pastries in the lobby each morning, daily happy hour and a shuttle into town. Rooms are bright and cheerful and overlook the rocks or the creek. Since most are pet friendly, guests without animals might want to consider a creekside spa room or suite, which also offer easy access to the meditative spa. Meals from the Southwestern-inflected Salt Rock Kitchen are served indoors, outdoors or in your room. Covid-level cleanliness is provided by both antimicrobial fogging and UV technology; housekeeping is by request only.

CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa: Scottsdale

Located just outside Scottsdale in the suburb of Carefree, CIVANA is a refreshing reminder of before times, when wellness meant something other than not having Covid. Here, eight to 10 wellness classes like meditation in the rose garden, hikes into the resort’s desert backyard and outdoor spin classes are offered each day, along with culinary demonstrations and free use of Trek bikes and equipment for tennis and pickleball. Dogs are so welcome that the resort even has its own dog park. It’s relaxing, too—there are no children allowed, rooms are done up in soothing neutrals and the spa menu is studded with offbeat experiences like reflexology, reiki and a hydrotherapy circuit. Covid precautions include masks in indoor areas, regular temperature checks and disinfection of the exterior of your luggage when you arrive.

Wigwam Arizona: Litchfield Park

The Wigwam may have gotten its start in the 1920s as a housing complex for local Goodyear execs but these days, set with hundreds of towering palms, groves of fragrant citrus trees and expansive emerald-green lawns, the 330-acre property is an oasis of beauty and calm amid the Phoenix-area enclave of Litchfield Park. Social distancing is easy here: Expansive rooms with private balconies and patios are housed in neat white stucco casitas; outdoor dining options abound and spill into the gardens under twinkling white lights. There are also three pools, two golf courses, nine tennis courts and plenty of open space for walking. Masks are required in public areas including the fitness center and spa (and requested when walking to your table in the restaurant). Staff members have completed the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe course and utilize enhanced cleaning protocols that follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization recommendations.

L’Auberge de Sedona: Sedona

You travel to Sedona for the stunning views of fiery red rock formations, but after a day under the desert sun, you’ll be glad for the cool glade of sycamores that surrounds L’Auberge de Sedona; it’s the perfect shady spot to take in the garnet-hued pinnacles. The resort’s restaurant, Cress, takes full advantage of the magical locale with an open-air dining room set directly on the banks of a burbling creek. Cottage-style dwellings come with views of lush gardens, desert landscapes or the creek; there are also rooms within the resort’s main lodge. All have private decks or patios; some have fireplaces, outdoor showers or jetted tubs. A few are located just steps from the resort’s holistic spa, where treatments utilize ingredients like sage and juniper. Covid precautions include masked resort staff, pausing housekeeping and rearranging seating in public areas to provide greater distance between parties.

Tagged: Arizona