Last month, my wife and I had the pleasure of visiting Amangiri with two of our closest friends. All aspects of our stay were exceptional, the food was amazing, the rooms were beautiful, and the staff was appropriately attentive. There were, however, a few members of the team that went above and beyond even the most lofty expectations for our stay.
At breakfast each day Derek greeted with a smile, and like all members of the team, learned our preferences quickly. His conversations were effortless and we instantly felt like he was an old friend. On the last day, Derek gave us each a handwritten note thanking us for brightening HIS mornings! In many luxury properties that we've visited in the past, the overwhelming attitude of the staff (spoken or not) has been I'm glad you're having a good time...wish I could too. Derek's attitude each and every day, but specifically on our last day, was I'm glad you're having a good time and I am too! That is a measurable difference in the staff at Amangiri vs other luxury resorts I've visited. I felt like we were staying with friends...friends with the best backyard ever!
We also took the time to enjoy several of the excursions offered at Amangiri. We began our stay with a tour of Antelope Canyon with a local guide named Roman. In addition to being a knowledgeable guide, Roman was also a gifted photographer who took pictures of the canyons for us and helped me set up my camera to take pictures of the starry sky that night. We visited Antelope Canyon, Owl Canyon, Rattlesnake Canyon, and another unnamed slot canyon. In the back of Owl Canyon, Roman performed improvised song on a Navajo flute, it was incredible.
Our adventures continued the next morning with JJ McMahon of Adventure Partners at Amangiri. Initially we planned to take on only one via ferrata, the Hoodoo course. Our first morning, my wife was anxious about the climb, but JJ quickly put her at ease and we were scaling the mountains in no time. We had an incredible degree of trust in his care for our safety which made the climb easier and more enjoyable. He took pictures at every turn, so our climb was documented in a manner that we'd have never accomplished on our own.
He also provided genuine recommendations for other activities. After our climb, and at our request, JJ gave us short descriptions of other activities we could take on while visiting the area. At his recommendation, we scheduled a trip to see Bryce and Zion via helicopter very next day. The views from the flight were only surpassed by the information and stories JJ provided regarding everything we were observing. The trip included a stop at Bryce for a few hours of hiking and a flight over Zion.
On our final day, we chose to complete one more via ferrata course, the Cave. By the end of the climb, I felt like I was out with an old friend, not a resort guide.
The incredible natural beauty of Amangiri is only surpassed by the exceptional service provided during your stay. My wife and I could visit many places to see the views, but we are anxious to return to this property because of the individuals that made our stay so special.
