ARIZONA’S LUXURY DESERT OASIS, CASTLE HOT SPRINGS, RECOGNIZED AMONG THE BEST HOTELS IN THE WORLD FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR IN TRAVEL + LEISURE’S 2025 T+L 500

Castle Hot Springs, Arizona’s 1,100-acre luxury resort destination, is proud to announce its inclusion in the 2025 edition of Travel + Leisure’s prestigious T+L 500 list for the fourth consecutive year in a row. This annual list celebrates the top hotels and resorts around the globe, derived from the 500 highest hotel scorers as voted by readers in the publication’s annual World’s Best Awards survey. This ongoing recognition highlights Castle Hot Springs’ steadfast dedication to delivering an exceptional guest experience defined by the destination’s natural beauty, personalized service, and a holistic approach to well-being.

Each year, the discerning readers of Travel + Leisure — the largest travel media brand in the United States, with an audience of more than 36 million — vote for their favorite destinations, city hotels, resorts, and more in the World’s Best Awards survey. Drawing from the 2024 results, the 2025 T+L 500 list recognizes the best hotels around the globe in a prestigious, non-ranked directory, categorized by geographic region and alphabetical order. The honorees are grouped into eight geographic regions: Africa and the Middle East; Asia; Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific; Canada; the Caribbean; Europe; Mexico, Central America, and South America; and the United States. This roster of properties serves as a trusted resource for millions of enthusiastic travelers.  

Nestled in the Bradshaw Mountains just 50 miles outside of Phoenix, Castle Hot Springs is a luxury all-inclusive desert oasis in the heart of The Sonoran Desert, featuring 31 standalone bungalows and cabins. The historic resort is inspired by the West’s natural elements and mineral-rich hot springs, which are situated at the heart of the sprawling 1,100-acre property.

Established in 1896 as Arizona’s first luxury wellness resort, Castle Hot Springs is steeped in history and long-known as a beloved retreat of choice for America’s captains of industry, including the Cabots, Vanderbilts, Wrigleys, Roosevelts, and Astors, offering over 100 years of tradition.

Renowned for its three ancient hot springs rich with minerals which enhance both physical and mental well-being by improving mood, calming the mind, and easing aching muscle, the expansive nature-driven resort melds its natural surroundings with an array of summer camp-inspired adventure activities, from Via Ferrata to canyon hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, archery, axe throwing, pickleball and more paired with restorative wellness programs and a robust spa element, all complemented by a ‘digital detox’ philosophy and a world-class culinary experience that rivals the world’s finest restaurants. 

Led by Executive Chef Chris Knouse, the resort’s chef-driven culinary program is best known for its nightly tasting menus at Harvest, showcasing hyper-seasonal, farm-to-table ingredients grown on the resort’s lush on-site farm via a robust ‘Flavor Farming’ agricultural program. Chef Knouse collaborates closely with the farm’s team, guiding them to grow precisely what his evolving menus require, ensuring a distinct farm-to-table experience each season. A true foodie paradise, dishes are crafted from over 200 varieties of hyper-seasonal ingredients all picked at the peak of ripeness to ensure the most nutrient-dense bounty, resulting in a dining experience that is as unique as the landscape surrounding it. 

The 2025 T+L 500 List is featured in the May 2025 ‘Hotels’ issue of Travel + Leisure, currently out on newsstands; select highlights of the list are found online at https://www.travelandleisure.com/top-500-hotels-2025-11707497.  For additional details on Castle Hot Springs or to book a stay, please visit www.castlehotsprings.com.