Royal Palms Resort and Spa, Phoenix, Arizona (Day #1) – In the business world, one of the things that I learned many years ago was that first impressions are very critical to your enterprise.  Perhaps even more important is the fact that it is very hard to undo a bad first impression.

Clearly, the Royal Palms Resort and Spa understands and has mastered the art of the first impression.

We arrived at 12:00 and our room wasn’t quite ready yet.  Therefore, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at their on-property fine dining restaurant, T. Cook’s.  As a side note, their White Sangria was cool, refreshing, and out of this world!

Shortly after our lunch, my cell phone began vibrating in my pocket to alert me that our room was done.  When our bellman opened the door to our Alavadora Spa Terrace Suite, this was the opulent luxury that was beckoning our entrance.

As our optical systems were firing great pleasure messages to our brains, our auditory system noted that there was also immensely beautiful Spanish accoustic guitar music playing on our spa suite’s Bose stereo system.

This is a photograph of our room!

Note:  this particular photograph is from the Royal Palms Resort and Spa Digital Photograph Library.

When we stepped out onto our patio, there was below us a most beautiful courtyard with the Camelback Mountains serving as a backdrop.

Next on the agenda was a wonderful eucalyptus steam bath for David, and Carol was slated for the Alvadora Spa‘s signature Omorovicza Facial:

This classic Hungarian facial, cleanses and re-mineralizes the skin. Cleansers, exfoliaters and moisturizers are formulated with mineral – rich Hungarian thermal waters which are used in different combinations to suit each customer’s skin ensuring the best result. After gentle exfoliation, a mud mask packed with calcium and magnesium carbonates, cleanses and detoxifies the skin. A unique facial massage stimulates micro-circulations and combats stress.

Carol walked out beaming that the skin on her face was glowing and looked five years younger.  I agreed, and certainly wouldn’t have had the courage to do otherwise.  🙂

Here is a stock photograph, from the Royal Palms Resort and Spa, showing one of their beautiful spa suites.

After a few hours of luxuriating in the Alvadora Spa, we returned to enjoy some time in our wonderful room and prepared for our dinner at the resort’s renowned T. Cook’s restaurant.

I can’t possibly explain the exceptional cuisine we enjoyed in this short photo journal.  Therefore, I will tell of this experience is a separate post.

However, to tease you a bit, think Iron Chef, AAA Diamond Awards, most romantic, best hotel dining, best place for a date, to mention just a few of their many awards.

For now, just know that T. Cook’s spoiled us rotten.  Check this out photograph with Chef Lee Hillson…

After dinner, we strolled in the Royal Palms Resort and Spa’s stunningly beautiful grounds.

Well, that’s it for now.  Stay tuned!

Note:  all photography, except where noted, is by David A. Porter and is protected by copyright.