Review: Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa

There are older spas and wellness retreats in North America (to say nothing of Europe), but none popularized the idea of a spa break the way that Miraval did. Miraval, which used to have the phrase “life in balance” attached to its name, is one of the places that took wellness mainstream. (Thank you, Oprah.) Now it might not be so cutting-edge, but it’s confident and competent at what it does. The rooms are lavish casitas with plush beds, and the culinary program focuses more on what healthful foods you can add to your diet than on which “sinful” (a banned word) food to delete. As a result, it’s delicious, whichever end of the menu you choose, and the experience overall comforting.