Planning a girlfriend getaway in Phoenix, Arizona? Here are our ideas for the best spas, shopping, food, and fun in the sun in Phoenix.

Fall is here, and the weather in the Phoenix area is cooling. Kids are back in school. It’s time for an adult break. What better way to regroup than with a girlfriend getaway in Phoenix? Chill by the pool, relax in a spa, go shopping, sip a cocktail, and savor great food. There’s no better place for a girlfriend’s getaway than Phoenix, Arizona. Treat yourself and your closest friends to a luxurious and relaxing Phoenix girls trip filled with spa treatments, shopping, delicious food, and plenty of fun in the sun. Here are some ideas on how to relax with your gal pals this fall.

I travel the world looking for great experiences, but something about coming home to Arizona at the end of every trip thrills me. I’m fortunate to call the Valley of the Sun home, and I love relaxing at some of our local treasures with my best girlfriends. After the long summer, you know you deserve a break. Book a girlfriend getaway in Phoenix and relax before the holiday season begins. Here are some of my favorite spots to check out on your visit to Phoenix.

Shopping the Camelback Corridor

The Camelback Corridor is one of the most popular shopping districts in Phoenix. It runs along Camelback Road from the residential area of Arcadia through the upscale financial district of The Biltmore and extends to Central Avenue. The area is known for its upscale shopping and dining.

The heart of the Camelback Corridor is Biltmore Fashion Park at Camelback and 24th Street. This mid-century shopping plaza is the premier shopping destination in Arizona. It features many top national luxury brands, such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Arhaus, and Tumi.

However, you can also find some upscale shops unique to Phoenix. Be sure to stop by Citrine Natural Beauty Bar, where owner Melissa Lenberg offers the biggest names in all-natural beauty products and practical tips and advice on using products you didn’t even know you needed.

I also really love Naked Rebellion. Owner Jessica Wenger has revolutionized women’s undergarments, especially matching “nude” bras and panties for women of every color. The kiosk is in the courtyard between Saks Fifth Avenue and Williams-Sonoma.

You might also stop by My Sister’s Closet. This fashion consignment store has been a Phoenix-area staple for decades. Here, you can find amazing things at really great prices.

Biltmore Fashion Park. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

There are two excellent hotels you can stay in during a visit to the area. Both provide visitors with unique-to-Arizona experiences. For a classic stay, check out the Arizona Biltmore. Built in the late 1920s in collaboration with architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Arizona Biltmore has been a favored playground for Hollywood A-listers, world dignitaries, presidents, and royals for decades. The resort has been newly revamped, but the history is still alive.

Arizona Biltmore at Night. Photo courtesy Arizona Biltmore

If you and your girlfriends stay at Arizona Biltmore, be sure to grab a seat by the firepits, order drinks, and watch the setting sun cast shadows on Piestewa Peak (formerly Squaw Peak). Arizona Biltmore is just north of Biltmore Fashion Park, surrounded by beautiful golf courses and rugged mountain peaks. You’ll feel the seclusion of this desert oasis, but it will be only five minutes from shops and restaurants.

Relax with your girlfriends in the garden, viewing Piestewa Peak in the distance. Photo courtesy The Biltmore Hotel

If you want something playful and modern, check out The Camby across Camelback Road from Biltmore Fashion Park. I love the eclectic feel of The Camby, where crystal chandeliers and neon lights just make sense.

The boutique hotel offers regular rooms or—ideal for a girlfriend’s getaway—larger suites where you can laugh and talk well into the night. There’s even a passage under Camelback to reach shopping across the street. After a day of shopping, you can relax at The Camby in the small urban Zest Spa on the hotel’s second floor, float in the rooftop pool, and share a selection of small bites at Artizen.

Relax by the pool at the Camby. Photo courtesy the Camby

Before turning in, be sure to order up a nightcap at The Bees Knees, where you can sip on classic drinks with a twist, from a Pisco Sour, Negroni, or Vieux Carre to the Mark Twain (Scotch and lemon), Sazerac or Dark Knight with Rittenhouse Rye and Chocolate Bitters.

Plan a Spa Retreat for Your Girlfriend Getaway in Phoenix

If your idea of a perfect girlfriend’s getaway is more about relaxing than shopping, head to Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia for a retreat at Joya Spa.

This is hands down one of the best spas anywhere. The Omni Montelucia is located between Phoenix and Scottsdale in beautiful Paradise Valley. The views of Camelback Mountain, particularly at sunset, are spectacular.

Looking out over Omni Resort and Spa at Montelucia. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham

But the spa, for me, is the real gem on this property. Joya Spa is relaxing and inviting. It has a Moroccan feel and is probably the most comfortable relaxation room of any spa I’ve visited. The ideal way for you and your girlfriends to enjoy a spa visit is to book the Grand Palace Suite or one of the private suites. These spacious suites include treatment tables, private entrances to the Joya Terrace, and bathrooms. The Grand Palace Suite has a king-sized bed, an infinity bath, and rooftop access. The Joya Suites have outdoor showers and baths. The terrace suites have doors that open to the terrace and pool.

Joya Spa Suite. Photo courtesy Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia

I love Joya’s Terrace Pool. It is secluded and reserved only for spa guests. After your treatment, you can lounge poolside, order drinks or a glass of bubbly, and nosh on a flatbread or salad. And those views are simply breathtaking. Sunset from Joya Pool Terrace is nothing short of heart-stopping.

Suppose you’re unfamiliar with all the spa offerings around Phoenix or wherever you travel. In that case, you can use platforms to help you book a massage. You can also learn about prices, the length of treatments, and the hours available, and read reviews.

Enjoy a cocktail at Mbar before dinner at Prado. Photo courtesy Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia

After a day of pampering at the spa, you’ll be ready for drinks and dinner at Prado, the resort’s signature restaurant. Enjoy the ambiance of the wood-fired tapas display kitchen, or find a table outside on the patio with views of the resort pool and Camelback Mountain.

Explore North Phoenix During Your Girlfriend Getaway in Phoenix

When I first moved to Arizona almost 25 years ago, the area now known as Desert Ridge didn’t even exist. It was a wide-open desert. Today, it is a vibrant part of the city, about 20 miles north of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. There is shopping and nightlife in the area, and brilliant desert sunsets make every visit special.

If you want to check out North Phoenix, I suggest staying at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. The luxury resort has everything you and the girls will need for some time to yourselves. There’s world-class golf, pools, a spa, and great food. Book a room that also gives you Griffin Club access. The Griffin Club lounge serves a hot breakfast, midday snack/light lunch, evening appetizers, and dessert. You can also get complimentary cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, and sweet treats. Rooms with Griffin Club access include the adult-only pool at Revive Spa and spa amenities.

Treat yourself to a stay with Griffin Club privileges. Photo courtesy JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.

Revive Spa is an excellent spot for you and your girlfriends to spend a day. The spa offers a relaxing lounge, whirlpool, sauna, and a beautiful adult-only pool with private cabanas where you can whirl away your time.

Revive Spa Sanctuary Pool. Photo courtesy JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.

I recommend booking the Sami Zen Energy Ritual to relax after the long summer and prepare for the hectic months ahead. This is a 90-minute treatment that blends Japanese Zen customs with relaxation rituals from Sweden’s native people, the Sami. After a scrub, you have time to soak in a warm herbal bath. The tub has air jets that carefully caress your body as you relax. After the bath, the therapist applies a birch-bud extract on your skin and gives you a facial treatment. If you aren’t already zoned out in la-la land, you’ll surely be there with the stone massage that concludes the treatment.

After a day of relaxing at the spa, you can start the evening with a cocktail or glass of wine at Twenty6. Aptly named because this gorgeous resort is the 26th JW Marriott worldwide, Twenty6 features delicious handcrafted cocktails. I enjoy the signature Twenty6 Pinot Noir created exclusively for the resort by Paul Hobbs of CrossBarn Winery. It’s perfect to take a glass of wine, sit on the open patio by the fire pit, and nibble on the meats and treats from a charcuterie platter.

Try a craft cocktail at twenty6. Photo courtesy JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

Living it Up on High Street

If you still want to get out and about, head to nearby High Street, a modern new neighborhood just minutes from the resort. On High Street, you’ll find great restaurants, boutiques, fun experiences, and salons.

Hungry on High Street? Check out Ocean Prime, where you’ll find fresh seafood and a great atmosphere. Ocean Prime restaurants are known for using fresh ingredients, having a great craft cocktail scene, and offering an impressive wine list.

Ocean Prime Filet and Lobster Tail. Photo courtesy Ocean Prime Phoenix

Other fun places to check out on High Street include Primp and Blow “A Blow Dry Bar” and Fuchsia Spa.

Explore Downtown Phoenix for Your Girlfriend Getaway

Another great spot to hang with your gal pals is in downtown Phoenix. If you make your home-away-from-home at Kimpton Hotel Palomar, you’ll find yourselves in the middle of all the activity. I love the vibe at Hotel Palomar. It screams funky, eclectic Arizona. The fuzzy pillows on the sofa in each room always make me smile.

Lobby at Hotel Palomar. Photo courtesy Hotel Palomar

The hotel features a rooftop bar, LUSTRE, where you can enjoy the Arizona sunshine during the day, watch the sunset across the city, or listen to DJs spinning tunes at night.

View from Lustre at Hotel Palomar. Photo courtesy Hotel Palomar

You’ll also discover that the hotel is in the heart of downtown Phoenix. You’ll want to grab dinner at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails, and be sure to opt for the deviled eggs as a starter.

During your stay, head across the street to Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour during your stay. This world-class cocktail lounge is in the historic Luhrs Building, which once housed the Arizona Prohibition Headquarters. The atmosphere is relaxed, the drinks are great and the food is fun and delicious. Be sure to order the bar’s take on roasted marshmallows for a sweet snack.

If you visit downtown Phoenix on the first Friday of the month, you’re in for a real treat. The Artlink First Fridays Art Walk takes place all through downtown. You can hop on the First Fridays Trolley Tour to visit studios, galleries, and museums. It gives you a chance to see the work of local and national artists. Spend the evening chatting with the artists, listening to music, and grabbing a bite at one of the local eateries or food trucks.

Hotel Palomar is also right on the Phoenix Metro Light Rail. An all-day pass is just $4.00, and there are some great nightspots north of the hotel up Central Avenue, or you can take the train into Tempe, home of Arizona State University, where you can uncover an abundance of great shops and restaurants along Mill Avenue. Check out some of the favorites online at PHX Rail Food.

Take the Metro Light Rail to Tempe and Mesa. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose

More Ideas for Planning the Best Girlfriend Getaway in Phoenix

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When You Plan Your Girlfriend Getaway in Phoenix

Phoenix is a great spot for that getaway with the girls, and there’s no better time to visit than in the shoulder season before the holidays hit — September, October, and November — when there are plenty of great deals around the Valley. Even after more than two decades here, I can still head out for a weekend with my best friends and find something fun and new happening in Phoenix. For more not-to-miss experiences in the Valley of the Sun, be sure to check out these Phoenix articles by our Wander writers to help plan your girlfriend getaway in Phoenix. We also have more great Arizona trips if you have time to explore the beautiful Southwest!