Under Canvas Zion
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Expert Review: Under Canvas Zion
Under Canvas Zion, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a distinctive glamping experience nestled amidst the breathtaking red-rock desert bordering Zion National Park. It's widely praised for blending the immediacy of camping with the comforts and luxury of a boutique hotel.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The overall sentiment for Under Canvas Zion is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as an "incredible," "fabulous," and "memorable" experience. Many reviewers express a strong desire to return. It holds excellent ratings, with scores around 8.8 to 9.0 for facilities, comfort, and staff, reflecting a high level of guest satisfaction. The Michelin Key selection further highlights its unique luxury-camp lodging concept.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently laud several aspects of Under Canvas Zion:
- Location: The property boasts a stunning, remote setting on 196 acres, offering unparalleled views of Zion's majestic red cliffs and exceptional stargazing opportunities as a DarkSky-certified resort.
- Design: The safari-style tents are admired for their chic elements, luxurious bedding, and comfortable furnishings, often featuring West Elm pieces, which elevate the glamping experience.
- Amenities: Highlights include cozy wood-burning stoves, complimentary s'mores by communal fire pits nightly, live music, and a central lobby tent equipped with games, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. The resort also provides a Guest Experience Coordinator to assist with planning local excursions. It's also a pet-friendly establishment for an additional fee.
- Service: The staff consistently receives high praise for being friendly, helpful, energetic, and providing service comparable to high-end resorts.
3. Room Quality
Under Canvas Zion offers various tent types, including Deluxe Tents with private bathrooms, Safari Tents with communal facilities, Suites, and Stargazer Tents featuring a skylight directly above the bed for celestial viewing. Options with adjacent Tipi tents are available for families.
- Comfort: Tents are outfitted with luxurious king-size beds, plush bedding, and comfortable seating areas, providing an "amazingly comfortable" sleeping experience. Wood-burning stoves ensure warmth on cool nights, and misters are available to help cool tents during hot days.
- Design: The interior design is upscale and safari-inspired, with many tents featuring West Elm furnishings.
- Bathrooms: Deluxe and Suite tents include private split-layout bathrooms with standard flushing toilets and warm, on-demand pull-chain showers. Organic bath products are provided.
- Technology: To encourage guests to disconnect and immerse in nature, there are no TVs or Wi-Fi in the tents. However, battery banks or USB plugs are supplied for charging devices.
4. Dining Experience
The resort features an on-site restaurant, Embers, serving both breakfast and dinner.
- Offerings: The menu for dinner includes a variety of hand-held and fork-and-knife options, shareable plates, and a kids' menu, often featuring seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The food is generally rated as "very good" and "top quality."
- Breakfast: A full breakfast menu, including cooked-to-order options and fresh spreads, is available daily for a fee, typically ranging from $10 to $20 per person. Espresso drinks, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are served in the mornings and are complimentary throughout the day.
- Other Amenities: Guests can enjoy unlimited complimentary s'mores by the evening fire pits. There's also a grab-and-go food and drink area in the lobby tent. A strict "no food in tents" policy is in place, but non-perishable snacks can be stored in cars, and complimentary ice and coolers are provided.
5. Service & Staff
The service at Under Canvas Zion consistently receives rave reviews. Staff members are repeatedly described as friendly, helpful, resourceful, energetic, and genuinely happy. They are commended for their local knowledge and their ability to provide excellent recommendations for activities. Guests appreciate the personal touches, such as anniversary notes, birthday pennants, or special activities like private gem hunts for children. The presence of a Guest Experience Coordinator further enhances the stay by helping guests plan and navigate the numerous outdoor adventures available in the area.
6. Location & Accessibility
Under Canvas Zion is strategically located on 196 acres of remote desert terrain, directly bordering Zion National Park. This remote setting provides spectacular red-rock views and incredible stargazing opportunities.
- Proximity to Zion: The main entrance to Zion National Park in Springdale is approximately a 20-30 minute drive from the resort. The slightly further distance from the bustling town contributes to less light pollution, enhancing the natural experience.
- Transportation: A rental car is highly recommended for exploring the area, with free parking available on-site. The closest airport is St. George (SGU), about 45 minutes away, while Las Vegas (LAS) is a larger international airport roughly a three-hour drive.
- Accessibility: The remote nature of the resort means a 30-minute round-trip drive is needed for provisions from Virgin. While some areas might be challenging for those with limited mobility, wheelchair-accessible tents with ramps and roll-in showers are offered.
- Seasonality: Under Canvas Zion operates seasonally, typically open from mid-March to early November.
7. Value & Pricing
Under Canvas Zion is generally considered a "splurge" but is frequently regarded as "worth the money" for the unique and luxurious glamping experience it provides.
- Price Range: Nightly rates typically range from $300 to over $500, varying based on seasonality and tent type. For example, a Deluxe Tent starts around $362 or 28,250 World of Hyatt points, while a Suite Tent can be around $472 or 38,000 points per night.
- Value Proposition: Guests feel the premium cost is justified by the intentional experience that balances comfort, sustainability, and deep immersion in the desert landscape, offering a unique alternative to traditional camping or standard hotel stays.
8. Common Complaints
While reviews are largely positive, some recurring issues and criticisms include:
- Heat in Tents: The lack of air conditioning means tents can become quite warm during the desert's peak daytime heat, especially in the summer months. Small fans are provided, and guests are advised to open windows for ventilation.
- Lack of In-Tent Wi-Fi/Spotty Cell Service: The intentional "off-grid" approach means no Wi-Fi in the tents and often spotty cell service, which can be an adjustment for some who rely on constant connectivity.
- Bathroom Privacy: A minor complaint mentioned is the lack of a proper door for the ensuite bathroom in some deluxe tents, which can impact privacy.
- Shower Operation: The pull-chain showers, while providing hot water, require continuous pulling, and some guests noted that the water temperature could fluctuate or cool down if the chain is held constantly.
- "No Food in Tents" Policy: This strict policy, aimed at minimizing wildlife interaction and maintaining cleanliness, can be inconvenient for guests wanting to snack in their tents, though solutions like car storage and coolers are offered.
- Early Check-out: The 10:00 AM check-out time is sometimes mentioned as being earlier than desired.
- Gaps in Tents: A few guests expressed concern about small gaps between the tent canvas and the floor, leading to worries about desert creatures entering.
- Crowding and Amenities at Common Areas: During peak times, common areas might feel crowded. Some guests have also commented on the use of gas fire pits instead of wood-burning ones and the use of plastic glasses for drinks, which were perceived as less aligned with the luxurious and eco-conscious branding.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While reviews are largely positive, some recurring issues and criticisms include:
- •Bathroom Privacy:** A minor complaint mentioned is the lack of a proper door for the ensuite bathroom in some deluxe tents, which can impact privacy.
- •Gaps in Tents:** A few guests expressed concern about small gaps between the tent canvas and the floor, leading to worries about desert creatures entering.
