Stayed at Tamaya recently for the first time in years and really liked the spa, which was also rated Top 25 in the US or so by either T&L or Conde Nast Traveler. Well kept, water flavoured with melon, blackberries and peppermint everywhere plus a good selection of newspapers including the NY Times.

Steam room and sauna in good overall shape as well and hardly anyone around at all. Surreal prices for treatments in the spa that also come with an automatic ~ 17% service charge on top of the already very high price.

If you include a tip as well, we are talking about ~ $ 180 -190 for a 60 minute massage...

Attentive club car shuttle drivers were constantly making their rounds around the parking lot to give you a ride to the entrance, which is not that far away in the first place, but considering the temperatures in summer, golf bags and amount of older guests probably a good idea.

Rooms are getting old, however and they replaced the original Indian artwork with cheaper mass-products, the blanket on the wall was made in the State of Washington and clearly mass-produced. I fear too many guests saved the charge for the indian craft items in the gift shop and simply took the wall decoration blanket with them

Old, very small and very dark bathroom that cries for a major renovation. Aside from the LCD TV ( 32 or 37 inch, IIRC ) they did not really do a lot since they opened the place 10 years ago. Hearing the coyotos whining during the night ( a jet lag comes handy in this regard ) is certainly something special

Food in the Regency Club was okay, slighly below the average for a resort in the US, the quiche for breakfast was solid, though and Le Creuset cookware showed some class, even right next to the plastic cups...

Evening selection including a hot puff pastry filled with spinach and grilled green asparagus aside from the usual veggies, dips and a lame, very mild butter cheese and a slighly better cream cheese with herbs, a Boursin, IIRC.

Overheard an interesting conversation in the RC, one guest pointed out that he got from LA to Santa Ana with one tank of gas with his new Audi A3 TDI. Other guy remarked that he hardly gets to Las Vegas from LA with one tank of gas...

Was somehow shocked about the high rates, $ 230-270 for a week day in shoulder season is a lot to ask for, but I also find the rates at Lost Pines and Hill Country to be very high these days..., Tamaya is a Cat. 4 property, so a decent return when one uses points...