After these last many months, it is time for a little pampering… and there are plenty of opportunities to indulge in just that in the Sunshine State. Below is a snapshot of some of the many fabulous experiences that await visitors to Florida:
The Palm Beaches: Where else in the world can you find a place that seamlessly blends “Billionaire Row” with laid-back beachfront charm? Full of grandiose offerings guaranteed to please, The Palm Beaches’ plethora of plush amenities includes everything from private jet arrivals and helicopter tours, to glitzy yacht charters, exotic car rentals, and even a $1,000 ‘Golden Opulence Sundae’ – a decadent dessert on offer at the Boca Raton Resort and Club that features 20 scoops of homemade gelatos all coated in 24-karat gold. Luxury stays are also available at the famed resort The Breakers in Palm Beach. Select a private bungalow experience where guests enjoy a dedicated concierge service, exclusive food and beverage service, alfresco dining on their private patio, and an airy island-chic ambiance throughout.
Ponte Vedra Beach: Located in the region known as ‘Florida’s Historic Coast’, the AAA Five-Diamond Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has offered the pinnacle of luxury escapes since it first opened in 1928. Full of grace, grandeur and history, this resort offers guests a world of elevated oceanfront lodging coupled with gracious, attentive service, fine dining and endless leisure, and health and wellness pursuits. Boasting 262 lavishly appointed guest rooms and suites, including the new Ocean House and Peyton House, choose a beachfront room and delight in being able to simply step out the door and into the sand. The resort also features two championship golf courses – the iconic Ocean Course, newly renovated in 2020, and the water-lined Lagoon Course – along with the sprawling 30,000 sq.ft. Spa at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Offering more than 100 pampering services and a private pool, café, a full salon, and poolside bar, guests are greeted by cathedral ceilings, peaceful waterfalls and a calming ambiance for a therapeutic, relaxing environment.
The Florida Keys: Designed for those who love the bounty and beauty of the ocean, the recently unveiled, 7.1-acre, 30-unit Islands of Islamorada features both vacation rental villas and a suite hotel. Its waterfront villas each feature four bedrooms, accommodating eight to 10 guests, along with full kitchens and outdoor recreation space. In the Ocean House, an additional eight one-bedroom suites, each accommodating up to three guests, directly front the Atlantic Ocean. Amenities include outdoor fire pit, grill stations, oceanfront Tiki bar, paddleboards, kayaks, fitness facility and classes, yoga lawn, two swimming pools and a whirlpool tub, pickleball and volleyball courts, private marina with 10 boat slips; oceanfront wedding and event spaces, 24-hour on-site concierge assistance, and more.
Paradise Coast: There are plenty of ways to indulge in the finer things in Florida’s Paradise Coast – the aptly named region that features tony Naples and beautiful Marco Island – be it designer shopping, fine-dining, five-star spas or luxury charters. Find stylish boutiques and luxury brands along the palm-lined streets of Fifth Avenue South. Many of the area’s luxury resorts offer full-service spas, in addition to boutique day spas. Enjoy a bespoke treatment at the innovative new Spa by JW with your very own spa curator; a revitalizing fruit fresh facial at The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club luxury spa; or a mudflat wrap at the luxury beachfront Marco Beach Ocean Resort that uses 100 percent natural marine-based ingredients.
Bradenton: Nothing says luxury more than pristine, white sand, and the Bradenton area offers a collection of beaches stretching over 25 kilometers that are nothing short of show-stopping. Head out to the idyllic barrier islands of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key to get a true taste of paradise. Of course, the best way to elevate a beach day here is with a private cabana and all the details taken care of courtesy of local business Beach Suites AMI. Choose packages that run the gamut from an intimate escape for two to a fun-filled day with 10 friends. At the end of each sun-drenched day, the suite-only Waterline Marina Resort is a perfect sanctuary where modern luxury blends seamlessly with island charm
Rosemary Beach: With its distinctive Old World European architecture and sun-drenched turrets and terraces, the sophisticated, 55-room Pearl Hotel brings an ultra-luxury boutique experience to the sunny shores and cobblestone Main Street of Rosemary Beach (named one of “America’s most romantic small towns” by CNN). Featuring beautifully appointed accommodations, destination-worthy cuisine, an alluring spa just steps from a private beach on the Gulf of Mexico, and unparalleled services and amenities, this full-service, adult-oriented hotel aims to pamper you at every turn.
Pensacola: The newly-opened Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel, located in the city’s historic downtown, is the perfect home base to explore everything the area has to offer, all the while pampering yourself in a upscale hotel that describes itself as “a sanctuary for the soul.” Located along the waterfront, the property has three outdoor venues, perfect for alfresco dining, along with wraparound balconies looking out over Pensacola Bay. With a strong focus on architecture and design, it is also the first hotel in the city to focus on sustainability and wellness and has quickly become an “it” destination for travellers and locals alike.
Kissimmee: The ‘Vacation Home Capital of the World’, Kissimmee offers a grand total of 50,000 vacation homes, a sizeable portion being larger-than-life estates (think: 10-bedroom home with a lazy river, game room, movie theatre and a golf course view), that are all steps from the area’s world-famous theme parks. Reunion Resort & Golf Club is one of the most coveted locations, stretched out over 2,300 acres, it features 10 pools, a waterpark, spa and salon, fine dining options, and three signature golf courses designed by Nicklaus, Palmer and Watson. Jeeves Florida Rentals, a popular vacation home management company, refers to their mansions as ‘Elite Homes’, which go beyond square footage – they are custom-built, with a high level of interior finish and outstanding amenities. Guests of these luxury mansion can have private chefs, in-home spa services, and in some homes, a personal home manager.
Source: Visit Florida
