Close User Name Password
Login Register
Hotel stories straight to your inbox:

Palm Beach Travel Guide

Tags: / / /

Have a Side of Palm Beach with Your Thanksgiving Turkey

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 2800 S Ocean Boulevard [map], Palm Beach, FL, United States, 33480
October 21, 2009 at 10:57 AM | by KatieK | 0 Comments

You know what goes even better with a heaping plate of Thanksgiving turkey than a side of mashed potatoes? Palm Beach. OK, so maybe you won’t feel like jumping straight into that bikini or Speedo after gorging on your holiday dinner, but we’re still going to say beach-combing in Palm Beach trumps cramming into your sister-in-law’s house in suburbia.

But here’s what would make us extra thankful: staying at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, with the third night free. And for those of you purists who think the only way a beach should be part of Thanksgiving is lounging around like a beached whale after chowing down on seconds and thirds, fret not, for the Four Seasons has arranged for some traditional Thanksgiving activities.

more ›

Tags: / / / /

Learn to Play Beach Tennis at Marriott Aruba (Jams Shorts Not Required)

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: LG SMITH BLVD, Palm Beach, Aruba
September 30, 2009 at 3:12 PM | by KatieK | 0 Comments

Note: Yes, we know those aren't the Jams shorts that we all rocked in the 80s. (Even you!) But let us fantasize, will ya?

Whether or not you’re a tennis fan, beach tennis — featuring tan, chiseled-chested men! — is the sort of spectator sport many of us can get behind. Throw in a trip to Aruba and, well, you’ve got the makings for a pretty fabulous vacation, if you ask us.

If you agree, consider the Aruba Marriott Resort’s Beach Tennis Tournament Package. Coinciding with Aruba’s 8th annual International Beach Tennis Event, to be held Nov. 13-15, the hotel is offering a four-night minimum stay that offers a $700 savings, which includes a free night’s stay and breakfast and other free goodies, like a one-hour beach tennis lesson from a beach tennis pro, use of the resort’s beach tennis court and paddles, and the chance to participate in the round robin tournament. The package also includes access to the opening night festivities, free drink and entertainment included, plus a beach tennis T-shirt and BBQ lunch.

Rates start at $339 a night (remember: the fourth night is free). To book the package, request promo code S3Q. Learn more about beach tennis at Arubabeachtennis.com.

Tags: / / /

Four Seasons Palm Beach Rolls Out 'Julie and Julia' Menu

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 2800 South Ocean Boulevard [map], Palm Beach, FL, United States, 33480
August 5, 2009 at 1:43 PM | by Jenna | 0 Comments

Ah, what a cute fairytale-ish story: way back in the day when the Four Seasons Palm Beach's Chef Darryl Moiles was working at the Four Seasons Boston, the inimitable Ms. Julia Child would "make her way from the dining room to the kitchen" when she dropped in for a bite. Apparently she left quite the impression, because the chef is now paying tribute to her in conjunction with the opening of the new book-turned-Meryl-Streep-flick, Julie and Julia.

Chef Moiles, who is now the executive chef at Four Seasons Palm Beach, is throwing down a special menu showcasing some of Ms. Child's biggest-hit recipes from her cookbook The Art of French Cooking, which will be debuting and running at the Resort's Ocean Bistro from August 8 to September 4. The lineup will change weekly.

more ›

Tags: / / / /

Aruba Marriott Celebrates Renovation with Slashed Rates

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: L.G. Smith Boulevard # 101 , Palm Beach, Aruba
July 31, 2009 at 11:52 AM | by KatieK | 0 Comments

Even in the heat of summer, tropical Aruba always sounds like a nice spot for jet setting, if you ask us. Like-minded travelers might want to consider the Aruba Marriott Resort, which completed a $50 million renovation earlier this year and is celebrating pretty much all year with a Relaunch Rate that skims 30 percent off regular rates.

You can book rates starting at $188 a night through Dec. 18; just be sure to request promo code NEW.

The renovation included a total makeover of all 411 guest rooms, the addition of a Ruth’s Chris Steak House, redesign of La Vista restaurant, overhaul of the lobby and reception area, and the creation of Tradewinds Club, a “59-room hotel-within-a-hotel” on the resort’s eighth floor. Tradewinds Club has a 1,900-square-foot lounge with terrace and includes VIP perks like private check-in, upgraded amenities, preferred spa and resto reservations, secluded beach area, free Wi-Fi, free food service five times daily (with open bar), and more.

Guests can book Relaunch Rates for the Tradewinds Club too, with those rates starting at $338; or upgrade even more to the Tradewinds Indulgence package. The package starts at $469 per night but offers the fourth night free as well as a $100 resort credit. Book the package using promo code P51.

We’ll admit that the press kit photos are pretty to-die-for. Anyone out there have any first-hand experiences with the spiffied-up resort? Share in comments below.

Tags: / / /

Stealing Shampoo From Hotels is Fine; Stealing a Parrot is Not

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: One South County Road [map], Palm Beach, FL, United States, 33480
June 16, 2009 at 9:37 AM | by Jenna | 1 Comment

Yeah, we'll confess: sometimes we steal stuff from hotels. Like the little baby soaps and shampoos and things (which are ours for the taking), and one time we swiped a monogrammed washcloth and a tea packet and the binder that held the roomservice menus because we thought it looked nice. But do you know what we have never stolen from a hotel? A bird.

Though this is not as bad as the time some guy ripped the head off of one of the ducks in a hotel lobby (and yes, that really did happen), this is still sort of sad and mean: someone stole a couple of parrots from The Breakers.

According to the AP, police are charging a man with trespassing (and also "violating an ordinance declaring the island town a bird sanctuary") after he stole two baby parrots from the hotel and then left them in a pet store yesterday after trying to sell them to the pet store owner. But, uh, they don't know who the guy is.

Per the report:

The chicks were part of a flock of more than 100 wild birds at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach. Biologists monitor the birds with cameras aimed at their nests in hollowed-out trees. That's how authorities learned the two chicks were missing.

No, but seriously: who does that? Kimpton, you need to start keeping close watch on your pet concierges now. Oy.

[Photo: sgrace]

Tags: / / /

Score a Room at The Breakers and Other Palm Beach Hotels for $19.09

April 15, 2009 at 9:13 AM | by Jenna | 0 Comments

Sorta over the Miami scene? Or just can't really afford to hit it up right now? Opt for the decidedly calmer, considerably more affordable Palm Beach if you've got a hankerin' for a Florida getaway (or visit your grandparents!) — and in '09, you can do it on the cheap.

To celebrate the 1909 founding of Palm Beach County, the CVB down there has launched a $19.09 room rate campaign that will score you a room for less than 20 bucks after stays of 2, 3, or 4 nights, depending which of the 40+ hotels in the area you go for.

The deal — which includes hotels like the massive Breakers and The Colony Hotel and Cabana Club — requires a rate code upon making your reservation (mostly it's 1909), but they're all conveniently listed here for you. Happy beaching!

Tags: / / /

Can't Hit the Beach? Order Up a Box of Sand

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: J.E. Irausquin Boulevard 77, Palm beach, Aruba
January 16, 2009 at 4:31 PM | by Jenna | 0 Comments

Well, we've gotta hand it to the Westin Aruba: they deserve creativity points for this one.

Apparently, there's a sizable contingent of business travelers who are sent to exotic destinations like Aruba or someplace equally as beachy, and they're so busy with the work obligations and meetings that they don't have time to stick a toe in the ocean.

And then Westin Aruba's Sand on Demand program was born:

As one in five business trips are taken for the primary purpose of attending a convention, conference or seminar, many road warriors only see the beautiful scenery of the destination from a window as a result of back-to-back meetings and functions. By offering personal under-the-conference-table sand boxes, The Westin Resort, Aruba is encouraging travelers to experience a sense of the island by wiggling their bare toes in authentic Caribbean sand.

more ›

Tags: / / /

The Four Seasons Palm Beach Opens its Own Fountain of Youth

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 2800 S Ocean Boulevard [map], Palm Beach, FL, United States, 33480
November 6, 2008 at 9:15 AM | by KatieK | 0 Comments

Long a bastion for prettifying glam guests with massages, facials, and hair care, the Four Seasons Palm Beach just opened a shiny new 11,000-square-foot spa facility with 12 treatment rooms, a marble reception area, and multiple relaxation lounges with whirlpools, waterfalls, and steam rooms.

For those of you not drinking from Florida’s fountain of youth, worry not, for the spa’s new treatments are designed to keep you (at least appearing) far from your days of velour tracksuits and early-bird specials at Denny’s. Not that we’re judging.

more ›

Tags: / / /

Aruba Hotel Guide :: Inside the Marriott Aruba Surf Club

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 103 L G SMITH BLVD, Palm Beach, Aruba
July 18, 2008 at 9:43 AM | by Jenna | 0 Comments

While our brothers at Jaunted have been off stomping around Baltimore this week, we've jetted off on our own little field trip to Aruba. We'll be scoping out the hotel scene here and will be reporting our findings all week long.

We were super psyched to be staying at the Marriott Surf Club - part of the Marriott Aruba Resort complex - and following our rundown of our boozey pool experience yesterday, we're bringing you a full room review today.

Since the Surf Club is technically part of Marriott Vacation Club (timeshares), we had lots and lots of space and the room was more like a condo than a dinky little hotel room. The big living room, spacious, fully-equipped kitchen and gigantic balconies were huge bonuses since we usually just get a bathroom and a bed, but we were happy to have so much space to stretch out our sunburned legs.

more ›

Tags: / / / / /

Aruba Hotel Guide :: Marriott Aruba Resort Pool Report

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 103 L G SMITH BLVD, Palm Beach, Aruba
July 16, 2008 at 4:00 PM | by Jenna | 3 Comments

While our brothers at Jaunted have been off stomping around Baltimore this week, we've jetted off on our own little field trip to Aruba. We'll be scoping out the hotel scene here and will be reporting our findings all week long.

We spent yesterday hangin' by the pool at the Marriott Aruba Resort (we're staying at the Marriott Surf Club within the complex and we'll bring you a full room tour tomorrow). We were looking to get some reading done and spend a quiet afternoon poolside but, uh, no.

The scene at the pool on a summer Tuesday afternoon sort of reminded us of our crazy college Spring Breaking days. It was certainly no Hard Rock Sunday Rehab - but then, nothing is quite like that - but everyone seemed to be young and in full-force party mode thanks to the major facilities, organized drinking contests and tempting cocktail specials.

more ›

Tags: / / / /

Aruba Hotel Guide :: Hyatt Regency's New Look is Swanky but the Vibe is Still Chill

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: Juan E Irausquin Blvd 85, Palm Beach, Aruba
July 15, 2008 at 4:43 PM | by Jenna | 0 Comments

While our brothers at Jaunted have been off stomping around Baltimore this week, we've jetted off on our own little field trip to Aruba. We'll be scoping out the hotel scene here and will be reporting our findings all week long.

We got to the island pretty late last night, so we roamed around a little bit looking for a good stiff drink to calm ourselves down after a long day of layovers.

We hit up the recently-remodeled Hyatt Regency Resort and Casino first and, since it was a Monday night, the scene wasn't too crowded or trendy or full of drunken 18-year-olds like we'd feared. The breezy, open lobby area reminded us a (teensy) bit of the Delano (flowy fabrics, high-backed chairs and the like), except without the loud music and intimidating people.

more ›

Tags: / / / /

Let Your Soul Glow at the Occidental for the Soul Beach Music Festival

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 83, Palm Beach, Aruba
April 22, 2008 at 4:13 PM | by amandak | 1 Comment

Coming up over the Memorial Day Weekend is the Soul Beach Music Festival, taking place from May 21 to 26 on Aruba. It's the eighth year that this festival's been run--and the fourth year that it's taken place in Aruba--and some of the singers this year include Erykah Badu, Sinbad, Wyclef Jean and Sean Kingston.

A bunch of hotels are acting as hosts for the festival, and one of these is the Occidental Grand Aruba on Palm Beach. It's an all-inclusive resort with almost 400 rooms and suites, plus six restaurants and five bars; plenty of space for fun and action, and probably the right kind of resort to chill in during a soul fest.

The Occidental Grand still has rooms left for the whole festival week, and a deluxe room for two (all-inclusive, of course), starts at $2,280 for five nights. Along with meals, this all-inclusive price also includes activities like sailing, snorkeling, kayaking and tennis, in case you run out of steam at the music festival. Personally we might hang too long at the concerts to make the most of that, but it's nice to have the option.

[Photo: ckd1216]