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Summer Deals for Palm Beach. Yes, Palm Beach

A recently renovated room at Four Seasons Palm Beach

We know. Savings is not a word you associate with Palm Beach. But things are different in the summer. You know, the season when all the ritzy residents relocate to the Hamptons...

Which makes it a great time to splurge at hotels like The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach or the Four Seasons Palm Beach, which may be out of reach for most of the year.

Here's what these posh properties are offering in the way of summer deals now the temperature is soaring...

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HotelChatter Reviews / Palm Beach Hotels / Hotel Wedding Crashers / Hotel Weddings / → All Tags

Inside the Omphoy Ocean Resort in Palm Beach

Where: 2842 South Ocean Blvd. [map], Palm Beach, FL, United States, 33480

We were headed to a Palm Beach wedding (local for us) and wanted to stay the night with the wedding party and out-of-town guests. The hotel of choice for the guests was The Omphoy Ocean Resort. We were excited to spend the night at The Omphoy having last been to the property when it was the Palm Beach Hilton, built in the early 1980's. The hotel re-opened as the Omphoy in September 2009.

Were we disappointed with the 134-room oceanfront hotel? Well, mostly no but we spent a little too much time feeling like we worked there. Read on to find out why.

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Hotel Renovations / Four Seasons Hotels / Palm Beach Hotels / Hotel Design / → All Tags

Four Seasons Palm Beach Gets A Nip And Tuck For Christmas

Where: 2800 South Ocean Boulevard [map], Palm Beach, FL, United States, 33480

We're not sure how many Palm Beach dames have asked Santa for a facelift this year, but we bet they'll be happy to show them off at the similarly nipped and tucked Four Seasons Palm Beach this festive season.

All 210 of the resort's rooms have been spruced up by interior designer Brian Gluckstein, who also worked his magic on the hotel's spa last year. From what we've seen of the fresh new room decor, the man could be in demand in an area known more for OTT opulence than understated elegance.

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Snapshot / Hilton Hotels / Palm Beach Hotels / Hotel Matchbooks / Hotel Relics / → All Tags

A Matchbook From The Old Palm Beach Hilton

Where: 2842 South Ocean Boulevard [map], Palm Beach, FL, United States, 33408

Here's one last photo to admire before we bust out of this joint for Memorial Day Weekend.

Check out this old matchbook we found at our parents' house for the Palm Beach Hilton. Ladies and gents, this is a piece of history you are looking at.

For starters, the hotel no longer exists. Well, it does but as the Omphoy Ocean Resort, which has given the oceanfront resort a brand-new boutique hotel look. It also has a restaurant from a James Beard award-winning chef, Michelle Bernstein's.

Also, check out that area code on the matchbook. That's now just the Miami area code. Yes, once upon time Palm Beach and Miami-Dade (formerly just Dade) counties shared the same area code. Now PB phone numbers are preceded by 561.

Lastly, this is just further proof that the new Hilton logo is essentially the old one, but tipped over and painted half-gold and half-silver. (Golf claps.) While we appreciated the antiquity of our matchbook find, we still prefer the Maritime Hotel's kinky ones instead.

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Celebrate the Aruba Marriott's Anniversary and Earn 15,000 Rewards Points

Where: LG Smith Blvd. #101, Palm Beach, Aruba

While the traditional gift for a 15th anniversary is usually crystal, the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino will give out rewards points instead—15,000 of them.

To get the 15,000 Marriott Rewards Points, you have to stay at the Aruba Marriott on August 15, the resort's birthday. If we're at the hotel on that day, we'd see if we could put the 15K points toward a beachside massage or maybe some poolside cocktails.

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Kiddie Bloggers Not Just for Fashion World as Ritz-Carlton PB Gets a 'Petite Blogger'

Where: 100 South Ocean Boulevard [map], Palm Beach, FL, United States, 33462

Amanda Jet with her younger brother, her uncle Johnny and the hotel's director of PR, Christine DiRocco.

UPDATE 3.10.10: Looks like the Petite Blogger has been "put on hold for a little while." The hotel promised to let us know as soon as they are able to move forward with Miss Jet.

Last week, we were obsessed with Racked's child fashion blogger, Katie, who was really just a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the preteen and teen fashion bloggers that have captivated the fashion world. (See: Tavi.)

But kiddie bloggers can do more than pontificate on short hemlines and Rodarte for Target. They can write about kids programs at hotels! Thus The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach has appointed their own child blogger--12-year-old Amanda Jet, niece of the very popular travel expert Johnny Jet.

Amanda's official title is Petite Blogger and her role is to, duh!, blog about her adventures at the hotel and the resort's kids program, Coast and AquaNuts.

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Oscar Hotels / Hotel Parties / Palm Beach Hotels / → All Tags

The Omphoy Celebrates the Oscars in Its James Beard Award-Winning Chef's Eatery

Where: 2842 S. Ocean Blvd. [map], Palm Beach, FL, United States, 33480

Oscars time is right around the corner, and if you're dying to see whether Meryl will beat out Sandra for best actress or whether Avatar will sweep all the categories, watch the show in style. This week, we'll look at Academy-sanctioned hotel shindigs where you'll be able to dress up, see if you won the office Oscar pool and help raise cash for charity.

For this year's Oscars, you'll have the chance to eat food from a star. Well, a culinary star. The Omphoy Ocean Resort's Academy Awards viewing party offers an option to dine at Michelle Bernstein’s, the newest restaurant from the James Beard Award-winning chef.

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Holiday Hotels / Hotel Amenities / Aruba Hotels / → All Tags

'Billy Elliot' Star to Dance the Nutcracker at the Occidental Grand Aruba

Where: J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 83, Palm Beach, Aruba

Just because Aruba is a warm-weather holiday travel alternative doesn't mean you can't still partake in traditions while you're there. The Occidental Grand Aruba is really trying to get you in the spirit by offering Nutcracker performances at the resort starring Kiril Kulish, the Tony Award-winning actor who was one of the original boxer-turned-ballet-dancer title characters in Broadway's Billy Elliot.

Having the 15-year-old Broadway vet in the Aruba resort is rather random, but nonetheless pretty cool. You can see how his ballet chops have fared since he left the Great White Way at the all-inclusive resort on December 29. His free performance as the Nutcracker prince will be exclusively for hotel guests as part of a holiday package.

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Thanksgiving Hotels / Palm Beach Hotels / HotelChatter Reader Deals / → All Tags

Have a Side of Palm Beach with Your Thanksgiving Turkey

Where: 2800 S Ocean Boulevard [map], Palm Beach, fl, United States, 33480

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.

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Hotel Packages / Aruba Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Beach Hotels / → All Tags

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

Where: LG SMITH BLVD, Palm Beach, Aruba

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.

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

Where: 2800 South Ocean Boulevard [map], Palm Beach, fl, United States, 33480

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.

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Hotel Packages / Hotel Renovations / Aruba Hotels / Marriott Hotels / → All Tags

Aruba Marriott Celebrates Renovation with Slashed Rates

Where: L.G. Smith Boulevard # 101 , Palm Beach, Aruba

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.