33480 Travel Guide
Hotel Spas
The Four Seasons Palm Beach Opens its Own Fountain of Youth
November 6, 2008 at 9:15 AM | 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.
WiFi Hell
Four Seasons May Be the Worst in WiFi Hell
October 31, 2006 at 2:59 PM | 0 Comments
Thanks to an extremely in-depth review of the Four Seasons Palm Beach, we learn just how little Four Seasons cares about your internet access.
This hotel chains consistently charges $10 a day for wireless access (sometimes more, depending on location), despite the fact that you are probably paying more than $400 a night for your room.
And even though they are a luxury hotel chain, it seems the internet at this location doesn't work for shit.
The Four Seasons advertises internet, but the wireless does not work well - at least not in our room on the third floor (Room 303, which was otherwise a beautiful room). I bring an external antenna card, and despite this, neither my husband's nor my laptop could get a strong enough signal to connect wirelessly in our room to the internet.
So I used the ethernet cable provided in each room to connect to the desk. The problem is that the ethernet internet is incredibly slow (think dial-up speeds at times) and disconnects frequently (one night, about every 15 minutes). I called the front desk and spoke to their internet service directly (Wayport) to troubleshoot this, but nothing worked.....(Note that I tried the business center one day, and it was not a helpful substitute, because it took me over 30 minutes to reach one of the computers, since there are only two desktops and one laptop station and no time limit for the fortunate few in place ahead of you. So using the hotel's computers will not be a good solution for you business travelers.)
You know something's not right when you can get free WiFi in Panera without buying a single bagel or cup of coffee but as a paying guest of the Four Seasons, you need to fork over $10 for "possible" access.
A note to the Four Seasons, Ritz Carltons and other luxury chains: Just because your guests can afford the pricey room rates doesn't mean they think its okay for you to rip-em off on WiFi fees. And if you even want to make an honorable mention on our Annual WiFi Report, then you better start moving fast.
Related Stories:
· Four Seasons Palm Beach reviews [TripAdvisor]
Hotels
Florida Getaway: Brazilian Court
February 21, 2006 at 9:09 AM | 0 Comments
Like the other "in-town" hotels of Palm Beach, the Brazilian Court Hotel is small with only 80 rooms. But what it lacks in size it makes up in service, privacy, comfort and an overall enjoyable stay.
Just two blocks from the beach and three blocks from Worth Avenue, when you enter the hotel, you get a full view of the french doors leading out to the hotel's famous courtyard and fountain.
The rooms as well as other parts of the hotel have been renovated and upgraded to include new amenities as well as a Frederic Fekkai hair salon, spa and a fitness center. Sadly, unlike other boutique hotels in Florida, the pool scene is not happening. But rather it's a very small-sized pool, made for a quick dip in and out.
Dining at the hotel is recommended as Café Boulud, a New York outpost from famed restaurateur Daniel Boulud offers guests a better chance of getting seating than some outsiders.
Related Stories:
· Brazilian Court reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Brazilian Court Hotel [Worth Avenue]
Hotels
Florida Getaway: The Colony Hotel
February 20, 2006 at 8:45 AM | 0 Comments
This week, we are reporting from the East Coast of Florida, where 80 percent of the people taking advantage of President's Week have landed.
First stop, is the The Colony Palm Beach, a small hotel just beyond the town's ritzy Worth Avenue (think Rodeo Drive's East Coast counterpart) and a block from the beach.
As with most hotels in Palm Beach, the rates are pricey and start at $450 a night to stay in one of the hotel's guest rooms. They also have suites and villas available for a total of 90 accomodations.
The hotel has a very Carribbean feel. Despite a teeny tiny lobby, there's the Polo restaurant which extends outside around the swimming pool. And the fun Bimini Bar serving alcohol and tropical drinks around the pool.
However, this isn't a pool that you would really go gung-ho swimming in. First of all, there are people in blue blazers and Chanel suits eating at tables around you. Second, it's sort of small.
More pics and info post-click.
Hotels
Palm Beach: Not just for Trump
January 10, 2006 at 12:30 PM | 0 Comments
The Wall Street Journal enlightens travelers on the new side of the preppy haven, Palm Beach, that is (gasp!) kid friendly.
Once stuffy "old-guard" hotels like The Breakers have started to tailor their services to families with children, as evidenced by the Fun Zone--which was setup one weekend and housed inflatable carnival tents, three-story water slides and bungee-jumping trampolines.
Kids can even stay free with their parents, and with rooms starting at $470, that's a pretty nice perk.
A recent reviewer has added two other services the hotel does for families:
[1.]They provide decent cribs if necessary as well as bottle warmers and diaper pails for your room. They also rent strollers for $18.00 a day if you need. [2.]They will baby proof your room if you request it.
The uppity and chic Brazilian Court has made a small concession, by ordering terry-cloth robes in a child's size.
The "more-adult boutique" Chesterfield now offers a family package with a "make your own Teddie Bear" gift certificate.
While Palm Beach will never be Disney World and is still primarily ruled by the old-guard affluent old folks (the article reports of a restaurant hosting a kid's birthday party in a back room so as not to disturb the regulars) it can be the best of both worlds--adulthood and childhood--for the family.
Related Stories:
· Palm Beach Wants Your Noisy Kids [WSJ, reg. req'd.]
· The Breakers Reviews [TripAdvisor]
