Frommer's Review
This 140-acre beachfront hotel is what Palm Beach is all about. Elaborate, stately, and resplendent in all its Italian Renaissance-style glory, it's where old money mixes with new money, and the Old World gives way, albeit reluctantly, to a bit of modernity.
The Breakers consists of a seven-story building with a frescoed lobby and long, majestic hallways reminiscent of a palace. Elegant guest rooms have plush furnishings, huge bathrooms, and views of the ocean or the hotel's magnificently manicured grounds. If you can afford it, the Flagler Club is the Breakers' exclusive, hyperluxe hotel within a hotel, featuring private entry, 28 rooms, butlers, concierges, and doting service, as well as tea, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and desserts all day and night. Delightful chief concierge Bernard Nicole has a wealth of local lore.
The indulgent oceanfront spa and beach club features a spectacular fitness center (the ocean view makes workouts a lot less grueling), four pools, cabanas, and saunas. Treatments at the sublime spa are aplenty, filling up a 16-page book. Ask for one upon arrival and marvel at the spa-portunities. A revamp of Florida's oldest existing golf course, led by Brian Silva, transformed the Ocean Course into a 6,200-yard, championship-level par-70 course. For those who need a few lessons before hitting the greens, The Breakers Golf Academy (tel. 561/659-8474; http://www.thebreakers.com/golf/academy) will assist you in finding your zone with world-class instruction by PGA members and apprentices. While Daddy and Mommy are playing golf, the kids can hang out at the Family Entertainment Center, a 6,160-square-foot space filled with video games, air hockey, board games, a movie room, Xbox games, and several supervised camps. I have to say that, despite the magnificence of the adult facilities, the kids' area is most impressive. A $15-million beachfront redevelopment project has resulted in stunning beachfront landscaping, not to mention new Beachfront Bungalows available for rental. Each is complete with a full bathroom with a private, open-sky shower, a living room, wireless Internet access, a fridge, and beach concierge. There's also a free-form pool catering to families, known appropriately as the "active pool," as well as a luxury relaxation pool for peace and quiet.
Each of the resort's five restaurants holds its own, especially the oceanfront Seafood Bar and signature French restaurant L'Escalier. Do not miss the decadent Sunday brunch at the Circle, the magnificent dining room with to-die-for ocean views.
Facilities: 5 restaurants; 3 bars; 4 outdoor pools; golf course; 14 tennis courts; health club; spa; croquet; shuffleboard; beach volleyball courts; watersports equipment (including scuba and sailing); bike rental; children's programs; game rooms; concierge; business center; shopping arcade; salon; 24-hr. room service; in-room massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
