Frommer's Review
If the Breakers is too mammoth for your taste, consider the Ritz-Carlton. A lot warmer than the Four Seasons, The Ritz, though hyperluxurious, manages to lack pretension. Located on a beautiful beach in a tiny town about 8 miles from Palm Beach's shopping and dining area, the resort offers tennis courts with pros, a creative Ritz Kids program, and extensive watersports facilities on-site. It is so discreet, in fact, that Palm Beach's luminaries often escape here for a rare weekend of anonymity. The hotel's French 18th- and 19th-century antique furnishings give no hint that the property is not even 15 years old. Each guest room has a private balcony and at least a glimpse of the ocean below. All rooms are spacious, and the large marble bathrooms are extremely inviting.
The specialty restaurant, Angle, is open for dinner only; a casual oceanfront restaurant called Temple Orange features contemporary American fare with fresh seafood. There's also Breeze, a poolside cafe and bar. The hotel's new chefs have breathed new life into the restaurants and a new decor has made the main dining room more chic, with a functional wine wall, scattered votives, and underlit onyx tables. Cocktails are served in the lobby lounge, where you can find live entertainment on weekends. Afternoon tea is available most days, but is best on Friday, when guests can enjoy the hotel's Art Tour as well.
The Ritz completed a $60-million renovation in March 2007, including the introduction of 32-inch LCD HDTV flat screens, bedside electronic control panels, new mahogany furniture, and sleeper chairs and sofas in guest rooms and suites. New oceanfront suites have invisible televisions hidden behind mirrors and only visible when turned on. Seven-jet oversized showers and free-standing soaking tubs have views of the ocean. Gorgeous. For those who can't stay off their cellphones, the hotel has also enhanced its previously paltry cellular reception. A new 3,000-square-foot oceanfront terrace with a 55-foot-long water wall makes for a gorgeous backdrop for cocktails and outdoor dining, and the new Tranquility swimming pool is hidden in a courtyard area and ideal for relaxation. Debuting in the summer of 2007, the 28,000-square-foot Grand Spa has koi and lily ponds and plenty of pampering options.
Facilities: 4 restaurants; bar; outdoor pool; fitness and massage center; Jacuzzi; sauna; watersports equipment rental; bike rental; children's center/programs; concierge; business center; salon; 24-hr. room service; in-room massage; 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.
