Palm Beach
Florida


The Experience

Arriving at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach is impressive -- you walk into a lobby with acres of gleaming cream and white marble set off by enormous floral arrangements. Across the dazzling lobby is a view that sweeps out over the pool, the beach and the sea beyond. The hotel's location, on a particularly broad expanse of white sand, a 15-minute drive from Worth Avenue, makes it a great retreat for families and others who come to Florida for sun and surf. Though the shopping isn't terrific, the dining and social scenes are big draws.

The Rooms

Beverly Hills designer Cheryl Rowley redecorated all the rooms in July 2003 in plantation style: dark mahogany and rosy fruitwood furniture, sometimes carved with pineapple motifs, a sprinkling of palm tree pillows strategically cast about and a refreshing island palette of golden sand, French blue and Key lime. The feeling is relaxed, expansive and expensive. Even the smallest category of rooms, at 393 square feet, features sitting areas as well as private balconies with tables and chairs and views of the ocean, pool or gardens. Bigwigs love the three beachfront two-bedroom suites for their fully stocked wet bars and entertainment centers with all the gizmos.

The Service

Four Seasons has pool and beachside service down pat. Attendants stand ready to hand out iced face cloths, tropical fruit skewers and spritzes of Evian, and a sunglass concierge buffs away any smudges that threaten to spoil the view. The feeling is warm and friendly, like family: One concierge, in fact, invited a guest spending Christmas all alone to her home for a holiday dinner, while another lent her personal clothing to a guest whose luggage was lost.

The Highlights

Dining here is a big deal: The executive chef, Hubert des Marais, has been touted by Food & Wine magazine as one of the country's best. His on-property herb garden provides the pizzazz for many dishes that come out of his kitchen, even featuring a five-course organic tasting menu paired with organic wines. Before or after dinner, relax in teak rocking chairs on the Living Room terrace next to a tiled fountain. Families are encouraged, and teenagers can hang in their own game room, with Xbox, foosball, a pool table and hoops outside. And innovation continues: Summer 2007 will bring a new spa featuring a Man Room, with oversize leather chairs and sofas, flat-screen TV and an old-fashioned barber chair.

-- Kathleen Beckett

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