PRICE:
Frommer's Exceptional

Described by some as an oceanfront mansion, the Ritz-Carlton takes Key Biscayne to the height of luxury with 44 acres of tropical gardens, a 20,000-square-foot European-style spa, and a world-class tennis center under the direction of tennis pro Cliff Drysdale. Decorated in British colonial style, the Ritz-Carlton looks as if it came straight out of Bermuda, with its impressive flower-laden landscaping. The Ritz Kids programs provide children ages 5 to 12 with fantastic activities, and the 1,200-foot beachfront offers everything from pure relaxation to fishing, boating, or windsurfing. Spacious and luxuriously appointed rooms are elegantly Floridian, featuring large balconies overlooking the ocean or the lush gardens. Unlike many behemoth hotels, the Ritz-Carlton is as much a part of the aesthetic value of the island as is its natural beauty, and its oceanfront Italian restaurant, Cioppino is excellent if you want something a bit more formal or, if you prefer casual dining, the ocean front Cantina Beach features great Mexican food and even a Tequlier -- a sommelier for tequila. The best spa in Miami is also here, with 20,000 square feet of space that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. It features unheard-of treatments such as the Rum Molasses Waterfall treatment (a combination massage/hair treatment), the Key Lime Coconut Body Scrub, and the Everglades Grass Body Wrap.

Facilities: Restaurant; pool grill; spa cafe; 3 bars; 2 outdoor heated pools; tennis center w/lessons available; spa and fitness center; watersports equipment/rentals; children's programs; business center; concierge; 24-hr. room service; overnight laundry service.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's South Florida including Miami and Keys, 5th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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