Palm Beach
Florida


The Experience

For more than a century, this Italian Renaissance-style property that sits on 140 manicured beachfront acres has set the standard by which every other Palm Beach hotel is measured. Once inside, it'll take your eyes a moment to adjust to the lobby's cool, marble interior -- but what a feast for the senses when they do: hand-painted ceilings, Venetian chandeliers and 15th-century Flemish tapestries. Don't let the ornate surroundings fool you, however. This is still a place of quiet good taste, where Lilly and Lacoste reign. For those whose wardrobes lack the requisite pink-and-green color palette, the shops of Worth Avenue are less than a mile away.

The Rooms

Although impeccably done in a fresh, breezy style -- lots of coral and teal, botanical-print upholstery, rattan and mahogany furniture and Italian marble baths -- rooms are generally smaller than at many luxury beach resorts. So skip the superior double and go for a premium full oceanfront deluxe with a balcony and water view. For the ultimate in privacy, the restricted-access Flagler Club rooms have their own concierge and lots of munchies: Continental breakfast, afternoon tea, evening hors d'oeuvres and after-dinner cocktails.

The Service

The staff achieves the perfect balance between warm and friendly but not overly familiar. Security is strict, and to get access to certain parts of the hotel, you'll have to show your ID constantly, which can start to feel tiresome. On the rare occasion when something goes wrong, the staff is quick to apologize and make it right. And waiters are adept at handling prickly guests, especially those under the age of six.

The Highlights

The property has always been a place in which families feel comfortable, and over the holidays you'll see large groups -- from grandparents to infants -- gathered in the lobby and restaurants. There's something for everyone: two 18-hole golf courses, 10 tennis courts, a 20,000-square-feet spa, three fitness centers and five pools. But you may just wind up enjoying the ocean view at the new 300-square-feet beach cabanas, opened in March 2006, with flat-screen TVs, Internet access, wet bars, private sundecks and daybeds -- a combination of modern luxury and luxurious seclusion.

-- Jamie Marshall

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