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Florida Resorts:
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 THE BILTMORE HOTEL, CORAL GABLES |
By PEGGY ANDERS
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 27, 2001
Tens of millions of tourists descend on our state each year, and a goodly number of them head for some of the fanciest resorts in America. But summer's heat slows the traffic, and the resorts heavily discount their rates in order to fill the guest rooms. That makes summer the perfect time for us stay-at-homes to sample the good life.
Here is the St. Petersburg Times' annual presentation of the best summer packages at some of Florida's top resorts. On the ratings scale of 1 to 5 used by Mobil Travel Guide and AAA Tourbooks, each of these lodgings has received at least a 4 from each organization. To provide variety to this annual article, we choose from among the selections, though some resorts will appear in consecutive years.
Note: The number in parentheses after each listing refers to one of the seven regions shown on the accompanying state map on this page.
Readers who prefer smaller accommodations will find a list noting 10 special B&Bs, inns or country hotels.
-- Compiled by Times editorial assistant Peggy Anders
AMELIA ISLAND PLANTATION
P.O. Box 3000
Amelia Island, FL 32035
Call (904) 261-6161, toll-free 1-800-874-6878
This resort offers more than 670 guest rooms, including the newly opened Amelia Inn and Beach Club's 249 rooms, scattered about 1,330 acres. The accommodations feature either ocean, golf or wooded views. The resort has five restaurants, 24 pools, 23 tennis courts, 54 holes of golf, horseback riding, fishing, sailing, a health and fitness center, guided nature tours and miles of beaches, biking and nature trails. Supervised kid's program includes hiking, tennis clinics; child care available.
Specials include five-day, all-inclusive, recreation package through Sept. 30, starting at $244 per night double occupancy; Romantic Getaway package, starting at $645 per couple for two nights, including champagne, breakfast, one dinner for two, bicycle rentals and discount coupons, valid through 2001. Nonpackage rates start at $135, villas at $185, double occupancy, good through 2001. (2)
THE BILTMORE HOTEL
1200 Anastasia Ave.
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Call (305) 445-1926, toll-free 1-800-727-1926
The grand ballrooms of this National Historic Landmark hotel have played host to everyone from royalty to entertainment celebrities since its gala opening in 1926. The Biltmore has 280 rooms, five restaurants and a wine bar and cigar salon. The Biltmore also boasts the largest hotel swimming pool in the continental United States (22,000 square feet, holding 600,000 gallons), 10 tennis courts, an 18-hole golf course, spa with tai chi and yoga classes, and beauty salon.
Spring Package rate of $259, double occupancy, runs through June 30, and includes breakfast buffet for two. After July 1, room rates start at $259; suites start at $429. Summer Fun Camp's daily activities for kids include swimming, tennis and golf clinics. (6)
THE BREAKERS
1 South County Road
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Call toll-free 1-888-273-2537, (561) 655-6611, toll-free 1-800-833-3141
This oceanfront classic inspired by Italian villas offers 569 rooms, four oceanside pools and Jacuzzi, 10 tennis courts, 36 holes of golf, bicycling, five restaurants, four bars and a kids' camp. Mediterranean-style oceanfront spa and beach club has a new fitness center; sports options include fly fishing, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, scuba, jogging trail and bicycles.
Kids 16 and under stay free in parents' room, and Summer Values rates start at $199 per room for a Sun.-Thur. stay June 1-Sept. 18. Packages include a Golfer's Delight -- daily breakfast, a round of golf per person per night, range balls and cart included -- for $405, double occupancy; Family Seaside Breakaway with daily breakfast and lunch for two, round of golf per adult per night, day of bicycling and discounted kid's camp and snorkeling for $475 per room, per night, double occupancy. Both packages good through Oct. 31. (6)
DISNEY'S GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA
4401 Floridian Way
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Call (407) 934-7639, (407) 824-3000
The Victorian-styled resort, modeled after turn-of-the-century beach hotels, has five lodge buildings in addition to the main hotel with its five-story atrium lobby steps from Disney's monorail line. The 900 rooms are the most luxurious accommodations of Disney's 18 hotels. Guests can dine at five restaurants, four lounges and two snack bars. Recreation includes a white sand beach on Seven Seas Lagoon, marina with watercraft rentals, 275,000-gallon heated pool, kiddie pool, two tennis courts, access to five golf courses, kid's playground, Mousketeer Club child care and health spa.
Value Rates season begins July 4 and continues through Sept. 26, with rooms starting at $314, concierge level rooms starting at $540 per night, double occupancy. Regular season rates in effect until July 3 include rooms starting at $359 per night, concierge rooms at $600, both double occupancy. (3)
LITTLE PALM ISLAND RESORT AND SPA
28500 Overseas Highway
Little Torch Key, FL 33042
Call (305) 872-2524, toll-free 1-800-343-8567
 LITTLE PALM ISLAND RESORT AND SPA |
The Get Lost package is a four-night stay that includes champagne, fruit and cheese, a massage, breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, plus unlimited snorkel and scuba for $3,800 per couple (Sun. arrival). Island Getaway package -- $3,000 per couple, including tax and gratuities for a three-night stay -- includes champagne, three meals daily, massage, water sports and more. Both packages available June 1-Oct. 31. Nonpackage rates start at $595 midweek, $695 for weekend days per couple per night June 1-Oct. 31 and require a two-night minimum stay on weekends.(6)
LOEW'S MIAMI BEACH HOTEL
1601 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33130
Call (305) 604-1601, toll-free 1-800-235-6397
www.loewshotels.com/miamibeachhome.html
 LOEW’S MIAMI BEACH HOTEL |
Summerfest 2001 room rates start at $189, double occupancy, for two nights with a 50 percent discount for a third night, or pay for three nights and receive fourth night free, through July 15. Generation G package, geared toward grandparents and grandkids, includes an oceanview room, full breakfast for four daily, Everglades airboat tour, one day water sport and beach amenities, disposable camera, photo album, in-room movie and kid's cookbook. This package starts at $749 per night; an additional room is available at 50 percent off, and the package is good through Sept. 3.(6)
PGA NATIONAL RESORT & SPA
400 Avenue of the Champions
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
Call (561) 627-2000, toll-free 1-800-633-9150
Freshly renovated, this golfer's haven is home to the Academy of Golf school and the headquarters of the Professional Golfers' Association of America. The resort's 2,340 acres include five courses, 19 tennis courts, fitness club and spa, the largest croquet complex in the Western Hemisphere, nine pools, eight restaurants and lounges. Accommodations total 339 rooms and 60 two-bedroom club cottages, which have washer-dryers and kitchens.
Summer Golf and Spa package guests get unlimited daily golf (surcharge for championship course), golf bag storage and range balls, breakfast, massage or facial, and use of the fitness center for $139 per person per night, double occupancy through Sept. 30. Spa-only package includes two 50-minute treatments per night, full breakfast and lunch daily, spa facilities including mineral pools; this starts at $275 per person per night, double occupancy, through Sept. 30.(6)
PONTE VEDRA INN AND CLUB
200 Ponte Vedra Blvd.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl 32082
Call (904) 285-1111, toll-free 1-800-234-7842
 PONTE VEDRA INN AND CLUB |
Three- and four-night holiday packages (for July 4 and Labor Day) include daily breakfasts, golf and tennis, and cost between $298 and $352 per night, double occupancy. Family package includes fruit basket, unlimited tennis and golf, use of beach equipment (umbrellas, lounges, etc.), bicycle or fishing equipment, plus kids under 18 years stay free in same room as parents; this package is $135 per person per night, double occupancy, with a three-night minimum, June through August.(2)
RENAISSANCE VINOY RESORT AND GOLF CLUB
501 Fifth Ave. NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Call (727) 894-1000, toll-free 1-800-468-3571
Located on St. Petersburg's downtown waterfront, close to cultural attractions and museums, the 360-room, Mediterranean Revival-style resort shuttles guests to its nearby 18-hole golf course and offers five restaurants and lounges, a 74-slip marina with sailing and water scooter options, two heated pools and three outdoor spas, 12 tennis courts and health club, salon and spa. Kids under 18 stay free in adults' room, and the Kid's Club offers organized children's activities plus weekly field trips.
The Two for Breakfast package, with full breakfast, is $179 per night; Museum Escape package includes a $25 dining credit and two admissions to a choice of museums for $199 per night. Escape to Romance package is $225 per night and includes choice of Sunday brunch or dinner for two, chilled Champagne or fruit and cheese basket. Packages are per night per couple, good through Sept. 29.(5)
RITZ-CARLTON, AMELIA ISLAND
4750 Amelia Island Parkway
Amelia Island, FL 32034
Call (904) 277-1100, toll-free 1-800-241-3333
This resort has received the AAA five-diamond award for both its accommodations and its restaurant. There are 449 rooms, including 45 suites, all with balconies, coastal or ocean views. Recreation options include 18 holes of golf, indoor and outdoor heated pools, nine tennis courts, spa facilities and fitness center. Ritz Kids supervised program (for ages 9-12), nanny service, beauty salon, laundry are among other services.
Summer rates start at $189 for coastal-view rooms through Sept. 3, single or double occupancy. Cooking School package includes two-night stay, cooking classes, continental breakfast and Champagne, lunch with the chef and wine tastings. The package is $738 for one person, $938 for two, through November. Holiday rates July 1-3 start at $199, July 4-7 start at $229. (2)
RITZ-CARLTON, NAPLES
280 Vanderbilt Beach Road
Naples, FL 34108
Call (941) 598-3300, toll-free 1-888-856-4372, 1-800-241-3333 (Ritz-Carlton main reservations)
The stately lobby of this five-star, five-diamond resort is furnished with museum-quality antiques and art. The 463 guest rooms have gulf-view balconies, marble baths, goose-down pillows, twice daily housekeeping. There are six restaurants and afternoon tea, two heated pools, sailing and kayaking, guided Everglades tours. Guests can also enjoy a new 51,000-square-foot spa and fitness center with hydro-massage therapy and seaweed body treatments. The resort has four tennis courts, offers organized activities for children 5-12 and has access to 63 area golf courses.
Packages include a Summer American Express Offer for $169 per night, Sundays through Wednesdays, June 17-Sept. 3 (must be booked with American Express card), and the Art of the Spa sampler, $299 per night single or $399 double occupancy June 17-Aug. 29 (Sunday-Wednesday stays only) and offers choice of European facial or massage, welcome basket.(7)
SANIBEL HARBOUR RESORT & SPA
17260 Harbour Pointe Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33908
Call (941) 466-4000, toll-free 1-800-767-7777
Kayak through the mangroves, charter a fishing boat or sail the gulf while staying at this Victorian-styled resort. It offers 240 rooms in the hotel, a 107-room boutique inn, and 70 two-bedroom condominiums. There are six swimming pools, activities for children, salon and boutiques, four restaurants, a spa and fitness center, a boardwalk through mangrove forest, nine tennis courts, a marina and access to 56 golf courses. The resort offers cruises for dolphin watching, eco-history, shelling, sunset dinner or brunch.
The Sanibel Spectacular package offers breakfast for two daily and a $200 discount booklet and starts at $139 per night, double occupancy, June 1-Sept. 30, Sundays-Thursdays only. The Resort Sampler includes a two-night stay, breakfast buffet either aboard the resort's ship or in a restaurant, $25 resort services coupon (for tennis, spa or Kid's Klub), sunset cruise or wildlife, dolphin and eco-history cruise, and fitness amenities; rates start at $281 per person, double occupancy, through Oct. 31. (7)
TURNBERRY ISLE RESORT & CLUB
19999 W Country Club Drive
Aventura, FL 33180
Call (305) 932-6200, toll-free 1-800-327-7028
The 300 tropical acres of this resort offer two golf courses, new tri-level spa opening in June, tennis, marina with deep-sea fishing charters, and nine restaurants and lounges. The 395 guest rooms have Oriental rugs and fresh flowers.
The Turnberry Sampler package includes fruit basket, daily breakfast buffet, one 18-hole round of golf daily (excluding cart), unlimited tennis and spa access (spa services extra), shuttle service to the Aventura Mall, starting at $119 per person, double occupancy, with a two-night minimum, June 1-Sept. 6. The Fireworks for Two package, July 4-8, includes Champagne and fresh fruit, breakfast buffet daily, three dinners, July 4 celebration including a barbecue and concert, and unlimited golf (including cart), unlimited tennis and spa admission (excluding services), 30-minute massages or facials, for $1,148 per couple.(6)
VILLAS OF GRAND CYPRESS
1 N Jacaranda
Orlando, FL 32836
Call (407) 239-4700, toll-free 1-800-835-7377
Part of the 1,500-acre Grand Cypress Resort, the Mediterranean-style villas offer suites and one- to four-bedroom villas of up to 3,100 square feet with whirlpools and fireplaces. Amenities include twice-daily housekeeping, valet service, 24-hour room service, transportation to Walt Disney World, bicycles, video library, health club and spa, equestrian center, swimming and water sports. Guests are within walking distance of 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus-designed golf. Among the seven restaurants is the AAA four-diamond Black Swan.
Children 12 and younger stay free this summer with the Villas' Grand Family Getaway and receive complimentary golf and instruction, equestrian activities meals at two restaurants, family snack. Unlimited family use of tennis courts, bicycles, boats, Pitch N'Putt course and driving range is also included for $219 per room per night with two-night minimum through Sept. 30. Unlimited Golf package (through Sept. 30) includes unlimited golf, cart, club storage, locker facilities, putting and driving range, from $185 per person per night, double occupancy.(3)
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111
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