As you probably know by now, I am always on the hunt for local experiences beyond a resort. Well, I am here to share a story about that time I took a weekend trip to Boca Resort and never left the property. Yes… I strayed from my Dining Traveler ethos for a weekend but I must say it was just what I needed at the time. Last fall, I was working nonstop on my Kickstarter campaign for Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico, a mental and emotionally taxing experience. Also at the time, I was headed to South Florida to write about Miami, followed by TBEX Travel Blogger conference in Ft.Lauderdale, another intense experience. The opportunity to spend the weekend at the Waldorf-Astoria Boca Resort presented itself and I couldn’t resist. All about my experience at this idyllic resort.
Weekend Trip to Boca Resort
The Scene: As you enter the majestic pink Mediterranean-style resort, you know you are in for a treat. The rich marble white floor, the white walls and ceilings, and modern art sculptures welcome you upon check-in. It transports you to a glamour film of the 40’s with its old fashioned charm and the formality of its doorman and front desk staff. We (Dutchman and I) arrived on a Friday night and were welcomed with the sounds of salsa coming from the lounge being played by a live band. Just with that, we knew our weekend trip to Boca Resort was going to be unique. The atmosphere was casual with an air of elegance.
The Property: The property has two sides: a main resort area (Boca Raton Resort) and the Beach Club. Both areas have their charm: the main resort area has beautiful gardens to wander around, several restaurant selections, and the spa. You can get to the beach front property via shuttle or by boat (my favorite form of transportation). The Boca Resort is so large that we did not feel “trapped” as I do in other properties, especially catching the boat to the beach club where the décor and feel of the area is completely different than the main resort area. We spent time at the beach, had a spa day, did some work by the pool, and dined at the several restaurants on property.
The Rooms: Given the luxurious surroundings of the hotel, I thought our standard room would have been larger. The bed was comfortable, the room was beautifully decorated, and the Ferragamo toiletries are always nice but wish we had a bit more room. Perhaps it’s a trick to get you to enjoy all the amenities the hotel has to offer…
The Spa: It’s been several months and I still think of the spa at the Boca Resort. I’ll say it was the highlight of my weekend trip to Boca Resort. If you need a mental break, this is the place. Although the treatments were great (I had a facial and the Dutchman had a massage), what we loved the most were the spa amenities. The spa has a pool that is exclusive for spa patrons where you can order a healthy lunch and peacefully swim on their fairly large pool before or after your treatment. It also has an indoor relaxing area equipped with complimentary snacks and fruit infused water. We literally spent five hours at the spa. Both of us have been overworked and this was the perfect treat.
The Food: Given that we didn’t leave the resort, we got to experience plenty of the dining options at the property. The breakfast buffet at Palm Court was deliciously decadent with a vast selection of fresh fruit, yogurts, and a great hot selection as well (they are famous for their monkey bread). One of the highlights was having seaside lunch at the blue restaurant at the Beach Club. The beautifully delicious lychee margarita paired with a coconut ceviche quickly put us in culinary vacation mode. Another must order is the key lime merengue dessert at the blue, as you bite into the crunchy meringue you encounter the creamy key lime interior. Amazing… We also enjoyed the relaxed vibe of the Monkey Bar, which evokes Mr. Minzer (the architect behind the Boca Resort) passion for monkeys which manifests across the bar.
The Verdict: Feeling stressed? Dealing with long days at work? A weekend trip to Boca Resort may be for you if you’re looking for an escape with absolutely no worries other than which cocktail you want to order. The property is a short trip from anywhere in the East Coast and you have plenty of airport options (Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami) within the hour. What’s your favorite Florida escape?
Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, Website: http://www.bocaresort.com/
Disclaimer: I was hosted by the Boca Resort. As always, opinions are my own.
If you are going to stay put, the Boca Resort looks like a pretty nice place to do it! I’ve fallen into the trap of go, go, go when I am traveling and rarely take the time to really enjoy the advantages of all a beautiful hotel has to offer. It’s important to recharge ourselves and I’m glad you and the Dutchman had a romantic weekend! Great to meet you Jess.
Great to meet you as well Alison! Agreed, sometimes it’s great just to veg out! That weekend I really needed that!
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