No matter where I have gone since I started visiting hotels for Luxe Recess, fellow parents at the pool or in the spa ask, “Have you seen The Breakers’ family amenities, yet?” This Palm Beach resort definitely built up some excitement for me, as very discerning travelers would lift a hand and say, “Oh you just have to go to The Breakers Palm Beach.”
The Breakers’ Esteemed History
Pulling into the resort for the first time, I admired the iconic double-tower structure and what Henry Flagler contributed to the history of Florida tourism and development of the area.
Miami was almost called Flagler, but he refused the honor. His determination to extend a railroad all the way down to the Florida Keys singlehandedly led to building Florida’s economy.
The magical feel of stepping from the porte-cochère at The Breakers into its lobby is not rivaled by many hotels: The Plaza, with its newer Palm Court, is the only hotel I can think of that matches the heft that The Breakers Palm Beach interior spaces possess.
JOIN LUXURY HOTELS & RESORTS FOR FAMILIES,
A FACEBOOK GROUP FOR SEEKING ADVICE AND INSPIRATION
FOR THE BEST LUXURY FAMILY BREAKS.
Schultze & Weaver, the architectural team who designed The Breakers also designed the legendary Sherry-Netherland and Pierre hotels in New York and the Biltmore in Miami. The Breakers was inspired by the story of a restored palazzo in Genoa, and Italian craftsmanship is all around, particularly when looking up. No, the guests aren’t really that haughty, it’s just that everyone is mesmerized by the hotel ceilings. And it is a comical error when a child’s helium balloon disrupts the view.
The same family has privately owned The Breakers Palm Beach since it was built in 1896 and is committed to investing a minimum of $25 million per year to the ongoing refurbishment and maintenance of the property. Recent projects have included a completely new spa and fitness center we featured, as well. Most recently, the resort completed a new shopping arcade for a day of shopping right at the resort.
Kids will love the new Mary Lily’s candy store and ice cream parlor filled with novelty gifts. Even the main cafe is also a home decor and gift store worthy of an hour of browsing. Families can shop for swimsuits, sunglasses, shoes, and a new wardrobe at the Ralph Lauren boutiques.
A really fun beauty day with my daughter was the haute parfumerie experience. After a truly interesting lesson in the different foundations of fragrance, I chose a new signature parfume for myself (included in your purchase is a small sample of your second favorite scent). I had my makeup done here on my first visit and the personalized service makes this a delightful shopping break in complete contrast to Sephora.
The Best Breakers Family Suites to Book
The rooms at The Breakers Palm Beach are furnished with many details that we associate with elegant Palm Beach style: cheery color accents, grasscloth wallpaper, ocean motifs throughout.
The Breakers Palm Beach is like other historic properties where standard rooms are somewhat smaller than modern hotels. My advice is to splurge for the biggest room or suite category your budget allows.
After a previous stay in a resort-view suite in the historic part of the building, we had the pleasure of staying in the newer Atlantic-facing suites this most recent visit. The turquoise water was so close, that I felt like I was on a cruise ship.
These suites are perfect for familles. The living area has its own bath and shower in addition to the generous walk-in closet and master bath.
While we only had the one bedroom, one can add a connecting, second room for more space if families have more than two children. The living room of this spacious suite can accommodate a rollaway and a sleeper sofa for kids who do not like to share a bed.
The excellent quality of the bed linens and the very well-stocked bathrooms impressed me. Beyond the standard lotions and dental kits, guests receive microfiber Aquis hair towels and other toiletries. Even the stylish dirty laundry bag in the master closet will make it into your suitcase home.
The adult-only choice: The Flagler Club
The Breakers has a club level experience designed for adults that offers an exclusive hotel within an hotel with only 21 rooms and suites. The Flagler Club reopens in November 2023 with spectacular amenities including a lounge with breakfast, light luncheon, hors d’oeuvres and desserts daily. Flagler Club guests have access to a dedicated concierge team to make everything happen, including chaufferred airport transfers included in the room rate.
Family Fun at the Breakers Palm Beach
What I loved specifically about The Breakers is that every open space, with its manicured lawns flawless as PGA putting greens, always had families playing soccer or tag. One might assume it’s very austere, but it is absolutely designed for family vacations.
The family pool areas are separate from the quieter adult pool. A large kiosk sells every possible pool toy a child could want, as well as, any flotation device a child needs. Stairs from the pool area lead to the beach where children float in inner tubes, build massive sand castles, and bob down the shore on a banana boat towed by a jet ski.
Families can rent pool-side bungalow cabanas to make a day of it that come with private outdoor showers, televisions, air conditioning and areas for sleeping babies. And some come with a hammock! We had bungalow 11, and I highly recommend it!
The Breakers Family Entertainment Center used to house the kids club which is no longer open, however, there’s still lots to do. There’s a wonderful shaded outdoor playground for younger children, bike rental for older kids, and many opportunities for inside fun.
A toddler room next to the Italian restaurant will entertain younger kids with their parents while adjacent rooms house foosball and ping pong tables. Finally, the last door leads to a well-stocked resort arcade.
Sports are serious business at The Breakers and they offer excellent golf and tennis clinics for children.
The Breakers Palm Beach Restaurants
The Italian Restaurant, its actual name, is the resort’s central choice for family dining with the younger set. In fact, many Palm Beach residents consider it a ritual to take the kids or grandkids for meals during the season.
Imagine your fantasy version of Chuck E. Cheese because that’s what The Breakers cleverly designed. A wall of windows separates the restaurant from a play area for young children. Kids can roam between their table and the playroom under the gaze of the parents. This was a super fantastic convenience for us. My husband and I looked across the table to find ourselves alone while waiting for our food.
The arcade further down a hallway attracts tween-aged guests passionately engaged in earning prizes from miserly games. Parents were floating around or playing while holding goblets of Pinot Nero from the Italian restaurant, wearing expressions of serenity you don’t see at Chuck E. Cheese.
I found The Breakers restaurants to be excellent and diverse. Guests choose from seafood, steak, Italian, Asian, American, and more. The Breakers Palm Beach is unique in that couples and families can stay several days and not try all of the dining options.
We loved the newest addition, Henry’s Palm Beach, a short resort-car ride away (guests can request the resort’s Teslas for all resort restaurants not located in the main building). Henry’s Palm Beach offered an incredible meal of house-made pigs in pretzel-roll blankets with cheese dipping sauce, lobster truffled risotto, house-made pastas and a showstopping ice cream mud pie for dessert.
The only dessert that beat it was the homemade whoopie pie sundae and baked Alaska served at HMF, the lobby restaurant. You will not leave hungry.
We had breakfast at the Beach Club and in the grand Circle that each provide diverse but beautiful settings. The buffets were thorough and filled with many choices for those on clean diets and included many herbs and vegetables from The Breakers garden. The vegan hash with granola, fresh-pressed organic juice blends, and hotel-grown salad greens went perfectly well with Eggs Benedict.
Service at the Breakers Palm Beach
The service at The Breakers runs like a well-oiled machine. It was easy to tell that the 2,000-member staff was empowered to handle, on the spot, the issues and requests of a clientele with high expectations.
The Breakers lived up to its hype. The property has never looked so good, and our two visits during the most peak season of New Year’s and the lowest season of August were equally outstanding.
Unlike the other beach resorts in the area that don’t necessarily feel like like any place specific in Florida, The Breakers has a pedigree and legacy that is unrivaled. My kids have traveled with me everywhere on the job and they have pretty good taste in what works. “That was a great hotel. What’s nicer than that?” my twelve-year-old asked as we sadly drove away.
HOW TO RECEIVE VIP AMENITIES AT THE BREAKERS
Luxe Recess has access to exclusive discounted rates, complimentary room upgrades, a $100 resort credit, free breakfasts, and personalized welcome amenities. Sure, you could book your trip on your own, but you’d miss out on hundreds of dollars in exclusive amenities, as well as personalized VIP treatment by the staff at The Breakers.
As a luxury travel advisor, I help ensure your vacation goes off without a hitch. From the selection of the best cottages or rooms to the VIP welcome amenities, your trip to Palm Beach will have those little extra moments of joy.
Let me add my VIP amenities to your reservation. Complete our VIP hotel booking form, and I will provide a quote.
Although we were guests of The Breakers, these opinions expressed are entirely my own.
This looks like the perfect combination or relaxation and fun! It’s so beautiful and looks like the children’s activities and family amenities allow for EVERYONE to have a wonderful vacation!
Many years ago visited the Breakers with young grandchildren . We never returned. This article and its wonderful pictures and descriptions have us heading back soon!
Haven’t been there since 1998…things have changed and it definitely looks to be worth another trip! Great review and such wonderful photos.
Have only been for girls weekend but this looks like a perfect kids getaway! The spa was still under construction during my Nov visit so can’t wait to read all about that one too!
I am eager to spend a week at The Breakers with the entire family–my mother, myself and my kids. I want to have more independent time away from my husband. My oldest teen could bring a friend so they can do the older kids ‘Club’ but also swim and spend time together exploring the resort. They are well behaved, obedient, and clean so I hope the Breakers encourages this. A chance for mothers to take off and rest while toddlers and teens are being well looked after. Take time to enjoy myself with my family.