Best Luxury Beach Resorts

What are the best luxury Florida resorts for families? In Miami? Palm Beach? Naples? Orlando? We know. No vacation can recharge a family in winter faster than a quick Florida break. Flights are easy; many are direct. Budget airlines have brought airfares down across all carriers. With all of that money you save not flying to the Caribbean, you can ...

Eight years ago, a friend shared she had convinced her whole family to dress as a character from Harry Potter for a Thanksgiving celebration. I knew I had to do something similar. It finally happened, and it was well worth the wait.How to Organize The Ultimate Harry Potter Florida CelebrationI just planned my most ambitious Orlando vacation yet. ...

Elvis loved it. Marcia Brady did, too. There's something special about those iconic landscapes, waterfalls, and beaches. A Hawaiian vacation is special.Hawaii vacation photos are what Christmas card photos are made for!Where to stay on your Hawaiian VacationI have asked other Luxe Recess contributors and some fabulous family travel writers to choose the best family resorts in ...

Despite Florida’s number of new luxury hotels, The Four Seasons Surfside justified a buzz that broke through the noise and became the it hotel in South Florida. The Surf Club in Surfside was the place to be in Miami ninety years ago, and it is again today.The Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club combines four elements to deliver ...

Sometimes a hotel suite just doesn’t feel large enough. Sometimes you need bigger. Like a 6,000 square foot house.When Star Wars opens on August 29th, grab the whole squad. There's room.At Encore Resort, you can have it. Instead of condos or villas, everyone gets their own resort home and private pool.Encore Resort has developed a unique ...

We feasted on hearty French fare: an onion soup with Gruyère cheese, medium rare steak sautéed in butter with a Bordelaise sauce and purées of spinach, carrot, and garlic and finished with a dark chocolate soufflé. It was a reminder of the trip that we were supposed to be taking that moment in France. But with train strikes and a ...

Guests of the Ritz Carlton Waikiki Beach become temporary residents of one of the island’s most distinguished addresses.The Ritz Carlton Waikiki Beach lobby. Photo courtesy of the hotel.The Ritz Carlton Residences Waikiki Beach guests aren't looking for traditional Hawaiian beach vacations. They use their home away from home as a lushly appointed base for all of their Oahu ...

 South Seas Resort and Captiva Island draw many who could easily afford five-star options but who remain loyal to the low-key, island vibe. A Postcard Welcome to Sanibel and Captiva Island My son and I reached the summit of the bridge that connects Sanibel and Captiva Islands to the Fort Myers area. Then, it was as if magic vacation fairies ...

 For a fantasy family weekend with nothing but walks on the beach, board games, spa time, and lobster at every meal.  When I think back of all of the places we have explored in New England, I have a very deep soft spot for the Inn by the Sea, just south of Portland, Maine in an area called Cape ...

Given that Mickey Mouse’s roots are in California, it’s no surprise where he chooses to spend his vacation: Hawaii.Sunrise at AulaniIn 2011, the Walt Disney Company opened its most ambitious resort not attached to a theme park. Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa lies on the island of Oahu.Many may assume they know what to expect of a ...

Considered Disney World's signature resort, The Grand Floridian has a lot of charm. But is it a luxury resort?The Grand Floridian Welcome The Cooler was a 2003 film starring William Macy, and he played a down-on-his-luck sad sack employed by casinos to loiter near the winning to turn their luck around. Disney World does the opposite of this casino practice.They ...

The Ritz Carlton Naples resorts are the king and queen of the Paradise Coast hotels   The beachfront Ritz-Carlton Naples  As the most elegant hub of Southwest Florida, Naples celebrates a new chapter. Once the snowbird haven of Midwestern grandparents, Naples has seen huge growth in welcoming young families and professionals. North of downtown Naples in the area of Vanderbilt Beach ...

We were told to keep an eye out for the resident seals, whales and dolphins. Gazing out onto the Pacific while stretching out in the warm sunshine was one of the highlights of my trip— a true moment of serenity.    Our California Road Trip Itinerary Road-tripping through California had been on our travel bucket list for about a decade, but ...

The Banyan Tree Mayakoba gracefully fuses the Thai brand's style with local flavors for an exceptional five-star resort experience. It's not for those seeking a formulaic all-inclusive resort. Where is Mayakoba and What is It? The Mayakoba Resort lies a few minutes north of Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo, Mexico, the area known as the Riviera Maya. It’s an ...

People ask me what has been the best hotel to feature since I launched Luxe Recess in 2014. I am not saying that the Four Seasons Orlando is my favorite, because that’s like saying I have a favorite child. Although the fact that we did just return from our sixth visit may mean our family has found its magical place.There's ...

In the end, our favorite aspects of staying at the Polynesian had nothing to do with being club levelThe front entrance of the Polynesian resort transports you to the South Pacific.Walking into the Disney Polynesian Resort you are instantly transported into vacation mode. Tropical music plays, palm trees dance gently, and a piña colada whispers your name from ...

So how did Round Hill, a classic celebrity and socialite hideout, evolve into one of the best Jamaica resorts for families? Round Hill's beach views are uncommonly pretty. The History of Round Hill Round Hill has been welcoming guests since the 1950s on a former sugarcane plantation that later added coconuts, pimento, and many, many celebrities. Round Hill’s peninsula located near ...

Moon Palace JamaicaA Long Overdue Girls’ Getaway With No Regrets But OneI had a pang of remorse as I walked into the spa’s entry hall with one of my best friends. It was our first trip without our children or one of us being pregnant in twelve years. The Awe Spa at Moon Palace Jamaica is what mom fantasies ...

Magic Village Resort is a newer Disney area villa option for the discriminating traveler, designed as a sophisticated option to convene, cook, and slumber. Magic Village is located just over a mile from Animal Kingdom Lodge. Extended family vacations are Disney World’s specialty. I see the families pass by sporting a dozen t-shirts in the same royal blue, adorned ...

This piece was published approximately one month before Hurricane Irma struck the US Virgin Islands.  To donate and help the victims of Hurricane Irma, you can donate to The St. John Community Foundation.Nobody leaves St. John wishing they hadn’t been. It is a vacation in every sense, and most people plan their return trip before flying home. St John is ...

The Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate really surprised me. I would say not only surprised me, it impressed me. The Omni Orlando's new wave pool opened in the summer of 2017.I had few expectations checking into the Omni Orlando.I don't typically stay at many Omni properties, and I associate them with their historic mountain resorts like the Omni ...

Cape Cod's only Five-Star Resort. My web diet gives me a daily dose of luxury hotel websites and their social media. There is a pretty predictable language and look to how high-end properties attempt to lure well-heeled guests. The Wequassett in Cape Cod has a slogan, “You’ve arrived.”I admit I harrumphed just little when I read it. All of my ...

From the moment plush turtles greet you in your family suite to when you meet the magnificent creatures at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center down the road, a vacation at the Marriott Singer Island is all about slowing down to a turtle's pace while connecting with the authentic richness of the Palm Beaches: its seashore. The Palm Beach Marriott ...

Why are the Disney Yacht and Beach Club are two of the most favorite resorts for Disney regulars? We'll help you decide if its the right choice for your Disney vacation. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney Beach Club are inspired by historic seaside resorts; nautical and beach imagery is everywhere. Joined together and within walking distance to Epcot, they share many ...