Palms Hotel and Spa Miami Beach - A Tropical and Secluded Retreat

Miami Beach, Fl - Winding down for a relaxing getaway can be tricky. The mundane routines, the pressures of day-to-day life are difficult to shed unless you've chosen a place to stay during your vacation which melts your chains away upon stepping into the lobby.

Such a place is the Palms Hotel & Spa in beautiful Miami Beach. It's easy to unwind in a New York minute at this 4-Diamond luxury resort which is minutes from South Beach. The tropical and secluded ambience will instantaneously leave you feeling re-balanced, relaxed, and rejuvenated.

In 2009, the hotel underwent a top-to-bottom $20 million dollar renovation of 251 guest rooms and suites with spa-inspired bathrooms. Accommodations at the Palms Resort vary from superior oceanfront rooms with an additional double sleeper sofa and oceanfront rooms with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows overlooking tropical gardens and the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Complementary to the room renovations is The Palms Spa, Aveda's first luxury beach resort spa in the U.S. The 5,000-square foot facility feature holistic treatments and rituals designed to deliver a highly personalized journey to relaxation. Facilities include a series of multi-purpose rooms including a couple's suite with a shower for two, an indoor/outdoor relaxation area with steam room, poolside treatment tiki cabanas, a beauty salon, a fitness room and an Aveda retail area offering the complete line of Aveda products.

Hungry after a day of pampering or relaxing in the sun? The Palms Hotel' Restaurant and Lounge - Essensia embodies the simplicity and elegance of natural gourmet dining. The concept focuses on the pure essence of taste serving wholesome gourmet cuisine. Highlights include a highly celebrated breakfast buffet in the morning, seasonal and organic ingredients whenever possible and a vast selection of fresh Florida seafood. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Tiki Bar serves light snacks and drinks throughout the day and it is the unique setting for passing the time complete with hammocks and palm trees swaying to the ocean breeze. Hotel staff will deliver light fare and delicious drinks right to the pool or beach lounge, or serve in the shade of the tropical tiki cabanas.

Whether you take a dip in the pool, settle into a hammock in the lush gardens with a book, or salute the morning sun with a walk along the white sandy beach - the Palms Hotel & Miami Beach is your tropical and secluded retreat. Yes, you will escape from your day to day routine.

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Best Beaches in Florida - Clearwater Beach

Long considered one of the Best Beaches, Florida's Clearwater Beach is perhaps the busiest on the gulf coast. It is 3 miles long and broad, and you can walk from one end to the other. Its soft, powdery white quartz sand attracts locals, tourists and its fair share of spring breakers. Watersports like jet skiing, parasailing and water biking are popular. Clearwater Beach has something for everyone. Dinner cruises and Pirate Cruises are a fun diversion and if you must bring your laptop, there's free Wi-Fi access.

Two favorite Clearwater Beach restaurants are Bob Heilman's Beachcomber and Bobby's Bistro & Wine Bar located next door to one another on Mandalay Avenue in North Clearwater Beach. The Beachcomber is a Clearwater Beach tradition since 1948. A free bottle of wine with dinner for two from their world class wine cellar is yours with a certificate from The Florida Beach Book.

A favorite Clearwater Beach hotel is the Sandpearl Resort. There are plenty of affordable Clearwater Beach motels, inns and condos to choose from as well. The southern end of Clearwater Bch is chock full of hotels, restaurants and resorts. There's nightlife, shopping and plenty to do. Pier 60 is an event in and of itself! Every night at Sunset join the party (modeled after Key West's sunset event) with entertainers, artists and craftspeople.

Clearwater Beach is located in Pinellas County which is home to Clearwater, the county seat, St. Petersburg & Tarpon Springs. The county is located on a narrow 280 square mile peninsula with the Gulf on one side and Tampa Bay on the other. It is one of three counties that make up "Greater Tampa Bay."

Pinellas County offers 35 miles of white-sand bchs on 20 barrier islands. 1 or 2 of them frequently wind up on noteworthy Best Beach Lists!

Want to check out the area but tired of walking? Just hop on the trolley and it will take you there! From north to south and all the stops in between, from Clearwater Bch to Pass-A-Grille in St. Pete Bch, the trolley stops at every beach and town in between.

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Florida Hotels & Vacation Ideas For Unforgettable Getaways

With pristine beaches and the breathtaking Florida Everglades, plus thrilling theme parks and pulsing nightlife, Florida is an unforgettable vacation destination for families and grownups alike. And whether you're looking for Florida hotels in the heart of Orlando or Miami - or a more secluded spot for quiet relaxation - you'll find everything you're looking for in the perfect getaway.

Not sure where to go for the type of experience you're after? No problem! Just browse the vacation ideas below and start planning your stay.

Outdoor Fun
o Beaches. From the white sands of Fort Walton Beach to the wave less waters of Smathers Beach in Key West, surfing at Sebastian Inlet to shelling on Sanibel Island near Fort Myers, basking in the sun is a Florida tradition.
o Wildlife. Whether you're visiting John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in the Florida Keys, looking for black bears in Wekiwa Springs State Park near Orlando or catching a glimpse of manatees at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, with conveniently located Florida hotels, you can plan an unforgettable wildlife adventure.
o Everglades National Park. Stretching across almost one-and-one-half million acres of South Florida wilderness, Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness area in the U.S. and features hiking and canoe trails, along which you can spot alligators, turtles, rare species of birds, stunning plant life and more.
Theme Parks & Family-friendly Fun
o Theme Parks. SeaWorld, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando & Busch Gardens are all located in the Orlando area and offer everything from death-defying rides to educational experiences. And whether you're traveling with children or just want to play like a kid again, these are great places to relax and let go.
o Lowry Park Zoo. Named "the #1 zoo in America" by both Parents magazine and Child magazine, this kid-friendly attraction features more than 2,000 animals on 56 acres of natural habitats, including Asian Gardens, the Manatee and Aquatic Center, the Native Florida Wildlife Center, and more. Plus, with rides, two water play areas and family-friendly events, it's a great place for kids of all ages.
o Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Home to NASA's launch headquarters, this one-of-a-kind attraction lets you embark on your own Shuttle Launch Experience, relive historic missions and even offers the chance to watch a live shuttle launch. (If you can't get passes for the shuttle launch, many Florida hotels in the area offer outside lounge areas where you can get a peek at history in the making.

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Palm Beach Florida Vacation Highlights

While Palm Beach is renowned for exclusive enclaves of millionaire's winter beach houses and shopping for wildly expensive designer labels in exclusive boutiques. However, the area has a lot more to offer visitors than just a peek at the rich and famous lifestyles.

The city is synonymous with world class beaches, great golf, tennis, boating and diving. There are over 1,100 tennis courts and more than 150 golf courses within the Palm Beach County precincts. Two golf courses that accept the general public are the Emerald Dunes Golf Course located in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Public Golf Course on The Island.

Palm Beach is a popular destination for scuba divers as they can reach the off shore reef using guide boats operating from the local marinas. As with nearly all Florida beach destinations, Palm Beach offers lots of opportunities for water sports such as sail boating, jet-skiing, kayaking, water skiing, para-sailing and fishing.

The railroad and oil baron Henry Flagler commissioned a luxury mansion as a wedding present to his third wife. This building is now the renowned Flagler Museum. Referred to as the "Taj Mahal of North America", the mansion has 55 rooms furnished with European antique pieces in a variety of styles and themes. The mansion is set in magnificent grounds, the highlight of which is Mr. Flagler's restored, private railroad car.

First opened in 1941, the Norton Museum of Art is now recognized the world over for its permanent collections and the quality of its traveling exhibitions. The display featured the art collections of Ralph and Elizabeth Norton and now houses a French collection that contains works by Cézanne, Degas, Gauguin, Matisse, Monet, Picasso, Pissarro, and Renoir. The permanent exhibits also contain paintings by Pollock, O'Keefe, Warhol and Hopper.

A favorite with younger children is the Playmobil Fun Park with a replica castle and themed play areas such as a western town, medieval village and a fantasy doll house.

Over 1,300 animals are kept at Lion Country Safari and range from elephants, wildebeest, ostriches, chimpanzees, antelopes, American bison, buffalo, flamingos and many other unusual species. The 500 acre animal preserve is divided into simulated geographical regions that range from the East African Serengeti to the American West.

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Florida Beaches for Everyone

Florida is known as the land of sun and it's no wonder because most of it has beaches that sit along both the Atlantic Ocean and the warm Gulf of Mexico. Often, when people think of having a beach vacation, they think of visiting Florida. Below are some of the regions with brief descriptions of a few of the beaches of the 'Sunshine State'.

Florida Gulf Coast Beaches

Fort Myers Beach is party central and is a known hot spot for those fun-loving Spring Break Party kids. If you are wanting party fun with beach bars and hotels that line the shores, head to Fort Myers Beach.

If you are in the mood for romance, Sanibel Island might be more to your liking. This peaceful spot is a nature lover's paradise, known for the best seashells in the world. Other beaches that grace the Gulf coast region are those in Naples, Lover's Key State Park, Manatee County, Crescent at Siesta Key, St. Pete Beach (think camping!), and Cayo Costa State Park.

Orlando Area Beaches

Located along the east side of Florida, are the Orlando area beaches. One of the most well-known is Daytona, with flat, wide, coastal areas used also for parking for vehicles. This area is very nice to visit outside of the Bike Week in March and Spring Break season. Cocoa Beach is a surfing hub that offers family-friendly fun. If riding the waves of the Atlantic is your thing, then this is your beach to visit. Other fun Orlando area beaches are New Smyrna, Melbourne and Sebastian Inlet.

Florida East Coast Beaches

The east coast beaches of Florida include the Orlando area beaches plus several more located along the Atlantic Ocean coast. Boca Raton / Deerfield Beach offers fun for the water sports enthusiast featuring jet skis, sailing, surfing and water skiing. The Fernandina Beach is located on historical Amelia Island. Spend the days fishing and enjoying beach activities, as well as shopping. It is also family-friendly and great for romantic getaways too. Also along the east coast are Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Hollywood Beach, Miami Beach (one of the most famous hot spots in Florida!), St. Augustine, and West Palm Beach.

South Florida Beaches

Located at the southern tip of Florida, are the amazing Keys. This area is known for being laid back in a tropical paradise. The Bahia Honda State Park is home to three of the best Keys beaches in Florida: Calusa, Loggerhead and Sandspur Beach. These span the Gulf of Mexico (Calusa) and Atlantic sides (Loggerhead and Sandspur). Smathers has free access to the shores, which host volleyball, parasailing, and kayaking and also snorkeling. Sit back in a lounge chair and enjoy the calm waters of Key West. The other beaches that makes up South Florida are Fort Zachary Taylor, South Beach (you are sure to have
heard of this famous hot spot), Palm, Stuart, and the Miami beaches of 12th Street (for gays and lesbians), Haulover (nudist), Bill Baggs Park and Crandon Park.

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Daytona Beach Hotels - Enjoy a Great Vacation in Florida

Spring break is only a few short months away. When cold mother winter sets in, it's time to start planning that spring break beach vacation. But you don't want to make a reservation at just any hotel in Daytona Beach. There are many hotels who boast 'ocean views,' but in fact a short walk is often involved. Not every hotel is right on the beach, so before you book anything, find a system that maps hotels daytona beach. You're spending all that money to be on the beach, to be in the middle of the party. Why waste your money on a hotel that doesn't have the ocean in its backyard?

If you know anything about spring break vacations, then you know that the parties take place on the beach. There might be live music playing, or volleyball tournaments or other sports. Some people will spend most of their time surfing the waves, or laying in the sand working on their tans. To each their own. It would be a shame to go all the way to Florida if you don't first check maps hotels Daytona beach. Just make sure the hotel says 'oceanfront' in the title, such as "Daytona Beach Oceanside Inn," or "Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort" or "Super 8 Oceanfront.

"If the crowd is too much for you, then you might want to consider heading to Florida before or after spring break. Usually when January and February set in, you're suffering from cabin fever. The hustle and bustle of the holidays are over, and you're tired of being chilled to the bones. Even the thought of a nice warm Daytona Beach vacation warms your soul. First find out when all the college spring breaks are, and then plan on heading down either right after Christmas, or long before Easter. If you wait any longer to go, it will most likely be too hot. But if you're an avid swimmer, then a nice hot day at the beach probably sounds pretty good to you.

A beach vacation might even be the perfect Christmas present, speaking of Christmas. Wouldn't your kids be thrilled to open up tickets to a sunny, warm beach vacation? Throw in a couple Disney tickets, and you're the King of the world as far as they're concerned. After a few busy days at Disney, a nice quiet down time at the beach is just the thing. But don't pick just any hotel - you need to be right on the ocean. If you spend some time looking for maps hotels daytona beach, you will nail it on the head. You'll find that perfect beach getaway hotel surrounded by a crystal blue ocean background, and you will be able to just lay on the sand for days, like a beached whale.

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Best Florida Hotels - Guide to Hotel Star Ratings

If you are going to be heading out to Florida for a beach vacation then you should be aware of the various options that are available in terms of hotels. The truth is that while there are loads of great hotels to choose from not all of them are alike. There are hotel star ratings that are used for all of the Florida beach hotels.

First, it should be noted that although the hotels that you will come across are ones that have star ratings there is no definite standard as to how hotel star ratings are formed anywhere. The main factor involved with the stars deals with the price of the hotel in terms of rent. Of course, certain features in these hotels will add to the ratings. You're going to certainly pay more for a four star hotel than that of a two star hotel.

All sorts of special features will increase the ratings of hotels for Florida beach locations. Places that have their own private restaurants will have higher star ratings. Also, places with larger rooms that have more features will generally have higher star ratings.

One of the most common things that can be found among three and four start hotels in Florida is that of the private features that these restaurants have. For instance, some of these hotels will have private beach areas that are off limits to people who are not visiting the hotel. Others will have golf courses that are available only to those who are staying at that hotel. Spa treatments and other luxury amenities that are available to guests can be found in some of these higher end hotels as well.

The distance to certain top destinations will be a major factor too. Places that are closer to the airport will be lower in terms of ratings because of the noise factors involved with the airport nearby. Places near top locations near the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean will be different though. These hotels will be closer to some of the best hotspots on the beaches of Florida and therefore will be more appealing places for Florida beach vacations. As a result their ratings will be higher.

Hotel star ratings do not have their specific requirements as to what is needed for a hotel to have a certain rating. However, these ratings will mean different things for people on Florida beach vacations. They will suggest that there are more private features for guests and that they are closer to hot areas in Florida. The cost of the hotel for guests will be the most notable factor for hotel star ratings though.

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