Personal Paradise : Florida

by Janet Groene

• ISBN13: 9781593600778
• ISBN10: 1593600771
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-11-28
• Publisher: Open Road

Summary

Second in our new Best of the Best series, Florida's Best Place to Stay is aimed at travelers who won't settle for second-best! Readers will find only distinctive, rave hotels. Florida is the world's tourism blockbuster, and many visitors are seeking an up-market travel experience. And Florida serves it up on a silver platter: lavish resorts, sumptuous spas, trend-setting dining and the world's grandest yachts. About 100 top-shelf hotels and resorts weill be featured.The book will be similar to Open Road's 'Best Places to Stay' chapter featured in each of our destination guides, and will go in-depth to include much more detail than the usual paragraph or two most guides give to hotel write-ups. Author and professional travel writer Janet Groene will explore the ins and outs of such luxurious hotels as the Mandarin Oriental Miami, the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, the Chesterfield Palm Beach, and Sanibel Harbor Resort & Spa. Select cruises and Florida-based charter yachts will be featured as well.Each entry will also feature the following:oBest of Nearby Area: (local galleries, world class golf course, festival or cultural event);oBest Room (for view, unusual furnishings);oBest of the Best Feature (s): (e.g. attracts avid tennis crowd, has best day-sailer fleet, has private cigar club);oBest for (whom): (e.g. families, singles, honeymooners, adventure travelers);oBest Dining (best dining room within the resort, best meal outside property, signature dishes at either).

Table of Contents

1. Introduction	9	(2)
Open Road LuxScore Ratings	10	(1)
Our Price Guidelines	10	(1)
Planning Your Trip	10	(1)
2. Best of the Best	11	(33)
The Breakers, Palm Beach	12	(2)
Mandarin Oriental Miami	14	(2)
Ritz-Carlton Naples/Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort Naples	16	(2)
Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove	18	(2)
Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island	20	(2)
Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne	22	(2)
Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin, Lake Buena Vista	24	(2)
Ritz-Carlton Sarasota	26	(2)
The Don CeSar, St. Pete Beach	28	(2)
The Lodge at Ocean Hammock, Palm Court	30	(2)
Tides South Beach, Miami Beach	32	(2)
The Chesterfield Palm Beach	34	(2)
The Peabody Orlando	36	(2)
Amelia Island Plantation	38	(2)
WaterColor Inn, Santa Rosa Beach	40	(2)
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa	42	(2)
3. Northwest Florida	44	(6)
Panama City Beach	44	(2)
Pensacola	46	(2)
Steinhatchee	48	(2)
4. Southeast Florida	50	(56)
Aventura & Hollywood	50	(4)
Fort Lauderdale	54	(4)
The Keys & Key West	58	(16)
Greater Miami & Miami Beach	74	(32)
5. Central Florida	106	(18)
Walt Disney World & the Attractions Area	106	(14)
Greater Orlando & Downtown	120	(4)
6. Southwest Florida	124	(38)
Clearwater Beach	124	(2)
Marco Island	126	(2)
Naples	128	(10)
St. Pete Beach	138	(4)
St. Petersburg	142	(4)
Sanibel Island	146	(6)
Sarasota	152	(6)
Tampa	158	(4)
7. Northeast Florida	162	(12)
Daytona Beach	162	(2)
Jacksonville	164	(4)
Palm Coast	168	(2)
St. Augustine	170	(4)
8. The Palm Beaches	174	(13)
Boca Raton	174	(4)
Jupiter	178	(2)
Palm Beach	180	(4)
Pompano Beach	184	(3)
Index	187