Florida Editor Picks

Palm Beach County's most famous hotel, bar none. Established in 1896, and rebuilt 30 years later to reflect the grand Italian villas of the 1400s, the 540-room Breakers is jaw-dropping: 200-foot-long lobby, ceiling frescos, and a 1,040-foot main drive leading to a Florentine fountain. All rooms, starting at 250 square feet, have marble baths and beach cottage hues of coral and teal –but it's really all about the grounds. With its half-mile of private beachfront, access to two private 18-hole golf courses (one seaside), a 20,000-square-foot spa, five swimming pools, and 10 tennis courts, it's as if the Gilded Age never ended.

A cross between a B&B and an intimate motel, the family-owned Blue Dolphin offers nine airy and spacious guest rooms. There’s no pool but the beach is steps away, and there’s no restaurant, but breakfast is complimentary and all rooms have fully equipped kitchens. The gulf-view guestrooms are the best, but each suite or efficiency has a sun deck placed amidst lush greenery – ideal for barbecues or serene relaxation. Bicycles are gratis, so take advantage of the paths and trails nearby and bike to the Wildlife Refuge. Beach chairs are provided for enjoying the waterfront show, from playful dolphins and lumbering manatees to colorful, dramatic sunsets.

The Ritz's 450-room property on the Gulf sands is hands-down the top hotel address in town. Marble vanities, Bulgari bath products, flat-screen TVs, and elegant furnishings are expected Ritzy touches, but it’s the added amenities that keep it in the good graces of its well-heeled clientele. Each day, guests have access to one of the two 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf courses at Tiburon, located three miles away at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. Onsite amenities include four lighted tennis courts, seven restaurants, a spa, a fitness center with personal trainers, sailboat and kayak rentals. Hotel guests can participate in the Nature's Wonders environmental program, which offers kid-friendly touch tanks, close-ups with baby alligators, and wildlife-oriented field trips.

Established in 1895, this quaint resort facing 550 feet of beachfront has welcomed guests to Sanibel for over a century, and echoes of its history linger in elements like the grassy croquet court, still enjoyed today by families and groups. Choose to stay in one of 51 hotel rooms and seven cottages (we recommend the latter); accommodations vary but features include handy kitchenettes or kitchens, pleasant screened porches or balconies, and island-style décor. A blast from a conch shell announces dinner at this old-world Florida style resort, where fine dining awaits at one of the few restaurants in the area with a dress code (collared shirts and dress pants for men). There’s also a library, pool, and tennis courts, not to mention the glorious beach.

On the sugar-white Gulf beachfront, this high-end hotel (debuted August 2007) woos guests with a seaside lagoon pool, full-service spa, water-view rooms in tasteful island motifs, and inventive programming like children's cooking classes.

This exclusive resort was built in the old Florida spirit during the 1890s, but it’s still shimmering. With 23 lushly landscaped acres and breathtaking views of the Gulf, the resort has evolved from one of the island’s first inns into a grand manor, originally called the Thistle Lodge. In 1979, new owners recreated the time-worn Thistle Lodge not far from its original site; today it houses an award-winning gourmet restaurant that serves a mix of Floridian, European, and Asian cuisines in a romantic, beachfront setting. The resort’s 114 rooms comprise one- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens, spacious living rooms, screened porches, and fresh décor. Bask in amenities from spa treatments to golf privileges, tennis courts, a pool, and easy access to the stunning, white-sand beach. Casa Ybel offers its guests all the comforts of an elegant home away from home with the bonus of historic interest.

Tree-lined street views surround the Trianon in downtown Naples, a short walk from the Fifth Avenue South shopping and restaurant district and less than a mile from the beach. The high-ceilinged lobby with traditional furnishings, fireplace, and chandeliers seems a little fussy for this friendly property. The 55 spacious rooms and three one-bedroom suites all have terraces or balconies; the heated pool is small, but well maintained. Continental breakfast and WiFi are included.

A former key lime plantation, this resort’s old-world allure remains, with verandas and manicured landscapes. Located at the north end of Captiva Island, forty minutes from the causeway, the 330-acre resort encompasses about one-third of the island. The grounds include 11 pools and two hot tubs, a championship 9-course golf course, 19 tennis courts, two and a half miles of private white-sand beach with lots of water sport options, and a yacht harbor and bayside marina from which fishing excursions depart. A trolley service assists guests across the expansive property. Proximity to preferred activities should be taken into account when choosing accommodations, which run the gamut from comfortable one-bedrooms to expansive 3,400 square foot villas, all tastefully appointed with modern furnishings and understated elegance. The tropical tranquility and range of onsite activities makes staying put tempting, but there are also many enticing attractions nearby.

Business travelers to Orlando frequently book into the Peabody for its free wireless internet and proximity to the Convention Center. For families, however, the ducks are the main draw: everyday the hotel’s legendary web-footed entourage parade through the hotel lobby in a spectacular march that children and adults alike adore. Quacky quirks aside, The Peabody is an über-comfortable property with marble halls, antique furniture, nightly turn-down service, and an Olympic size heated lap pool. There’s even free shuttle service to the theme parks.

A beautiful confection of a resort, the Grand Floridian is hands-down the most luxurious property on the Walt Disney World estate. The 867 rooms and suites interweave Disney magic with old-world, Victorian elegance. When booking, ask for a “theme park view” to take advantage of the awesome Magic Kingdom views (otherwise you’ll be looking out over the Seven Seas Lagoon or the Wedding Pavilion – while both views are attractive, they’re not why you come to Disney World in the first place). Direct monorail access makes this hotel a quick ride to the Magic Kingdom and amenities such as afternoon tea service and cooking classes for children set it apart from other 5-star resorts.