Boca Raton Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

The beautiful, pink brick Boca Raton Resort looks like a European palace with a large tower rising behind it. A sprawling 365-acre resort off the Intracoastal Waterway, the hotel offers guests a true escape, with two 18-hole championship golf courses; a large, multi-court tennis facility with two club houses, and lessons, camps, and clinics; a kids Quest Club; eight restaurants and bars; two pools; surfing lessons; lawn games; and more.

The Boca Raton Resort sells itself as a pair with its sister hotel, the Boca Beach Club; both are operated by the Waldorf Astoria chain. More expansive and majestic than the Beach Club, the Boca Raton Resort is great for families looking for a high-end vacation as well as business travelers seeking conference space. The atmosphere is relaxed, from the pools to the spa to the restaurants. A popular pick for couples, this hotel is also a good choice for families.

The resort is situated off the Intracoastal Waterway in a residential area of Boca Raton. While there isn’t much nightlife in the immediate area, the resort itself offers a wide range of restaurants and activities. A free shuttle connects guests to the Boca Beach Club, the resort's sister property. It is about a 40-minute drive north or south to the Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airports, respectively.

The resort offers a variety of uniquely themed rooms in its four buildings: the simple, modern Tower rooms; the formal, marina-facing Yacht Club rooms; the apartment-style (with full kitchens) rooms; pet-friendly Boca Bungalows; and the stately, centrally located Cloister rooms. No matter which style, all rooms at the Boca Raton Resort are spacious, understated, and elegant in design, and include flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, iPod docks, and Keurig coffeemakers. Bathrooms are large and bright, and come equipped with plush robes and Ferragamo bath products.

While there is an irritating nightly resort fee tacked on top of the room rate for things like Wi-Fi, use of the fitness center, and concierge services (and the other activities come with their own charges), the features at the Boca Raton Resort are stellar. In addition to the wide range of entertainment they offer -- golf, tennis, kids’ club, water sports, and more -- there are two boutiques at the hotel, a gigantic fitness center, and a beautiful spa. The fitness center is probably the blandest part of the hotel, but it's quite extensive, with long lines of cardio machines followed by a separate weight room. The spa reflects a Roman architectural style and includes a large whirlpool, narrow plunge pools, soaking tubs, waterfall showers, a sauna and more, and offers a host of body and beauty treatments.

From the casual, contemporary 501 East Kitchen bar to the Japanese Morimoto, from the whimsical, family-friendly Serendipity to the fine-dining restaurant The Blue at the top of the hotel’s tower overlooking the city and ocean, there are plenty of drinking and dining options.