Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa

As the only large oceanfront hotel for miles, Jupiter Beach Resort attracts nearly every type of guest. Couples and business travelers regularly flow through the hotel, largely due to its popularity as a conference and wedding destination. Families are especially drawn to the resort’s laid-back pool area, which features live music on the weekends, free floats, a bar, and routine (G-rated) movie showings on a large projection screen.

The property underwent renovations in 2011 and 2012, which upgraded the furniture, pool area, restaurant, lounge, and entryway. In general, the decor sticks to a classic beach theme -- think seashells, palm trees, and lightweight wooden furniture.

In the evening many guests gather next to the pool, where the fire pit and pool bar create an inviting atmosphere. The hotel restaurant, Sinclair’s Ocean Grill, has an outdoor patio, bar, and billiards room.

Jupiter Beach Resort is situated on a modest stretch of beach in the suburban town of Jupiter, about 17 miles north of West Palm Beach. Other than a public beach, a cafe, and a golf club, there’s not much immediately surrounding the resort. Hotel staff recommends that guests bring cars if they want to go exploring.

This laid-back beach town may not have Miami’s posh nightlife, but there’s still plenty to do. A movie theater, zoos, parks, small museums, a baseball stadium, and a variety of restaurants are all less than 30 minutes away.

The hotel’s private beach is small and not great for swimming, but a nice public beach is just a five-minute walk down the coast.

• 5-minute walk from Carlin Park’s public beach
• 8-minute walk to Lazy Loggerhead Café (in Carlin Park)
• 9-minute walk from Jupiter Dunes Golf Club
• 3-minute drive from Jupiter 18 Theatres
• 4-minute drive to Loggerhead Marine Life Center
• 5-minute drive from Jupiter Seasport Marina
• 6-minute drive from Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum
• 6-minute drive from Jupiter Dive Center
• 13-minute drive from The Gardens Mall
• 15-minute drive from from Roger Dean Stadium
• 15-minute drive from Abacoa Golf Club
• 25-minute drive from Rapids Water Park
• 30-minute drive from Palm Beach Zoo and Science Museum
• 30-minute drive from Palm Beach International Airport ($50 taxi fare)
• 50-minute drive from Lion Country Safari
• 96-minute drive to Miami International Airport

The resort’s 168 rooms have lightweight wooden furniture and tropical decor in shades of orange, brown, and cream. The most basic rooms are reasonably sized at 370 square feet and come with every possible view -- resort, partial ocean, oceanfront, and premium ocean (on the uppermost floors). Every room includes a balcony, fully stocked minibar, flat-screen TV, Keurig coffeemaker, and free Wi-Fi. Marble walk-in showers and massaging showerheads are nice features in otherwise unremarkable bathrooms.

Aside from view, the biggest difference between room types is square footage. Larger rooms run from 390 square feet (Deluxe) to 1,160 square feet (Two-Bedroom Penthouse). Suites come with two balconies and pull-out sofas, and Superior Suites have an extra bathroom and separate king bedroom.

Most rooms come with the option of one king or two double beds. No rooms sleep more than four people (due to a local fire ordinance), but connecting rooms are available.

Guests who are picky about the view should book early. Out of 168 guestrooms, less than 40 face the ocean.

• Keurig coffeemakers
• Live orchids in every room
• Balconies
• Fully stocked minibars
• Flat-screen TVs
• Free Wi-Fi
• Rollaways allowed in guestrooms with king beds
• No in-room Jacuzzi tubs

The resort’s pool area has a relaxed, beach party feel. Guests can lounge poolside, at the bar, or at an artificial beach with hammocks, lounge chairs, and a fire pit. There’s also a whirlpool area with a cabana bed and artificial waterfall. All the lounge chairs and cabana beds are available for free on a first-come, first-serve basis. Free Wi-Fi is also available throughout the pool area.

On weekends the hotel sets up a projection screen and plays family-friendly movies by the pool. Musicians also play poolside, Thursday through Sunday. The poolside bar, Sandbar, provides drinks and snacks.

The pool is heated seasonally and has two jets of water spraying into the shallow end. This falling water appeals to kids, but is probably not so nice for doing laps. Free pool toys such as noodles and floats are available, and a locker room with showers is located nearby. The hotel welcomes guests to stay and use the pool after checkout, which is made easy thanks to the locker room facilities.

• Free weights and strength training machines
• Treadmills, ellipticals, a cycle, and inflatable exercise ball
• Communal TVs
• Free towels and water
• No individual TVs on cardio machines

The hotel’s signature restaurant, Sinclair’s Ocean Grill, is marketed as Jupiter’s only oceanfront restaurant. Guests can dine indoors or outside on a patio, which isn’t quite elevated enough to get a good view of the ocean. It specializes in fresh seafood dishes, such as lobster crab cakes, and Grouper Martinique. Sinclair’s is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a breakfast buffet is served in the mornings.

The poolside bar, Sandbar, serves bar food and drinks. Guests can choose to eat at tables, lounge chairs, or down on the beach.

Free afternoon cookies and drinks are provided in the lobby.

• usiness center with two computers and printer
• Wi-Fi in most public spaces
• Free bicycle rentals and use of pool toys
• Weekday USA Today papers delivered to rooms
• Room service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (but no overnight menu)
• Two guest laundry rooms with free detergents and fabric softeners
• The Boutique gift shop sells clothing and convenience store items
• Game room
• Billiards Room
• In-room massages

On weekends the hotel sets up a projection screen and plays family-friendly movies by the pool. Musicians also perform poolside and in the lounge Thursday through Sunday.

Small outdoor ceremonies can take place on the beach, patio area, or “Sand Dune” -- an artificial beach next to the real beach. From the pool to sports courts to nearby attractions, guests should find plenty to do during their stay.

• 12,000 square feet of event space, including a 4,500-square-foot ballroom
• Spa and salon are available for bridal party hair and makeup
• Can accommodate indoor and outdoor ceremonies
• Receptions for up to 300 guests
• Rehearsal dinners and bridal showers
• Catering available though the hotel restaurant, Sinclair’s Ocean Grill
• On-site wedding coordinator and audiovisual team
• Free room upgrade, strawberries, champagne, and other couple’s perks
• Honeymoon packages available

Jupiter Beach Resort is a certified “Florida Green Lodging” hotel. To qualify for the certification, the resort needs to recycle, minimize waste, and conserve energy, among other criteria.

Guests will find stuffed sea turtles for sale in their rooms. The proceeds from the turtles go to the Loggerhead Marine Life Center, which works to protect endangered sea turtles in the region.

The resort was built in 1973 as a Holiday Inn and has changed ownership a number of times. It was a Hilton for many years, before falling under private ownership in the 1980s. Jupiter Beach Resort acquired its current owners in 2004.