Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa

The door hangers at the Costa d’Este Beach Resort read “Too Fabulous to Be Disturbed,” and the resort’s atmosphere is luxurious enough to make each guest feel as fabulous as celebrity owner Gloria Estefan. The property’s beautiful sandy beach and rolling Atlantic waves have inspired the gleaming white and natural wood decor seen throughout the open and airy interiors. The landscaping, with requisite palm trees, includes a picturesque strip of beach grass between the resort and sand -- one example of the attention to detail evident at the property. The atmosphere at the Costa d’Este manages to combine a modern Miami vibe with a touch of quintessential Florida, as the hallways, furniture, and even various porthole-style windows curve beautifully, echoing the waves a few yards down the beach. Guests who want a vacation that feels like a true escape, but with close proximity to top golf courses and theme parks, will find the Costa d’Este Beach Resort to be a good fit.

The Costa d’Este Beach Resort is conveniently located on a pretty, palm-lined boulevard in a lovely area of small town Vero Beach. The Vero Beach Museum of Art and Riverside Theatre are a 15-minute walk, and there are several restaurants within a few minutes' stroll, plus a Saturday farmers' market less than five minutes away on foot. There are five golf courses within 15 miles of the resort. Vero Beach Marina is just over a mile away, and the Vero Beach Country Club is three miles off. The Kennedy Space Center is within an hour-and-a-half drive, close enough for a phenomenal day trip.

Rooms at the Costa d’Este Beach Resort are rich and minimalist, with custom teak furniture, white marble floors, and stylish black-and-white nature photographs. The platform beds are big and cushy, with great views of the large, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs. Balconies come as standard, have lovely views, and are furnished with wooden tables and chairs for sitting and enjoying the waves. Bathrooms are large and lovely, with lots of luxe marble and gorgeous walk-in shower stalls; some suites have beautiful soaking tubs. First-floor rooms have walk-out atmospheric lanais. Standard amenities include iPod docking stations, Keurig coffeemakers, in-room safes, mini-fridges, and free toiletries. Connecting rooms are available.

The Costa d’Este Beach Resort features a small but elegant outdoor pool and hot tub, surrounded by chic blue and white lounge chairs and beach umbrellas. The Cabana Pool Bar and Grill offers snacks, small meals, and, of course, cocktails for sun-worshippers. The Wave Kitchen and Bar serves beautifully plated American and Cuban dishes -- with an emphasis on locally grown organic produce -- in a dining room with lots of wood and stone. The resort’s spa has a full menu of massage and body treatments, as well as facials and mani/pedis; guests may want to call ahead to reserve treatments. The hotel also has its own scuba club, and can help arrange kayaking and snorkeling excursions.