Montreal Gazette

A PARADISE FOR WATER SPORT LOVERS

Palm Beach Singer Island Resort melds adult pampering with kid-friendly appeal

- ROCHELLE LASH rochelle@rochellela­sh.com twitter.com/rochellela­sh

The Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa embodies the seductive virtues of Florida’s Gold Coast.

A large, contempora­ry oceanfront resort, Marriott Singer Island brings together the new 3800 Ocean’s top-drawer cuisine, distinctiv­e experience­s at the SiSpa, outstandin­g beach life and dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoast­al Waterway.

The 21-storey tower features a luxe marble lobby, two sparkling swimming pools and an exceptiona­l beach with food and drink service and lounge set-ups reserved for guests. Recently renovated at a cost of $9.7 million Cdn, the resort’s interior — accommodat­ions, the lobby, the dining room and meeting spaces — now shimmers in pastel blues, soft greys and white.

The Marriott Singer Island is a single stop for almost everything. It has a gift shop, water sports and happy hour at the bar, plus lots of keen people at your service: valet parkers, beach and pool staff, two Clefs d’Or concierges and a team of Marriottce­rtified wedding planners, who handle everything from budget to band.

Convenient and family-friendly, all the suites have sofa beds for children or extra guests. The resort fee covers two activities per day, including water sports such as paddleboar­ding and kayaking.

The Marriott Singer Island also boasts a handful of terrific features and superlativ­es:

It is the only oceanfront, allsuite property in Palm Beach County, stretching more than 75 kilometres along the Atlantic coast, from Highland Beach in the south to Jupiter and Tequesta in the north.

It faces a natural barrier reef that has created a small tidal pool where toddlers can splash around in quiet Atlantic waters.

The Marriott’s SiSpa is the only massage centre in the area to offer Comfort Care Classics, a series of treatments specifical­ly for cancer patients.

All 193 guest suites (one- or two-bedroom) have full designer kitchens, sleek dark wood furnishing­s, sofa beds, large balconies, washer-dryers and a TV in every living room and bedroom. And here’s a privacy perk — the two-bedroom suites also have two bathrooms. Spa life: SiSpa embraces all the musts — a eucalyptus steam room, heated marble stone beds, an outdoor whirlpool and a relaxation lounge with refreshmen­ts. Watch for flash specials during quiet periods that might bring the price of a $125 massage down to $90.

Signature treatments include the Sargasso Seaweed Experience, which includes a mud wrap and exfoliatio­n, and the HydraFacia­l that uses natural serums to detox, cleanse, peel and moisturize the skin, then seal in nutrients.

SiSpa’s new Admiral Services for men improve skin and reduce stress with the Bourbon Body Scrub, a Sailor’s Healing Facial and the Captain’s Manicure and Pedicure. Dining: The 3800 Ocean restaurant, a new gourmet hit of Singer Island and beyond, is stylish and oceanfront.

Executive chef Gustavo Calderon has crafted a Florida-first menu with sumptuous dishes, some of them vegan and caloriecon­scious.

For a high-energy breakfast, try the berry and yogurt parfait alongside French toast stuffed with bananas Foster and Nutella, or a 350-calorie spinach, goat cheese and roasted tomato omelette. For a glorious lunch on the patio, there’s a shrimp-avocado salad, flatbreads or grilled fish.

Calderon soars at dinner, with beef carpaccio, pan-seared scallops, crispy octopus, orecchiett­e with roasted shrimp, pappardell­e with lamb ragout, plus seafood choices like cioppino, flounder, grouper, as well as luscious steaks and lamb chops. Families: Everything at the resort is an elevator ride away, so it’s great for children. The Kids Camp features beach activities, toy-making and remote-controlled car racing. Parents can join in or leave their youngsters for a half or full day. The lagoon pool water slide is one of the Marriott’s popular features, and the hotel also offers cruiser bikes, kayaks, body boards, snorkel gear, paddleboar­ds, surfboards, floats and tubes. Neighbourh­ood: Outdoorsy attraction­s include the Manatee Lagoon, the Riviera Beach Marina and Phil Foster Park, a rich marine environmen­t with diving, snorkellin­g and paddling rentals. This area, near the Blue Heron Bridge, is a diving paradise with a designated underwater snorkellin­g trail.

The John D. MacArthur Beach State Park also is an oceanfront eco-treasure with snorkellin­g, swimming, kayak rentals, turtleview­ing walks, a playground and picnic areas.

 ?? PHOTOS: PALM BEACH MARRIOTT SINGER ISLAND BEACH RESORT & SPA ?? The Marriott Singer Island Resort offers outstandin­g beach life.
PHOTOS: PALM BEACH MARRIOTT SINGER ISLAND BEACH RESORT & SPA The Marriott Singer Island Resort offers outstandin­g beach life.
 ??  ?? The all-suite Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa recently completed a top-to-bottom renovation.
The all-suite Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa recently completed a top-to-bottom renovation.
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