Top picks in Florida travel
A rundown of destinations that have recently won awards.
Everyone knows that South Florida is a traveler’s paradise with a variety of tourist experiences, tours and resorts that are so much fun even locals take part.
Here’s a rundown of SoFlo destinations in Miami, Key West, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach and Singer Island that have recently won travel awards.
Key West makes a great trip according to TripAdvisor
Cool-to-kitschy Key West was named one of “America’s Top Destinations for Travel Experiences,” according to TripAdvisor.com travelers. Florida’s southernmost point landed at No. 3, right behind Kauai, Hawaii, and Sedona, Ariz. It’s worth noting that in the “Best Destinations in the World for Experiences” released in October, Key West came in at an impressive 10th place, mixing it up with international tourist powerhouses in Costa Rica, Norway, New Zealand, Russia and Greece.
Specifically, travelers responded to the Conch Republic’s Sunset Sail in Key West with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres (KeyWestSebago.com), Small Group Kayak and Snorkel Eco Tour (HonestEco.org) and Parasailing in Key West (KeyWestSebago.com).
For more information, go to TripAdvisor.com.
Everglades Nature Tours gets GetYourGuide honor
Redlands-based Everglades Nature Tours was named “Best Active and Adventure Tour” in North America in November by GetYourGuide.com.
“Our tours are small groups, less than 10 people go out on a small boat,” explains Merijo “M.J.” Gonzalez. “And we take you … up to 97 miles on a trail. We don’t talk over the motors. Our motors are quiet; we’re not scaring the wildlife. We teach people about the vegetation, animal life, Indian culture. I say it’s an educational tour, but it’s a fun [and] interactive tour.”
Gonzalez, who co-owns the company with her husband Capt. Ozzie Gonzalez and Capt. Erik Lorentzen, says they also give walking, swamp buggy, canoe/kayak, game trail, hunting/fishing and pole/flat bottom boat tours. And even better, the GetYourGuide win has been good for business. “I would say we’ve seen about a 5 percent increase in book-
ings,” she adds.
For more information, go to EvergladesNatureTours.com or Awards.GetYourGuide.com.
Condé Nast Traveler gives major props to Palm Beach County resorts
Six resorts in the Palm Beaches have been recognized as the “Top Resorts in Florida” in the Condé Nast Traveler’s 31st annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Of the 30 properties named, the ones in Palm Beach County include:
No. 10: Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton
No. 11: Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa in Manalapan
No. 14: Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort and Spa in Riviera Beach
No. 18: Boca Beach Club in Boca Raton
No. 24: The Breakers in Palm
Beach
No. 29: Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach in Palm Beach
Jorge Pesquera — the president and CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches, the tourism marketing corporation for Palm Beach County — says that the region did well in the survey released in October because they have been at it for a long time.
“The Palm Beaches has some of the world’s best hotels and resorts, and we’ve been offering unique, best-in-class experiences for travelers seeking the ultimate in luxury since the mid-1890s,” he explains in an email interview. “Here, you can immerse yourself in luxurious accommodations, fine dining, high-end shopping, and upscale spas -- all within a glamorous setting of the Atlantic Ocean and South Florida’s picturesque Intracoastal Waterway.”
For more information, go to ThePalmBeaches.com or CNTraveler.com/rca.
Looking for a luxe spa? Check out Miami’s Mandarin Oriental
ForbesTravelGuide.com sent out incognito inspectors to stay at different resort properties in order to determine different “Most Luxurious” winners. In this first annual verified list that came out in November, the Spa at Mandarin Oriental is one of 30 spas in six countries that won an award (out of 269 spas eligible worldwide). But Osa Mallo, the director of the Mandarin’s spa and wellness programs, says this is just the latest recognition from Forbes.
“The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami has been rated a Forbes Five Star Spa for a decade, consistently providing quality treatments and service to our guests,” she says in an email interview. “Services range from $160 for a single 50 minute massage to $1,860 for a full day Couples experience.”
Mallo says that what makes the Spa at Mandarin Oriental in Miami so luxurious is that it “… is an oasis on the secluded Claughton Island [among] the hustle and bustle of the downtown Brickell area. Spanning over three floors, the Spa at Mandarin Oriental offers 17 treatment including six luxurious spa suites on a private floor. The suite floor features spacious treatment suites with sunken tubs and amazing views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. Soft hues and exquisite materials were used to create the ambiance such as bamboo floors, Spanish marble and rice paper accents, along with kimono decoration and fragrant incense.”
For more information, go to MandarinOriental.com.