My Favourite Luxury Hotels in Florida (And a Few Still on My Wishlist)
I’ve visited Florida more than ten times over the years.
Some trips have been long weekends, others have been family holidays, girls’ trips and everything in between. Whilst many visitors focus on Miami, Orlando and the theme parks, I’ve found myself returning to the same handful of hotels and areas time and time again.
These aren’t necessarily the newest hotels in Florida, nor are they always the most fashionable.
They’re simply the places that made me want to come back.
If you’re planning a Florida trip and wondering where to stay, these are the hotels and areas I would personally recommend based on my own stays.
As always, I can only recommend places I have actually visited. There are plenty of articles on the internet listing hotels based on press releases and hearsay, but that has never really been my style.
Some of the hotels below are places I’ve personally stayed at and would happily recommend. Others are properties that have recently opened or undergone major renovations and are firmly on my Florida wishlist.
| Destination / Region | The Vibe & Travel Style | Property Selection & Status |
|---|---|---|
| Surfside (Miami) | Historic, elite, and intimate beachfront grandeur | Four Seasons at The Surf Club ✓ Personally Vetted |
| Bal Harbour (Miami) | High-end shopping, destination dining, and elegant beach escapes | The St. Regis Bal Harbour ✓ Personally Vetted |
| The Florida Keys | Modern, gorgeous coastal design in a middle-Keys waterfront layout | Isla Bella Beach Resort ✓ Personally Vetted |
| Naples (Gulf Coast) | Grand, freshly renovated classic white-sand beach luxury | The Ritz-Carlton, Naples ✓ Personally Vetted |
| North Miami Beach | Elite wellness programs, multi-floor spa facilities, and spacious suites | Carillon Miami Wellness Resort ✓ Personally Vetted |
| Sarasota | Sophisticated city culture paired with an exclusive private beach club | The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota ✓ Personally Vetted |
| Longboat Key | Gulf Coast beach footprint under legendary St. Regis butler service | The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort ★ On My Wishlist |
| Naples (Gulf Coast) | Highly anticipated, transformative beachfront sanctuary opening | Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort ★ On My Wishlist |
| Miami Beach | Bold, highly theatrical iconic design with an incredible sense of place | Faena Miami Beach ★ On My Wishlist |
| Palm Beach | Historic, charming pastel pink signature vintage style and glamour | The Colony Hotel, Palm Beach ★ On My Wishlist |
| Palm Beach | Fresh Oetker Collection boutique luxury restoration and symmetry | Vineta Hotel, Palm Beach ★ On My Wishlist |
| Boca Raton | Sprawling, fully transformed heritage resort with extensive pool lagoons | The Beach Club at The Boca Raton ★ On My Wishlist |
Hotels I’ve Stayed At
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club
Quite simply one of the best hotels I have stayed at in the United States.
The service, design, location and atmosphere are exceptional. Despite being part of a major luxury brand, it feels intimate, exclusive and remarkably relaxed.
Book this hotel if: you’re looking for one of the finest luxury beach hotels in Florida.
→ Check availability on Booking.com
Related reading: My full Four Seasons Surf Club review.
The St. Regis Bal Harbour
One of our favourite Florida beach hotels and somewhere we have returned to multiple times over the years. Located just north of Miami Beach, it offers the perfect balance between beach relaxation and easy access to shopping, restaurants and everything Miami has to offer.
Book this hotel if: you want a luxury beach resort close to Miami without staying in the middle of South Beach.
→ Check availability on Booking.com
→ View rates directly with Marriott
Related reading: My Miami guide, Bal Harbour and Aventura recommendations.
Isla Bella Beach Resort, Marathon
The hotel that finally convinced us to visit the Florida Keys.
For years we postponed the trip because we struggled to find accommodation that felt special enough for the journey. Isla Bella changed that. Modern, beautifully designed and spread across a spectacular waterfront setting, it remains one of the most attractive resorts in the Keys.
The only downside? The beach is smaller than the marketing photographs suggest.
Book this hotel if: you want to experience the Florida Keys without driving all the way to Key West.
→ Check availability on Booking.com
Related reading: My Florida Keys guide and full Isla Bella review.
The Ritz-Carlton Naples
Naples remains one of my favourite parts of Florida.
Whilst the location and beach are fantastic, I felt the hotel itself lagged behind newer luxury resorts when we visited. I understand renovations have since taken place, so this may well have changed.
Book this hotel if: you want a classic beachfront resort in one of Florida’s most desirable locations.
→ Check availability on Booking.com
→ View rates directly with Marriott Bonvoy
Related reading: My guide to Naples, Florida.
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort
One of the most pleasant hotel surprises I’ve ever had.
I booked a solo trip looking for sunshine, fitness classes, beach time and a little shopping, and Carillon delivered on all fronts. The spacious suite-style accommodation, excellent wellness facilities and daily fitness programme make it very different from a traditional Miami beach hotel.
Book this hotel if: you enjoy fitness, wellness and having more than just a swimming pool to keep you occupied.
→ Check availability on Booking.com
The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota
A good city hotel with the added benefit of access to a private beach club on Lido Key.
Whilst Sarasota itself isn’t the beach destination many international visitors imagine when they first book Florida, the combination of the hotel, the beach club and Sarasota’s excellent dining scene works surprisingly well.
Book this hotel if: you want a mix of city, beach and dining without committing to a full beach resort.
→ Check availability on Booking.com
→ View rates directly with Marriott Bonvoy
Related reading: My Sarasota travel guide.
Hotels Currently On My Florida Wishlist
Whilst the hotels above are places I have personally stayed at, there are a handful of properties that have caught my attention and are firmly on my Florida wishlist.
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort
Longboat Key is already one of my favourite parts of Florida, so a brand-new St. Regis there feels like an obvious future stay. Between the Gulf Coast location, the St. Regis service standards and the fact that it sits in an area I already love, this is probably the hotel I am most excited about in Florida right now.
Book this hotel if: you want Gulf Coast luxury with the reliability of the Marriott luxury portfolio.
→ Check availability on Booking.com
→ View rates directly with Marriott Bonvoy
Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort
One of the most significant luxury hotel openings in Florida in recent years. Located on the site of the former Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, the arrival of Four Seasons has elevated Naples’ luxury hotel scene considerably.
Book this hotel if: you’re looking for a luxury beachfront resort in one of Florida’s most desirable destinations.
→ Check availability on Expedia.com
Faena Miami Beach
One of the most recognisable luxury hotels in Florida and a property that has remained on my list for years. The design is bold, theatrical and completely different from anything else in Miami.
Book this hotel if: you want a luxury Miami experience with personality and a strong sense of place.
→ Check availability on Booking.com
The Colony Hotel, Palm Beach
One of Florida’s most iconic hotels and a property that perfectly captures Palm Beach glamour. The pink façade has become synonymous with Palm Beach itself and, despite its reputation, the hotel manages to feel charming rather than intimidating.
Book this hotel if: you want classic Palm Beach style, a walkable location and a hotel with genuine character.
→ Check availability on Booking.com
Vineta Hotel, Palm Beach
Freshly restored and one of the most exciting openings in Palm Beach. Smaller and more intimate than some of the area’s grand resorts, it looks like the sort of hotel where design, service and location all come together beautifully.
Book this hotel if: you prefer boutique luxury over large-scale resorts.
→ Check availability on Booking.com
The Beach Club at The Boca Raton
The scale of the transformation here has been remarkable and I am curious to see how the resort feels today. Few Florida resorts offer so many facilities in one place and it has firmly put itself back on my radar.
Book this hotel if: you want a full-service resort with multiple pools, restaurants and plenty to keep everyone entertained.
→ Check availability on Booking.com
Final Thoughts
One of the things I love most about Florida is that it manages to be many destinations in one.
Some trips have revolved around the beaches of Naples and Longboat Key. Others have been about shopping and restaurants in Miami, wellness weekends at Carillon or exploring the Florida Keys for the first time.
Whilst there is no shortage of luxury hotels in Florida, the properties on this list are the ones that have stood out to me for one reason or another. Some I have returned to multiple times, whilst others are firmly on my travel wishlist for future trips.
If you’re currently planning a Florida holiday, I hope this guide helps narrow down the options a little.
And if you’re anything like me, don’t be surprised if you start planning your next Florida trip before you’ve even flown home from the first one.
Planning Your Florida Trip
→ Browse Florida hotels on Booking.com
Happy travels,
Mrs. O
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Check out my other Places to Stay in Florida posts below:
Check out my other Florida Guides below:
- Florida Travel Guide
- Best Things to Do in Florida
- Best Places to Visit in Florida
- From Miami to Fort Lauderdale Day Trip: What to See and Do
- From Miami to Palm Beach Day Trip: The Best Itinerary
Check out my other travel guides below: