Recommend March 2011 - (Page 69)

which has a lap pool (with spa bar coming soon) and relaxation pool, separated by a wind wall. The deck is a great hang out, especially once those aforementioned loft units are completed. Then there’s Amuse Restaurant & Lounge, with its intentional lounge vibe, centered around a fabulous-looking bar. Amuse is indeed amusing with a unique menu offering “small plates” and “not so small plates” filled with tasty items. The resort is offering an iPad Luxury package through May 5. It includes one Apple iPad (with WiFi and 3G; AT&T 3G cellular network service sold separately); 3-night accommodations; daily $50 resort credit or RockResorts gift card (one per day); and breakfast daily at Amuse. Rates start from $659 per night dbl; 3-night minimum stay required. Another jackpot for Downtown Miami is the debut of the JW Marriott Marquis Miami, which opened last October and has gotten a lot of buzz, and rightfully so. In fact, Crawford from Tempo says, “Downtown Miami is becoming a much more attractive place to come. I think you can see that with these other hotel companies moving into Downtown Miami, like the Epic and Marriott. Sure it’s competition, but that only reinforces that Downtown Miami will continue its acceleration.” In fact, the JW Marriott brand, purports the company, “is reserved for select luxury properties in key gateway cities and distinctive resort locations.” Adding to the glitz is the onsite 44-room Hotel Beaux Arts Miami, located on the 39th floor of the JW Marriott and providing its guests private check-in and personal escort. The JW Marriott itself, though, is a complete 180-degree turnaround from boutiquey Tempo, with 313 rooms and 56 suites, three concierge floors, several restaurants and one of Miami’s most talked about new “places to hang”—a 50,000-sq.-ft. relaxation and fitness area with a pool, 10,000-sq.-ft. NBA-approved basketball court, Jim McLean Golf School with virtual golf and lessons, a bowling alley, media room, billiard room, fitness center, and the 4,000-sq.-ft. Rik-Rak Salon & Spa. What it does have in common with Tempo, though, is abundant luxury amenities, including fabulous views of the city and bay, pillow menus, Italian marble baths and TV embedded in the bathroom mirror. The hotel currently has a Rik Rak Laid Back package featuring 25 percent savings, a complimentary upgrade, spa treatments and more. Rates through April 15 start at $569 per night (lower in summer). family time Ok, so Downtown Miami’s not for everyone. Families, in fact, might not be the best bet for a Downtown Miami hotel stay, but they’re the perfect candidates for a resort that offers everything from a circus school to talent shows, wave runner outings and kids’ clubs. The Club Med Sandpiper Bay, with more than 337 guestrooms and located on the state’s east coast along the St. Lucie River, has just come out of a $25 million makeover—it re-opened this past December—and as the only family all-inclusive resort in the U.S., it’s just as perfect for families as Tempo Miami and the JW Marriott Marquis are for uber-luxe couples. “Club Med Sandpiper Bay offers guests a unique family vacation experience,” says Xavier Mufraggi, president, Club Med North America. In fact, he emphasizes that the resort’s “target clientele are families and active vacationers. “A typical day here for one of our guests could be for them to start the day by taking a yoga class overlooking the river, then enjoying a continued on page 71 Big Moments are Better when Shared Gather together at one of Florida’s most cherished vacation destinations. With our location right on the beach, along with two spacious ballrooms, resort-style oceanfront pools and an all-new modern-Mexican dining experience at Dos Caminos, your family fun—and memories—will never be in short supply. Sheraton.com/fortlauderdalebeach or 800 823 2240 ©2011 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All rights reserved. Sheraton and its logo are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & march 2011 69 11SHFL078-RECOMMEND_MARCH.indd 1 2/9/11 3:25 PM http://www.Sheraton.com/fortlauderdalebeach http://www.Sheraton.com/fortlauderdalebeach

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend March 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Disney Dream
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Baja Airventures
Central Gems of Japan
2011 Guide to Latin America
The Tastier Side of Central Japan
Ireland With Brian Moore International Tours
Exploring Antiquity: Egypt, Israel & Jordan
Sailing Into Antiquity on the Nile
Florida's Ever-Changing Hotel Landscape
Riding North America's Rails
Small Ships in the Old South
Turks & Caicos Keeps Expanding
St. Lucia—Beyond the Pitons

Recommend March 2011