I am having a reward trip for my office a total of 10 people. We will be going for 4 days over Memorial Weekend 2010. The group wants to go somewhere in Florida on the ocean. What is the best location for a great beach, proximity to shops and restaurants and something for entertainment other than the beach. Also what hotels have awesome pools?

What kind of budget did you have in mind. And what are the ages/interests of the winners?

South Beach in Miami Beach, the Breakers in Palm Beach, downtown Delray beach and downtown Ft. Lauderdale are places with hotels on the beach and proximity to shops & restaurants from ocean front hotels.

Memorial Day is only 4 weeks away. That seems like awfully short notice.

Can you still get decent airfares and hotel rates?

The Fontainebleau on Miami Beach.
Beautiful pools, great beach, shopping, restaurants and entertainment nearby. We stayed there in one of the two bedroom suites a few years ago and it was wonderful.

You can fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

I'll vote for South Beach in Miami, great boardwalk and nightlife.

I am thinking fly in Thursday night or Friday morning. I will only cover airfare and hotel. Everything else will be on them. I am thinking airfare depending on where I fly will be between 3-4000. Then 5 rooms at this hotel will be about the same. The interests are varied some will want to stay close to the hotel, while the others will want to get out and explore. I have some that will want to be active while other will want to shop and others will want to enjoy the beach hotel and pool. So, see my issues. Last year we went to Chicago for this trip stayed at the Trump and ate dinner at Harry Careys.

Amelia Island & you can fly into JAX.

Based on the varied interests you describe, I'd agree with the posters who recommended South Beach.

I have had several tell me South Beach is too much of a party scene. If it is that over the top I am not sure. My group will want to get out but we have a couple of older couples 60's so I am not sure if that would be the spot. What do you guys think? Don't get me wrong they will want to eat out at a nice restaurant and shopping but not clubs or anything like that. Any suggestions? While the other 2 couple are 20's and 30's might look for nightlife they could also do without as long as they have the activities, shopping and beach. I have a diverse group. I was thinking about the Trump in Miami, I have also looked at the Don Cesar. It appears I can save a ton by flying into Tampa or Orlando versus anywhere else.

YOur original post says "...on the ocean...." and you asked to be in proximity of shops and restaurants. We gave you best options for that. Orlando is not on any water and Tampa is on the gulf. There are nice spa hotels in Orlando and there are some nice hotels on the water in Tampa but may not be near shopping.

If South Beach is intimidating some, consider staying a bit further north in Miami but understand you may not be in walking distance of shops and restaurants.

Delray Beach has a few hotels on the ocean that's in walking distance to lots of restaurants. What it lacks close by is interesting shopping but there's plenty within a short drive.

cdharr
The DonCesar is a wonderful hotel but what I would check into if I were you is TradeWinds in St Pete Beach, right on the ocean. I have been past but never stayed there but I would sure check the reviews on Trip Advisor. They offer transportation from Tampa. They have a car rental on the property if you wanted to rent for the day. There is a trolley that runs past this resort and goes from Clearwater to Pass-a-grill. We've riden this trolley and while not fast because of frequent stops, it was fun. TradeWinds would also not be as expensive as DonCesar and I think St Pete Beach would offer a lot for your diverse group.

The Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburgs is great!http://www.salvadordalimuseum.org/

mclaurie, I just made the comment after researching that I could fly into those places for about half price. compared to Ft. lauderdale or West Palm Beach. We will 100% be staying on the beach. So, if I did fly into one of these locations it would leave me with about 1 hour drive to the eastside and a 2 hour drive to gulfside from Orlando but for the savings I maybe okay with that. I was just thinking if I could get a like quality hotel to what you had mentioned and save half on airfare, I would consider it. The Breakers looks awesome though so I am thinking about it. I am also considering the Don Cesar and cd is now having me check the Tradewinds.
I am just asking the question about South Beach I have never been there. I am still considering it. It sounds like their must be something to my question about the party scene or you may have not been so quick to give alternatives, yes-no? What is the best hotel on Delray Beach? Does Hilton or Starwood have any good beach hotels because I am a member of both?

cdharr, I just realized I forgot to include the website for the Trandwinds: http://www.tradewindsresort.com/

I have to add that Memorial Day Weekend in South Beach is traditionally Urban Beach Week. It might not be the best time to come to South Beach. Any other time of the year it would be great, but the crowds and the traffic are particularly horrendous for those days. For you gentlemen I'd suggest Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach for Memorial Day, and South Beach any other weekend.

sobchbud1, someone suggested north of this area, in miami beach and or north miami beach. What are your thoughts?

I honestly can't imagine driving from Tampa (or Orlando) for a holiday weekend trip. The drive from Tampa to the east coast is the worst, most boring drive and an hour is totally understated. It's 3 hrs. just to go across the state and from there another hour or more to Miami. I have a girlfriend who lives in Tampa and visits the east coast of Fla. (West Palm) often. She takes the train to avoid driving.

But there are some lovely hotels within a reasonable distance to Tampa and that's worth considering. I keep hearing about how great Sarasota is. That is an hour or so drive from Tampa airport and there's a Ritz Carlton there. Very nice shops in Sarasota.

South Beach is a young party scene but there's something for everyone. I know nothing about the urban beach weekend but would trust sobchbud's advice and go elsewhere for that weekend.

Elsewhere might be Key Biscayne. It's just over a causeway from Miami with a Ritz Carlton. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...e_Florida.html

From Key Biscayne you have access to Coconut Grove, South Beach and Miami Beach with loads of shopping options.

As for Palm Beach, just know Memorial Day is way past the prime "season" there and you should be able to get some decent hotel prices. The Breakers has a shuttle bus to take you to Worth Ave. but there's more shopping in West Palm Beach.

There are no 5* hotels in Delray so I think it doesn't have to atmosphere you want.

Urban Beach Week is one of the country's largest hip hop events and has drawn as many as 300,000 people. I'm thinking that any where you stay in Miami Beach all the way to the Broward county line will be over run by partiers and will be noisy and unpleasant all hours of the night. South Beach is the main entertainment district with all the clubs, restaurants and shopping, but you'll best be served to stay away because it will most likely not be your scene this particular weekend. Unfortunately for your group, this is an annual Memorial Day event so you may not ever get there with your annual trip. I would urge you to visit another time, because it really is a special cosmopolitan place, America's Riviera. Fort Lauderdale would be the most appropriate destination for your group. If you want to vary your trip, then renting a large van and driving down to Key West for a night of your stay would be a great idea.

It's 23 miles from Tampa Airport to St Pete's Beach. http://www.tampa-attractions.com/tam...portation.html

I have been to Tradwinds on St Pete beach, love it. Shops are walking distance as are restaurants.