The Breakers - Palm Beach
 

Has anyone stayed at The Breakers in Palm Beach? My husband and I are taking our first 3 night getaway since becoming parents. My Husband wants South Beach, I want something a little more low-key. Is there enough to do in Palm Beach? Thank you for any info.

I love Palm Beach! You can find posts with extensive dining and recreation options in Palm Beach, Singer Island, and the area.

Highlights: Sailfish Marina on Thursday nights for the outdoor art festival thing.

Taboo on Worth Avenue to see and be seen.

Church Mouse for the best consignment shop in the country.

Water taxi tour on Lake Worth.

Bike, run, or walk the Lake Worth Trail.

The Breakers is a wonderful hotel, but it is a bit snobbish (dress code in the lobby, etc.). There's enough to do in Palm Beach to keep you occupied for 3 days - heck, there's enough to do at the Breakers to keep my occupied for 3 days!

Another very upscale place is the Boca Raton Resort in Boca Raton, about 25 mi. south of Palm Beach.

The last time we walked through the lobby of The Breakers, I thought I was in a retirement home. The average age there was easily 65. I'd think also that the Boca Raton Club would be in the same price range but have a much younger and less "formal" or "stuffy" feel to it. It's been a long time since I've stayed there, but there were always a lot more "yuppies" than "pensioners".

I like the Four Seasons a lot.

Patrick, the Boca Raton Resort is more sporty. Guests are always schlepping golf clubs, tennis raquet, etc through the lobby. With the Breakers, staff is always trailing after guests schlepping their golf clubs, tennis raquets, etc throught the lobby.

BTW, I think Chris Everett is the resident head tennis pro at the Boca Raton Resort.

Good way to explain it GoTravel, but you left out the staff members following guests with their oxygen tanks at The Breakers.

I don't beleive anyone who has stayed at both Breakers and Boca Raton Resort and Club would prefer the latter. There is no comparison -- Breakers is by far a superior porperty. BRRC is old, worn and tired, with poor staff. Breakers can seem a bit snooty but is a great place.

South Beach is totally different experience. If you want action go to South Beach, the others are more sedate.

When was the last time YOU stayed at the Boca Raton Resort, tburke? Before or after their recent 26 million dollar renovation of all rooms?

A quick check through the many reviews of both properties would quickly show they are about equal in both rants and raves. "Faded" and "bad staff attitudes" are very frequent comments for the Breakers.

Thank you, everyone, for your input. My husband will be put off by snootiness and we are more of the sporty type than the oxygen tank type. I didn't even know there was a Ritz in Palm Beach.

oops ... Not Ritz, I mean Four Seasons

diaz, there is a Ritz in Palm Beach.

I honestly don't think you could go wrong with either the RC, Breakers, BRR, or 4Seasons.

Incidentally, my personal opinion is that there is much more "snottiness" at these places from the visitors than there is from the staff. Most staff members wouldn't be able to keep their jobs after the second complaint of rudeness or snottiness. But many, many visitors will arrive with tons of attitude and be very demanding since they feel they are staying at the "best" and the "most expensive" and therefore they need total attention. If you are a polite and friendly guest, it is doubtful you will be met with rudeness, snobbishness, or snottiness from any of the staff members.

The Ritz Carlton is very nice. It is in Manalapan, Florida. We stayed there and really liked it. It is only the next town over from Palm Beach. Breakers is beautiful as well. Keep in mind what Patrick has said about it. (Patrick, you always make me smile at your respones. Thanks!)

Palm Beach and South Beach are like 2 different worlds. I would pick Palm Beach ANY day over South Beach.

Have a great time!

I love making people smile.

What I like about the Four Seasons Palm Beach...impeccable service without a snobby (or snotty) attitude. It's a small hotel with quiet but casual elegance. The hotel wraps around the pool and faces the ocean and to me has a sense of serenity about it. I hate snobby hotels where I feel like I have to dress up to walk through the lobby. The 4S is nothing like that. I've stayed at the Breakers and Boca Raton (before the renovation) and prefer the size, staff and simple ambiance of the 4S. I've not stayed at the nearby Ritz, but did feel the Naples Ritz was a bit more formal that I like at a beach location - although it was very nice.

For a low-key beach destination, I'd chose the 4S and take a cab into PB for dinner, etc. To me, Palm Beach IS the opposite of South Beach.

The funny thing is you would think Palm Beach would have the snotty uptight atmosphere considering it has the wealthiest citizens on earth 4 months out of the year. Something like 97% of all Palm Beach residents from January through April are worth at least $1 million dollars.

It really just feels like a preppy ole beach town to me. Some of the nicest people I've met were in Palm Beach. Very laid back.

On the other hand, South Beach has the opposite feel.

I think it has something to do with old money vs. new. The really wealthy rarely have the need to show it. A close friend who had the life I thought I always wanted (and has never NEEDED to work a day in her life) is one of the simplest living and unassuming persons I know.

Yep..there is a tremendous difference between old money and new..the new money attitude seems to be the need to show off with "stuff".... IMO Palm beach has none of that pretentiousness.

I totally agree with Go Travel and the others, and yes it mainly boils down to the "old money -- new money" concept. And I think it is highly applicable to the residents. But I'm not sure that that applies to the people who go to places like The Breakers (or any of the other places mentioned for that matter)-- who may just as easily be "new money" pretending to be "old money". Now those are the really obnoxious ones. Get the point?

Hey - I have "no money" and I love the Breakers and Palm Beach.

I've grown up in Palm Beach (thanks to my grandparents) and we LOVE the Breakers. I jog through there every morning (along the golf course or the beach), go to the bar, upstairs in the old Alcatraz Room,which is amazing with it's fish aquarium bar, and have never felt like people were being snotty or rude to me. Of course I treat everyone pretty well, so they made treat me that way, back. I have also just taken a book there and hung out on the patio to read (I don't stay there) and feel very comfortable No one bothers me unless I want to meet someone. As for old, the last time I was there (early March), the average person was in their 40s. I think it's because they are the only ones who have the $$ to stay there these days. I would beware of Palm Beach fakes, though. They are plentiful. And stay away from Chuck and Harolds until they rennovate. Things are really bad there. Go to Caccina (within walking distance) for a hot time or Taboo on Worth Avenue. Both are excellent and well priced.

Paul, I'm with you! We have no money and also love the Breakers. Off season and all you know!

How fun it must have been to grow up there. I've sailed out of Sailfish Marina from Lake Worth to the Bahamas and have met some of the greatest people. I just love Palm Beach, Jupiter, Hobe Sound, Boca Raton, Manlaplan, and the whole area.

diazkris, hope you have a nice time!

OK, we made our reservation at The Breakers - can't wait to relax! Pre-baby it wasn't unusual for us to go away every month - hard adjustment to be waiting 4 months for the next trip.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your expertise. One last question - is a rental car a must?

It's a long walk into town from the hotel. So unless you plan on spending all your time at the hotel and/or take taxis all the time, get a car. By the time you pay for cabs to/from the airport and a few trips into town for eating or shopping, you might as well have a car.

Thank you everyone for your input! I love this site! Just got back from the Breakers today. Had 4 days of absolute relaxation. The hotel was absolutely beautiful and the service was unbelievable. We didn't see any staff following the elderly around with oxygen tanks. In fact there was a good mix of families, and couples of all ages. Loved the spa! My inlaws surprised me with a birthday gift card to the spa when I arrived. What a treat. My husband loved the golf. Would go mid-week next time b/c they were down to 30% capacity today (monday) from 90% over the weekend. Can't wait to go back but can't afford the inseason rates. Will have to wait until next summer.

So glad you had such a good time!

I just love The Breakers and the Palm Beach area!

I was at the Breakers in early July for a weekend and it was primarily families. There were children everywhere. Not what I expected but they had a good children's area where the kids could have pizza and play together while the parents could have a romantic evening out. Not the Breakers I remembered. I have always been treated with courtesy there and at the Boca Raton resort. I prefer the Breakers but the Boca spa has it all over the spa at the Breakers...at least in July (perhaps their best staff is up north for the season there).

Glad to hear it was so wonderful! We are heading there on Saturday, Aug 20th and staying the week. We are 2 families with 3 kids: 3,4 and 5 years old. If you have any input on the restaurants, etc. please let me know.

Also, I heard that the spa treatments were just OK. Please let me know how you liked them.

I was at the Breakers last weekend with my 13 year old daughter. We loved it!! Awesome staff and rooms, great restaurants and as mentioned before, kids all around. Very nice little shops in the hotel. There is a major renovation going on in the south end section, new pools and beach clubs and cabanas but we not have know the construction was going on if the hotel had not pointed it out. I highly reccommend it. In the words of my 13 year old *I feel like a princess in my own castle and everyone is trying to be the 1st one to wait on my every need!* Pretty good review from what I can gather from a 13 year old girl.
Happy Travels, April

Tango,
The Italian restaurant near the kid's club was very kid-friendly and the prices were good. (We never tried it - our daughter stayed home with Nana) Try the News & Gourmet for breakfast - coffee, juice, croissants, bagels,... and pretty reasonable too. There are a few restaurants a few blocks north that would be OK for kids. Also try City Place - a few min. away but fountains, shops, restaurants (Bellagio was good)-kid friendly. As a teacher and parent, I was very impressed with the kids' club staff. We saw them at the North Pool and they were playing volleyball with the kids - very positive and very kind. Definately will be revisiting when our daughter is old enough for kids club. Have fun and you will feel like a "princess" or prince, as AprilA's daughter put it. And by the way, I loved the spa

diazkris,

We are going to eat at the Italian restaurant the first night. I think that would be a great intro for the kids. We are going to send them to the kids club at least one day - after we check it out. Our kids are little and it is a bit nerve-racking to hand them over to complete strangers! We haven't done that before, but I think all three would love to meet other kids and do some activities.

We are also going to have a night out for my husband's 40th birthday; therefore, we are going to book a babysitter. Also nerve-racking, but I think the kids do not want to sit for hours with grown ups while we have a fancy meal!

We are so excited. I've dreamed about going there since last year when I saw it on a website. I love it when travel dreams come true!!!

We were next to people on the beach who were talking favorably about the babysitter they used. We went to Flagler Steakhouse for my birthday dinner. It was delicious. Excellent service and a great view if you sit on the terrace. Enjoy!

diazkris,

thanks for your advice. The Breakers was great...both for parents and for kids! Loved the Italian Restaurant and did use the babysitting service. The person we got was wonderful!

I posted a trip report under "The Breakers - Palm Beach Florida Trip Report" to shout from the mountaintops how great the Breakers was!