Boca Raton Resort & Club: Boca Raton, Florida

Two words come to mind when I think of the Boca Raton Resort & Club: Amazing & Expensive.  The only reason I could afford to stay here was a promotion they were running which dropped the rates to $107/night.  At this price, it was cheaper than the Marriott in town and about the same as the other hotels in the area.  With a golf course on the property, I figured why not.

The Hotel

The Boca Raton Resort offers five "hotel" options to their guests.  The Bungalows, The Cloisters, The Tower and The Beach Club and The Yacht Club.  Each one is unique in design and offers the guest something different. 

(The main entrance to the Boca Resort.  This part of the hotel is known as the Cloisters.)

The Cloisters part of the Boca Resort is the "main" area.  This is the first thing you see when you arrive (after the guard gate) and it's oldest part of the hotel.  They even have a small portion of the original lobby here which is pretty cool to see.  In The Cloisters guests will find a few bars, restaurants, shops, concierge and the spa. 

As the oldest part of the hotel, the rooms are pretty small.  Almost designed to keep you out in the rest of the resort spending money.  I was able to see one of the rooms with a king bed (thanks SAW) and it was enough for two people with closet space but it's nothing special.

The Yacht Club is attached to The Cloisters and overlooks the marina in the back of the hotel.  You wouldn't know it was separate from the Cloister if they didn't tell you but when you're in the back of the hotel, you'll see several yachts parked in their designated slips. 

The Tower is attached to The Cloisters by a narrow hallway but for all purposes, is a different hotel.  The 27 floor building is bright and offers a more contemporary design than its neighbor.  I didn't get to see the rooms here but I did go to the restaurant on the top floor, Cielo's, and it offered an amazing view of Boca Raton.  It had the feel of an ultra swanky or trendy club with the use of whites and lounge music to create the ambiance.

  
(The Tower Hotel during the day.  It's 27 floors and has a restaurant at the top)

 The Beach Club is exactly what the names says, it's a beach club.  The design is incredible making the Atlantic Ocean visible from the moment you arrive through the glass doors in the lobby.  If the Boca Resort didn't tell their guest about this place, you wouldn't know it existed from the rest of the hotel. 

The Boca Bungalows are the part of the hotel I stayed.  The best way I can describe it is a glorified motel although it would be the nicest hotel you ever stayed in.  The room we had was clean, bright, spacious and comfortable.  The Bungalows have suites with kitchen areas which would be a great way to save some money if you're staying for a while.

 Restaurants

The resort is loaded with restaurants at all the hotels except The Bungalows.  They have variations in theme as well as the food.  I didn't eat much on the resort due to the prices but I highly recommend getting ice cream at Serendipity, it was outstanding.

Activities

What do you want to do?  There is a beautiful golf course on the resort (I'll write about this tomorrow), countless tennis courts, beach volleyball, boat rentals, spa (which is amazing), fitness facilities, golf lessons (off the resort), and the list goes on.  The bottom line is you will not be bored but be prepared to pay.  The round of golf I played cost $205!

Tips for Staying at The Boca Resort & Club

1.  Watch for Hidden Fees:  Although the room cost $107 + tax, a resort charge of $22 is added per day.  On any purchase, and 18% "Service Fee" is added.  The workers divide this so if you one individual did something special, you can leave some cash.
2. Food is Expensive:  If you can, bring a breakfast bar or some variation to save money on food.  ALL the food is expensive here.
3. Drinks are Expensive:  Beer is the cheapest at around $6.50+tax & service fee.  Mixed drinks will run you a minimum of $10. 
4. The Shuttle:  The shuttle is a great way to get around the resort.  It runs about every 10 minutes.  Much easier than driving or walking.
5. Valet Parking Only:  If you have a car, you'll pay for it.  Valet parking will run you $26/day.  If you stay in the Bungalows, parking is free. 

(Cars parked at The Cloisters main entrance.  Valet parking will run you $26/day.)

Overall

You're going to pay a lot of money if you stay here.  Is it worth it?  I think so.  Without the discounted rate of $107 to stay in the Bungalows and free parking at the Bungalows, this place would be out of my price range.  While the restaurants look great, eating off the resort will save you some money.

If you're going to pay top dollar, you should get top dollar service.  The Boca Resort delivers on service.  I can only think of one instance where I wasn't greeted with a smile.  The employees here went out of their way to make our vacation more enjoyable by smiling and helping any way possible.  Whether it was checking in, on the shuttle, or at the beach, we were always asked if we needed anything or how they could help.  To me, it made it worth the money.

(A view of the Atlantic Ocean from The Beach Club.)

Comments

[Patrick]

The place looks beautiful.

[WAM Golf]

The place was really something Patrick. I wish my pictures could do it justice. I think you'll find the golf course to be impressive too. I need to get that post up!

Thanks for reading!

WAM Golf

[Donna Parsley]

Oh my god! That value inside that parking lot is just staggering. If I'm not mistaken, from left to right, a Mercedes, a Bentley, a Lamborghini, a Corvette, an Aston Martin and a Ferrari, all in one neat line.

[WAMGolf.com]

It was really impressive Donna! The entire place was amazing but cars like this were in and out the entire time we were there. It's a beautiful place to see if you ever have the chance!

Thanks for reading and commenting!