A study in contradiction
Written: Apr 12 '09 (Updated Apr 12 '09)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: -Lavish, sprawling compound and private beach
-Exclusive dining
-Several choices of accomodation
Cons: -Local club membership
-Overpriced
-Poor maintaince in some areas
The Bottom Line: Don't expect service that rivals other resorts of this kind, but the Boca Resort itself is fabulous.
|
|
|
| daperlman's Full Review: Boca Raton Resort & Club |
This is a review of my 4/3/2009 stay at the Boca Resort. I stayed in a tower estate view room.
Introduction
This property recently joined the Waldorf Astoria group and since I have never stayed here before I can't be sure what has changed. To put this review in context, I will tell you that the Boca Resort and Beach Club has all of the amenities that one would expect in a beach front 4 or 5 star resort. In fact, when you walk in to the lobbies, it is nicer than many Four Seasons or Ritz Carltons. So for the purpose of this review - I am comparing it to resorts in this five star category.
To really understand this place, it is important to know that this place the only resort of its kind in the area - and they know it. This dynamic is unfortunately reflected in the prices and business model and philosophy. For one thing - the prices at this place (for the weekend I booked) started at $259.00-$1000/night (for 290-800 sq feet) and the taxes and fees (even among other hotels in big cities) are high. This is very high is the current climate, even for exclusive resorts. They had a $50 resort credit offer featured on their booking page - which I'd believed I was eligible for - but alas they refused to honor it for a $30 spa credit (which is a little petty at such a nice place, even if I was mistaken). It is my belief that this would not be the case, were they a few nice hotels nearby. The beach club (the newer part of the complex) features bigger and newer rooms for about $70 more /night on average. The cheapest way to go - is a standard Cloister room (the oldest building- which is in dire need of redoing) at the Resort. For big spenders - you can stay in the nicest newest buildings at the Yacht Club, or Beach Club ocean vistas.
The Rooms
If you have stayed at the Wynn in Vegas... you will get déjà vu vu - when you look at the rooms, the pool, the spa, the fitness center - they definitely used the same contractor. My room looked exactly the same (as my tower room at the Wynn). As I was -then in Vegas- I found myself somewhat under whelmed. For starters,they found some way to make 750 sq feet seem small. I just stayed at THEhotel in a suite the exact same size that seemed much more ergonomic. This room is simply an average sized bedroom with a small area next to the TV with a desk and chair. On the plus side, my room was clean and had floor to ceiling windows and a surprisingly great view of lake Boca. Also a plus - complimentary cox cable internet service. The bathroom was nice enough and had a TV (which is par for the course these days). The room also had a 37" plasma TV which was an HD set - but the programming (with the exception of HBO) was NOT HD. Although there was some noise (perhaps from other rooms or the staff cleaning etc), I would not say that it was unusually loud or quiet. The shower temp and pressure was adequate. The lack of outlets was somewhat annoynig, but their internet thingy also had an outlet for the latop - which was nice.
The resort
One thing that is very clear, when pulling up to the Boca Resort - is its sheer size. It is, in every respect, a massive compound. Like the plantations of Hilton Head, you pull up to a gate with a guard that serves no purpose other than delaying guests and miscreants alike - from entering for about 45 seconds. Whatever you need is on the premises. The resort and beach club features a half-mile of private beach, a golf course, seven swimming pools, a polo / cricket grounds, a spa, three fitness centers, ten restaurants and a bunch of other stuff that I don't care about enough to notice (like tennis courts). Descriptions here: http://www.bocaresort.com/resort_activities/index.cfm
Pool and fitness centers
I actually toured each pool and set up camp at the Beach Club pool - which was quite a scene. The pool itself is nothing special, but it is well appointed and situated only a few feet from a beautiful private beach. The Boca Resort has a club thing where locals can pay a fee to use the pool and fitness facility and even on the busy weekend, when I went, the club members out number the guests by a wide margin. This is an odd dynamic, because it sort of feels more like a YMCA then a fancy hotel. On one hand, it was kind of refreshing to see some younger folks, as the hotel caters to an over 40 crowd. On the other hand, on the Friday - when I visited - the locker rooms (at the beach club) were schmutzig and out of everything. As a positive though - the fitness center at the beach was very nice (fitness centers are free BTW). Although there was a mildew smell, the equipment I used was top, top notch. Much nicer than many standalone private and public fitness centers. I wanted to take that treadmill home with me. It was nice and soft and had plugs and screens for everything. At the beach club, there is not a spa close-by, so the "locker room" is really a bathroom, shower and locker. The following day I used the fitness center adjacent to the country club, which was slightly larger and had the same wonderful equipment. The lockers in this one were those *&%^ electronic ones like the Wynn and other newer vegas properties (that lock you out after 3 tries). Unlike the Wynn - these panels are in working condition. Also in that area is Spa Palazzo. The spa is nice and spacious - and includes (my prerequisite for a spa) a steam room (warning this steam comes out from under the seating... I burnt my little doggies on it). The spa treatments are actually reasonable for this kind of hotel, but I did not try any.
Drinking and Dining
Although I am not an 'eat at my hotel' kind of guy - at the Boca Resort - it is tempting. Not only are there so many choices, but the Boca Resort has some worldclass brands such as Cielo and MoriMoto. Also the bar is very nice and inviting (they have HD!). The main bar at the resort - sort of spills out into the huge lobby / waterfront area. There is also a kitchy soda shop (Serendipity), where I paid $11 for a medium malt shake and $5 for a regular coffee (that morning ... I woulda paid $20). This place also kind of backs out to a water view.
Conclusion
If you want to stay in Boca at a 4-5 star property ... you are staying here, cause you have virtually no other choice. Having said that, the Boca Resort itself lives up to the hype. It is a brilliant beach front resort. While the rooms and everything else is slightly ... sometimes shockingly .. over-priced - and the staff could use a minor adjustment in some areas - you will enjoy your stay at the Boca Resort and Beach Club.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
daperlman
|
|
Reviews written: 51
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
Mission: Find recipe for Nabisco Space Foodsticks. Foil conspiracy responsible for disappearance of Foodsticks.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.