Disclosure: While this was not a promotional or hosted trip, I am occasionally approved to book under a travel media rate, as was the case in this stay. Thank you for valuing my recommendations and reviews and for continuing to support partnerships with brands I trust and endorse.
Curtis and I used to be so diligent about date nights and getaways but like many people that kind of quality time has been scarce. But we lined up grandparents to watch over the girls and managed to get out of town. We decided to stay in state when I realized Curtis had never been to Palm Beach, and away we went!
Even though we both grew up here, as of this trip, I have only been twice before. Once on a family trip long ago, and once in fall of 2020 to launch Sail to Sable’s resort wear collection. Even so, I still consider myself still getting to know the area. After talking it through we decided we wanted a beach front option, and one that is close enough to spend time on Worth Avenue for shopping and sightseeing. I’d seen Eau Palm Beach, Resort and Spa during my research, and heard so many good things about the resort from friends who have stayed there.
So with three days and two nights all to ourselves, we headed 3.5 hours across the state to the Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa. I know a lot of people are in the process of planning all sorts of trips from bachelorette parties and girls’ weekends, to romantic getaways and family vacations and after our time there I feel like the Eau is a perfect spot for so many reasons. It all boils down to these five categories:
- Location
- Amenities
- Service
- Spa
- Dining
LOCATION: Once we arrived at the Eau we knew we made the right choice. When we checked in, we looked left to see the beautiful Atlantic and for the rest of our stay we were mesmerized by the endless expanse of the ocean at every turn – even from the balcony of our room. We were in an Ocean Front King which was a perfect size. The only other room I’d consider splurging for next time, especially if we bring the girls, is a Lanai Terrace King (or Double) that is on the ground floor and opens up to walk out right to the pools and beaches. The resort is 20 minutes from Palm Beach Airport for those flying in, and 20 minutes south of the town of Palm Beach, so we popped over there for shopping and dining. It was an easy and beautiful drive taking in the views of the coast and the iconic estates on “Billionaires Row.” We were always so happy to return “home” to the Eau. If you’re planning a trip in the summer, some sea weed on the beach is a possibility. If you followed my stories you may have noticed it the first day I shared but by the third it was gone. Even when it was there, it didn’t impact our experience at all. Also it is worth noting that the Atlantic can be rougher than the Gulf, so pay attention to any flags or advisories. But it is a perfect location for snorkeling or curling up with a book by the waves (if you’re me). It was also the most pleasant temperature, which can’t always be said for us on the Gulf during the summer months!
AMENITIES: The more I travel, the more important the amenities are to me. The rooms are full of whimsical touches, thanks to their collaboration with Jonathan Adler, and the beds even have Frette linens. There is no resort fee, yet there are plenty of included amenities to make your stay as comfortable as possible like high speed WiFi, complimentary beach set-up, kayaks, tennis courts, fitness center with free classes, complimentary bikes, valet that is included (one car per reservation) as well as tea and coffee in the morning. All of that is included without a resort fee which makes this luxury resort truly splurge worthy. The two pools are both lovely and we enjoyed having the option to skip over to the adult pool – something we don’t get to enjoy very often! While you can go down to the beach and get set up right by the waves, you can also lounge on the upper deck by the pool where you’re facing the water and enjoying the beach, without committing fully to the sand. Margaret loves a kid’s club and the facility was getting a huge renovation. Kids 3-12 will be able to participate in supervised activities with resort staff members which means mom and dad can get some alone time, even on a family vacation!
SERVICE: We hesitated slightly in booking because over the years, Curtis and I have gotten comfortable with brands we know and we weren’t sure what to expect from an independent hotel. You can have the prettiest resort, and top notch amenities, but bad service can really put a damper on things. The service at the Eau was absolutely wonderful. We spent a lot of our time by the pool and beach and everyone we encountered was attentive and thoughtful. They made sure we had whatever we needed, and what I needed was their spicy watermelon margaritas!
SPA: Spa is literally in the hotel’s name so I knew it had to be good! My sister had been before and I remember her telling me all about the swings and dipping pools in the central garden and I couldn’t wait to see it for myself. The hotel treated me to their Eau So Cool Facial and as someone who usually leans toward getting massages, I would highly recommend this facial because it heavily incorporates massage and leaves your skin feeling rejuvenated. My aesthetician Olga did a wonderful job explaining the treatment and customizing the sensory experiences to my preferences. I felt the glow for days after! While the treatments are important to me, the spa space is – dare I say it – just as important to me! I’m in it for the treatment but I’m also all about the facilities, and the Eau Spa has it all! Of course they have showers and changing rooms, so if you’re somewhat local you could really make a day of it! Beyond that they also have a hot tub, sauna, and steam room. One of the most unique parts of the spa is the central garden that is a co-ed space, and I saw cute couples having lunch and champagne in their robes. Curtis had opted to spend more time on the beach, so I treated myself to a moment of Zen, hanging in the swings, dipping my toes in the water, and enjoying the free flowing bubbly!
DINING: As much as we knew we’d want to try out some of the Palm Beach restaurants, we also knew we wanted to stay at a place that had enough to offer that we never needed to leave if we didn’t want to. The only thing we missed out on was Angle, their fine dining restaurant with an emphasis on farm-to-table and Florida agriculture. They’re open Tuesday – Saturday and have a special Champagne Bar. That just means we’ll have to come back! We loved their main restaurant their breakfast menu was extensive. Breeze Ocean kitchen is right on the ocean – we even spotted a family of manatees swimming along the shore. I loved the Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl, the Waygu Hot Dog, the Shrimp Cocktail, and the tacos. We got poolside service every day, and I’ll never forget when they brought my conch fritters right to me as I perched in the adult pool. One night we hung out on the terrace and enjoyed one of their signature cocktails, Call Me Eau-Fashioned. I love a play on words almost as much as I love an Old Fashioned, the view of the ocean was a cherry on top. For those traveling with little ones, you’ll be happy to know that kids 5 and under eat free with a purchase of an adult entree.
Overall our stay at the Eau was everything we hoped for. We wanted to feel completely out of our normal routine and this really did it for us. The property is mindful of health and safety protocols to ensure the comfort and safety of their guests. There were hand sanitizers all around, the staff wore masks and when we needed extras, the front desk was quick to provide them for us.
Curtis and I both commented a few times that there was something about the property that made us feel like we’d left the country! The sound of the waves, the palm trees rustling in the breeze, and all the special touches had us so relaxed and sad to leave, though we are always happy to return to our sweet girls. Curtis and I both agree that while we found this to be a wonderful place for a romantic getaway, it also seems so family friendly, and we hope to bring Margaret and Catherine with us next time!
