Disclosure: While this was not a promotional or hosted trip, I am occasionally approved to book travel under a 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 because making time for each other is absolutely a priority. But everything has been topsy-turvy and that kind of quality time has been scarce. So we talked to my in-laws to try and figure out a time that they could watch over the girls while we got out of town. We decided to stay in state because Florida has so much to offer and there’s so much we haven’t explored! When I realized Curtis had never been to Palm Beach, I zeroed in on it.
I’ve been twice before – once a long while ago on a family trip. And once last fall to launch Sail to Sable’s resort wear. Even so, I still consider myself still getting to know the area. After talking it through we decided we wanted a beach front option, that would be close enough to pop into the town of Palm Beach for shopping and sightseeing. I’d seen Eau Palm Beach, Resort and Spa pop up during my research, and heard so many good things about the resort from friends who have stayed there, and it seemed to fit the bill.
So with three days and two nights cleared with the grandparents to watch Margaret and Catherine, we headed 3.5 hours south 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. I feel like the Eau is a perfect spot for so many reasons and it all boils down to these five categories:
- Location
- Amenities
- Service
- Spa
- Dining
LOCATION: We were pretty sure we wanted to be right on the beach versus at an in town hotel, and once we arrived at the Eau we knew we made the right call. 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 perfect. 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 easy enough and a beautiful drive taking in the views of the coast and the exquisite homes on Billionaires Row. Then we were always so happy to return “home” to the Eau. Being right on the beach, and their private beach at that, is such a perk. If you’re planning a trip in the summer, be prepared to experience sea weed. 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 swimming isn’t always advised. But there were plenty of guests who found time in the tide’s quieter moments to take a dip and it was nice and cool, which can’t always be said for us on the Gulf!
AMENITIES: The more I travel, the more important the amenities are to me. I’ve been nickel and dimed one too many times and that simply won’t happen at the Eau. The rooms are full of whimsical touches, thanks to their collaboration with Jonathan Adler, and the beds even have Frette linens. The high speed WiFi, complimentary beach set-up, kayaks, unlimited tennis time, a fitness center, bikes, 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 AquaNuts facility was getting a huge renovation that should be ready any day now. Kids 5-17 can 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. 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 a treatment is 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! They even have day passes. 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 snoozing 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 restaurants over in the town of Palm Beach, 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. While we’ve traveled way less during the pandemic than we ever did before, we’ve done enough to stay at places that had significantly restricted dining options or schedules, and we did not experience that during our stay at the Eau. 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, Temple Orange, and their breakfast menu was extensive. I loved the Palm Beach Club, and the pancakes. Breeze Ocean kitchen is right on the ocean – that’s where we spotted the family of manatees swimming along the coast. 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 Stir Terrace and enjoyed one of their signature cocktails, Call Me Eau-Fashioned. I love a play on words, and I love an Old Fashioned, and these were delicious. For those traveling with little ones, you’ll be happy to know that kids 3 and under eat free which will be great for Catherine. And we have our eye on the Coastal Kids Meal Program where for $45, kids 4-12 have unlimited daily meals, milk, soda, s’mores, and nightly milk in cookies in the room.
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, and they were never empty. The staff wore masks and when we realized we’d forgotten our masks in the room but needed them for the Uber, 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! Plus the constant background noise of the waves, and the palm trees rustling in the breeze, had us so relaxed. We were sad to leave, but always happy to return to our sweet girls. And Curtis and I both agree that while we found this to be a wonderful place for a romantic getaway, it was also so family friendly, and we hope to bring Margaret and Catherine with us next time!
Take advantage of their best deal right now which is their Stay and Play Longer through September 30th, 2021, for a third night free.