Review of Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, by Hal Peat

Imaginative yet subtle use of space, natural elements and residential design combine to make your arrival at Four Seasons Palm Beach into something more akin to returning to a favored retreat that offers plenty of relaxation and amenities alongside personalized service.

There's none of the intimidation factor of setting foot into the palatial entrance of a grand resort, even though you are in fact being greeted by a doyenne among such world-class luxury hotels. Set well back from busy Florida highway AIA, the hotel's sheltered driveway leads quickly up to a porte cochere which in turn opens into an airy, well-lit lobby and reception. The adjacent public lounge and bar areas exude a quiet elegance and intimacy that balance formal and club-like touches with classic ease. Palm Beach's connection to the ocean is ever apparent at this ground floor level with glimpses of the luxury hotel's nearby beach visible beyond the main restaurant.

The facilities

A major new installation at the resort is the 11,000-square-foot The Spa, which includes separate men's and women's facilities featuring saunas, steam, whirlpools, and some 11 well-equipped treatment rooms. For a more open-air experience, you can also consider booking an outdoor massage or other treatment beneath a privae tented cabana on the pool terrace. In addition to all that there is the full-service fitness center with a complete range of weight and cardio machines for the incurably fit-minded traveler. Resort staff are anxious to assist with any particulars in your immediate travel plans for the day or for the rest of your stay, and very knowledgeable about the city of Palm Beach and surrounding points of interest.

The rooms:

Consistency of style is a key factor in the design and amenities of a Four Seasons room, and this property continues that with its 210 recently redecorated guest rooms and suites while also providing some regional touches. Thus while there are plenty of muted and restful shades of beige, ochre, yellow and rust red around your suite, you can also expect some regional accents to include palm tree and pineapple motifs along with the warmth of mahogany and fruitwood finishes.

Our private balcony provided a direct facing vista out onto the pool area below and the Atlantic Ocean just yards beyond that, while close to the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors was a comfortable sitting area, a work desk with phone and internet access, and an entertainment center that housed a mini-fridge and bar below and color television on top. The full marble bathrooms have double his-and-hers vanities, a full beauty station located opposite these, and additional small amenities such as another television, plush terry robes and slippers and hairdryers, along with toiletries by L'Occitane.