Many successful businessmen and women with young children find themselves in a quandary when it comes to planning vacations. They often put in a lot of time at the office, and, while it affords them the ability to take opulent vacations, it also means they're spending less time with their little ones.
The quandary comes because while they don't want to leave the kiddos at home, they also need time away and a break from the kids to rejuvenate. Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach, a luxury seaside haven sitting on 4.5 beachfront acres in pristine Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., combines a luxury hotel with unprecedented accommodations and service, along with a fantastic children's Aquamarine program that allows time with the kids, while also giving the adults some separate grown-up time to themselves.
This elegant Mediterranean villa on the beach has 98 impeccably appointed guest rooms and suites with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. The Aquamarine children's program, complimentary to guests, lets children experience customized, hands-on activities that use computers and an iPad app in arts and crafts projects and outdoor team-building games by the pool and beach. This summer, the program, which teaches kids about marine biology, launched seven new or enhanced themes that include Arctic Fish and Friends, Colorful World of Reefs, Gentle Giants, Pinniped Pals, Predators of the Sea, Save the Sea, and Sea Turtles. The programruns every day for a full day and has a half-day option as well. A special, a la carte gourmet kid's menu is available.
Three oceanfront swimming pools provide havens for relaxation, with one designated as a kid's pool, one a family pool and one adults only. Pool sundries, including suntan lotion and towels, are complimentary, and if you forgot your sunglasses, you can purchase a pair at the Beach Club pool kiosk. Cabanas, which include personalized service and various amenities to make a guest's day in the sun more enjoyable, are available for full-day rentals.
If you need a break after a day with the kids, the Acqualina Resort & Spa provides vetted babysitting services so you may enjoy dinner at one of the hotel's restaurants, including Il Mulino New York, one of New York's most acclaimed Italian restaurants, renowned for its bustling and energetic atmosphere and impeccably polished wait staff. Other resort dining options include Costa Grill, AQ by Acqualina Restaurant, a sushi bar staffed by the talented masters from Hiro's Yakko-San, The Bar at AQ by Acqualina, and room service.
If the spa is your thing, the Acqualina Spa by ESPA awaits. The first ESPA-branded spa in the United States, Acqualina Spa provides guests with an exquisite 20,000-square-foot, two-story tranquil sanctuary of excellence and relaxation, offering 11 multifunctional treatment rooms and an extravagant private spa suite for two, along with the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful outdoor terrace complete with a spa pool, heated jet pool, and Roman waterfall – all set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Atlantic.
Acqualina's 54 guest rooms and 44 suites offer oversized floor plans and private terraces. The celebrated Miami designer Isabel Tragash infused each of the rooms with allusions to surf, sand and water. Treatments include zebra wood, walnut, champagne bronze, smoked glass, chenille velvets, plush satins, bouclé's and exotic woven textiles. Tragash's palette includes sun-bleached grays, taupes, sands and celadons.
Guestrooms offer views of South Florida's Intracoastal Waterway or the ocean. They feature king-size beds, custom curved sofa sleepers, wingback club chairs, smoked glass and bronze metal coffee tables, dressers and desks with bronze glass inlay, desks with integrated media connectivity, high-definition TVs, mini bars, private terraces and bathrooms with marble flooring, double sinks, Jacuzzi whirlpool tubs and glass-enclosed showers.
The suites feature ocean views, king-size beds, separate living rooms, sofa sleepers, club chairs, smoked glass and bronze metal coffee tables, desk chairs and dining chairs, writing desks, taupe lacquer dressers with integrated media connectivity, two high-definition TVs, entertainment units, private terraces and spacious bathrooms with imported marble flooring, double sinks, custom vanity areas, bathtubs and glass-enclosed showers. Many of the suites feature full gourmet kitchens with Sub-Zero built-in refrigerator/freezers, designer granite countertops, Italian limited edition cabinets, microwaves, dishwashers, stainlesssteel sinks and garbage disposers. Some suites feature one-and-a-half bathrooms and a breakfast room.
If shopping is a must, the hotel's Spa Boutique features luxury brands, specialty gift items and resort wear. Nearby the hotel: the Bal Harbour Shops, three miles away, and its lineup of luxury brands, including Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Jimmy Choo, John Varvatos, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
The Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach is a recipient of the coveted Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award, the AAA Five Diamond Award and the Andrew Harper's Reader's Choice Award for Top 20 Beach and Family Resorts. It was also rated the No. 1 beach resort, sparesort and family resort in the world by Trip Advisor. It's 20 minutes from Fort Lauderdale International Airport, 30 minutes from Miami International Airport, and 50 miles from Boca Raton.
