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The Best Luxury Hotels to Book in Florida, USA

The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, is perfect for a luxurious getaway in Florida
The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, is perfect for a luxurious getaway in Florida | © Richard Semik / Alamy Stock Photo

Yes, the Sunshine State’s natural assets are priceless – the rolling blue Atlantic Ocean, sandy beaches as soft as sugar, those endless blue skies. But to seal the deal you need a luxury hotel, with superb swimming pools, gourmet restaurants, and spas that’ll spoil you rotten. These are our top picks for the best luxury hotels in Florida.

Acqualina Resort and Spa, for a world-class spa in Sunny Isles Beach

Spa Hotel, Luxury

Serene room in white and silver with oceanfront balcony at Acqualina Resort and Residences on the Beach in North Miami Beach
Courtesy of Acqualina Resort and Residences on the Beach / Hotels.com

Bright red beach chairs are a staple on the sands of the 4.5 acres (1.8ha) Acqualina Resort in Miami’s Sunny Isles Beach – a standout feature best seen framing breathtaking Atlantic Ocean views from the elevated floors of this 54-room high-rise property. When guests aren’t indulging in elegant Japanese fusion at Ke-Uh restaurant or al fresco beachfront dining at Il Mulino New York, they’re likely holed up in the richly-appointed guest rooms curated by famed Miami designer Isabel Tragash or the world-class spa. Either way, the gilded wrought-iron gates leading to this luxurious waterfront escape tend to function one-way only.

Faena Miami Beach, for a world-class on-site theater in Miami Beach

Resort

The Argentine-steeped luxury of Buenos Aires’ Faena family is a perfect fit for Florida, where their decadent design, luxe amenities, and legendary service serve a sophisticated cavalcade of Miami Beach trendsetters. The Baz Luhrmann- and Catherine Martin-designed interiors are awash in art deco accents, 1950’s European glamor, and the brand’s signature red color scheme, evoking a bygone era feel with whimsical artistic flourishes throughout. The $1 billion, six-block project also features an arts center and world-class theater.

Mr C Miami Coconut Grove, for Italian vibes in Miami

Boutique Hotel, Luxury

Bright living space with a light-toned sofa and chairs, a wooden table, a flat screen TV and a balcony at Mr C Miami
Courtesy of Mr C Miami / Expedia

Fourth-generation hoteliers Ignazio and Maggio Cipriani are the faces behind this lavish South Florida choice where old-school Italian hospitality meets modern luxury against a backdrop of Biscayne Bay and the Coconut Grove skyline. Stylish European glamor pervades inside the 100 gorgeous blue guestrooms and suites, all of which feature private outdoor terraces, impossibly sumptuous bedding, and hexagonal bathroom tiling. Classic staples highlight a homeland-heavy menu at Bellini, the rustic, yacht-inspired dining room that tops Mr C’s roof. Together, a night here will have you feeling like Clooney in Como.

The Chesterfield Palm Beach, for on-site live music in Palm Beach

Hotel

Elegant cream-toned suite with a comfortable living space with three chairs and a couch, a patterned carpet and a patterned wallpaper at the Chesterfield Palm Beach
Courtesy of The Chesterfield Palm Beach / Expedia
Old-world British extravagance (classic English afternoon tea, Rolls Royce at the ready) and Southern flair (sun-soaked courtyard and swimming pool, palm-fringed exteriors) are blended seamlessly at the 53-room Chesterfield in Palm Beach. Set in a 1920’s Mediterranean revival-style structure, the Chesterfield exudes historic charm coupled with refined modern amenities and sophisticated service dressed up in the playful color schemes of coastal Florida – powder blue, green apple, and candy-stripe pink. The al fresco dining courtyard and live music in the legendary Leopold Lounge are stages for one of the classiest see-and-be-seen congregations in Palm Beach.

The Villa Casa Casuarina, for a celebrity mansion stay

Boutique Hotel, Hotel, Villa, Luxury

Luxurious bedroom with a royalty-like bed and gold furnishings at Villa Casa Casuarina
Courtesy of the Villa Casa Casuarina / Expedia

Madonna, Naomi Campbell, Elton John, and Princess Diana are just some of the famous names that Gianni Versace hosted at his Ocean Drive mansion in the 1990s. Now a hotel, the Mediterranean revival villa is still sprinkled with stardust memories, which you’ll realize as you swim in the mosaic pool lined with tiles from Italy. Book Gianni’s Suite and discover what it’s like to call a mansion home. Your stay includes exclusive access to the Rooftop Lounge and the restaurant Gianni’s at the Villa.

Costa d'Este Beach Resort and Spa, for a superb spa

Luxury

Modern bedroom with a double bed with wooden headboard, marble floors, a flat screen TV and an oceanfront balcony at Costa dEste Beach Resort and Spa
Courtesy of Costa d'Este Beach Resort and Spa / Expedia

As you might expect of a place with Tesla charging stations, guests used to living in the lap of luxury adore Costa d’Este. That luxury is part-natural – Vero Beach is magical, from yoga at dawn until the tangerine glow of dusk. Book an Ocean Cabana King for direct access or, more affordably, an Oceanfront with balcony views of the pool and the Atlantic. The food is great, too – try the filet mignon at the Wave restaurant – but the spa’s the star. Book a four-treatment day package.

The Ritz-Carlton South Beach, for sumptuous suite comforts

Luxury

White and blue themed bedroom with an oceanfront balcony at Ritz-Carlton, South Beach
Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach / Expedia

The Ritz-Carlton is synonymous with luxury, so it’s only natural that their South Beach property should be a Miami landmark. Choose between suites overlooking either South Beach or the pool – either way, you’ll get a private balcony, a marble bathroom with a standalone tub, and the coolest, creamiest white interiors to recline in. The spa elevates your holiday with treatments that revive your muscles and your mental state. That just leaves nights of rum cocktails to enjoy at Lapidus Bar.

Playa Largo Resort and Spa, for customized spa treatments

Luxury

A large white double bed in a room with light blue walls, a cream carpet, a blue sofa, dark wood dressers and a flat screen TV at Playa Largo Resort and Spa
Courtesy of Playa Largo Resort and Spa, Autograph Collection / Expedia

Welcome to your own private tropical Key Largo oasis: 177 rooms, suites, bungalows, and a beach house on the Florida Bay side of the Overseas Highway. The Hammocks – the beach bungalows – are super-secluded, surrounded by lush foliage. But we’re happiest at the convivial Sand Bar, toasting the sunset with an Aperol spritz. Hit Ocean Spa for customized, self-guided treatments, or swap sandals for smart attire and dine on a wasabi tuna burger at Sol by the Sea.

The Henderson, for multiple on-site restaurants

Luxury

Spacious bedroom with a double bed with wooden headboard, a blue patterned carpet, a cream sofa, light green walls and a balcony at the Henderson, a Salamander Beach and Spa Resort
Courtesy of the Henderson, A Salamander Beach and Spa Resort / Expedia

On the top side of the Gulf of Mexico, Destin is a world away from Disney – think dunes and nature trails. The Henderson cuts a grand figure, with its wind-buffeted grey facades. Rooms and suites are plushly carpeted, with timber-frame beds you’d expect in a ski resort. The Emerald Coast waters glitter, beckoning you with boogie-boarding and beachside bike rides. You’ll return famished – luckily, restaurants include Primrose, for sushi, and Horizons, for hand-shucked oysters.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, for family vacations

Resort

Cream and blue toned bedroom with a double bed, sofa, writing desk, and private balcony at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Orlando at WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort / Expedia

Enter a world of magic at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort – the Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy and his pals will get your children smiling. Set on Disney property, this Four Seasons caters just as much to adults, with its rooftop steakhouse and its spa offering exquisite exfoliation treatments and vibrational sound therapy. There’s an adults-only pool – but you’d have to be a meanie not to join the kids on a fun float down the lazy river.

Kevin Raub contributed additional reporting to this article.

For more stylish hotels in Florida, check out our guide to the most beautiful boutique hotels to book in Florida, bookable with Culture Trip. Exploring more of the Sunshine State? Check into one of the best hotels in Vero Beach.

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