Holly V. Kapherr
Florida has 1,350 miles of coastline, second among U.S. states to only Alaska. But nobody is fighting for a spot to sunbathe there, so it's no surprise that Florida dominated TripAdvisor's 2018 list of the country's best beaches, released last month. Six of the 10 beaches on the list are in Florida, with Hawaii and California taking the other four spots. If clients don't have the inland theme parks on their itinerary, there's a good bet a trip to the beach is top of mind. Here's what's new in each of the list's top Florida beach towns.
No. 1 beach in the U.S.: Clearwater Beach
On a trip to Clearwater, St. Pete's Gulf Coast neighbor to the north, clients can expect just what the moniker suggest: pristine waters. The area has recently shattered tourism records, and hotel developers are going bonkers for the area's remaining land for new hotels. Even some of the area's grande dames are getting face-lifts. All in all, over 2,000 new rooms became available in 2016 and 2017. Openings included the Wyndham Grand Resort, the area's second-biggest hotel with 343 rooms, waterfront views from most rooms, a beachside bar and restaurant and 22,000 square feet of meetings space. In 2019, the JW Marriott Clearwater Beach will be the first five-star property top open in the area, with 166 rooms. Construction began last fall.
No. 2: Siesta Beach, Siesta Key
Siesta Key has long been hailed as one of the state's best strands, but getting around the area is easier than ever. You could rent a bike to pedal from one white-sand waterfront to the next, but the Siesta Key trolley system takes most of the sweat equity out of the equation. The trolleys run seven days per week from 8 a.m. until midnight from Turtle Beach to Siesta Village. Rides are free, and tips aren't accepted. Several businesses on the isle also offer Uber-like golf cart rides where guests can schedule pick-up and drop-offs on their own time. Nearby Sarasota is Siesta Key's closest metropolitan area, and since July 2017, more than 1,000 new hotel rooms have been announced. Opening in May, the 19-floor Embassy Suites by Hilton will offer 180 suites.
The pool deck at the Kimpton Angler's South Beach is just steps from the beach.
No. 4: South Beach, Miami Beach
The vibrancy of South Beach's music, entertainment, shopping and nightlife continues to bolster the popularity of its shores, and 2018 has already seen a burst of new hotel openings and renovations. A resurgence of appreciation for art deco and midcentury modern architecture and design has made South Beach popular with a younger, more aesthetically minded crowd, and hoteliers are taking notice. The Kimpton Angler's South Beach hotel will double its room inventory with a new 85-room tower opening at the Washington Avenue property, just steps from the art deco district of Miami Beach. The new guestrooms, available for bookings starting June 1, will offer floor plans from 400 to 1,000 square feet and sunrise or sunset views, depending on which side of the building it's on. Room offerings at the Kimpton Angler's South Beach also include two-story lofts with spiral staircase, two-story villas and three-story, poolside bungalows with private rooftop terraces.
No. 6: Fort Lauderdale Beach
Long a spring break mecca, the beaches of Fort Lauderdale are generally sleepier than Miami's but no less elegant, thanks to recent upscale offerings along the Gold Coast's north end, including the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, the Atlantic Hotel & Spa, and the W Fort Lauderdale. In fact, the W Fort Lauderdale announced the completion of its $55 million renovation in February. The expansive redesign included the residences, all 517 guestrooms, Living Room, pool deck and meetings spaces. Additionally, the hotel has added an onsite Mexican dining option to complement the current steakhouse, Steak 954. The new boite, El Vez, is an oceanfront restaurant from James Beard Award-winner Stephen Starr. Another new dining option is the fourth-floor sushi bar, helmed by Masaharu Morimoto protege Shuji Hiyakawa.
The W Fort Lauderdale's refreshed Fabulous Oceanfront guestroom overlooks the beach.
No. 7: St. Pete Beach
Parasailing, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding and snorkeling make St. Pete Beach a hotspot for active types looking to soak up some sun while they break a sweat. The soft sand is home to several favorite accommodations, none more recognizable than the 90-year-old Pink Lady, the Loews Don CeSar, which casts a rosy hue over the adjacent sand. New to the area, the 12-story Sugar Sands Resort, operated by TradeWinds Island Resorts, will open in late 2018. The hotel's opening will be the city's first significant debut in over 10 years. The $55 million project includes plans for 217 guestrooms, a spa and fitness center and a bar. Sugar Sands Resort will join sister TradeWinds properties Island Grand and Guy Harvey Outpost.
No. 8: Hollywood Beach
Hollywood is no stranger to awards. In 2013, its boardwalk was named "Florida's Best Beach Boardwalk" by USA Today, and in 2011, the Travel Channel gave it the same distinction. Other awards for the South Florida town include "Best Beach for Families" from Fodor Travel Guide and "America's Best Boardwalks" from Travel & Leisure. The newest urban project is the Hollywood Mural Project, which aims to make the area a hot spot for selfie-snappers looking for the perfect Instagram shot. A new parking garage is also underway, making beach access easier than ever. The $13.3 million construction project will have 304 spaces and will be situated between Nevada and Nebraska streets along A1A.
This story was updated to correctly report that the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Sarasota, near Siesta Beach, would be opening in May. The original story said the hotel had already opened.