Which is a good resort in Florida

[tonik Member Find all posts View Profile Close tonik]

What is a great resort in Florida for relaxation without many children for the month of April, May within reach from Nashville.

Have a friend with Southwest miles they need to use so they are looking to go somewhere relaxing, just the two of them (a couple) to relax, chill out, and a nice beach comes to mind.

Booked Ocean Palms with a cancellation package for them but it appears to be older and not as nice as some of the other resorts. It is hard to see as I have deposited my Wyndham points and I can't see the resorts.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

No Kids is relaxation. Forget Orlando if you want to relax go to Sanibel or Marco Island.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Vero Beach is also nice and very quiet.

[tonik Member Find all posts View Profile Close tonik]

Good resort in Florida

Frank, Sanible and Marco Island sounds great but aren't they sort of away from the airport, like 3 hours?

Vero beach, although about an hour from Orlando sounds good too. Actually, forgot to mention earlier that I own a week at the driftwood Inn and have been wanting to go there. The problem is I have it during the hurricane season (the end of Aug.) so I always trade and it trades very well. Also, I only have a studio but should see if there is a trade for at least a one bedroom and visit one day. The place just looks so cool being historic and only 2 stories.

Thanks so much. You guys are great with your responses.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

You would fly into Fort Myers for Sanibel or Marco Island. Florida is a very big state, it takes us 6 hours (all expressway) to drive to our house once we cross the border on I75 and more if we arrive in the Panhandle area.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Also try for Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Anna Maria Island. Some beachfront, but many are across the road from the beach. Reachable from Bradenton/Sarasota airport or Tampa.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Tonik,
Southwest flies into Ft. Lauderdale. They might like Hollywood or Pompano beach. I know Wyndham has several resorts in Pompano.

My favorite resort in Hollywood is an old converted motel (Enchanted Isle) but it's my second home in the summer and that stretch of the beach is still not as developed as other areas so you get that Old Florida feel to it. If they get a room in the main building they will be right on the sand. Very friendly staff and cozy place. My elderly parents love the place too.
We've bought several weeks there that we use ourselves.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

If you fly into Orlando, I would go to Cocoa Beach. Several really nice rsorts there, nice beaches, other sightseeing opportunities.

[tonik Member Find all posts View Profile Close tonik]

Florida places to stay

Chris, you are right, SW does fly directly into Ft. Lauderdale, along with Orlando and Jacksonville. Pompano/Hollywood Beach is where I booked it for May 22nd at the Ocean Palm. Not hearing anything good about the place. All of your suggestions are good. Vero Beach, Cocoa Beah( just need to change the time to when the kiddies are in school), Ft. Meyers for Sanibel. I will have to check out the Enchanted Isle as my friends are flexible on the dates.

Wishing I was at a beach as it is freezing here in Nashville, although we do have sunshine today

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Tonik,

All the cheap airlines go to Ft. Lauderdale not Miami so I am very used to going out of Ft. Lauderdale. It's actually a nice airport, very manageable.
Much easier to do International customs thru there too compared to Miami.

I've heard good things about Wyndhams Royal Vista although I have not stayed there yet but will soon since I am now a Wyndham owner.
I have stayed at La Costa (do not send them there). The place is a mess, needs alot of maintenance.

It's 43 degrees here in Sunny South Florida today so my heater is on.
I hope that makes you feel better about your cold spell.

[tonik Member Find all posts View Profile Close tonik]

Tonik,

All the cheap airlines go to Ft. Lauderdale not Miami so I am very used to going out of Ft. Lauderdale. It's actually a nice airport, very manageable.
Much easier to do International customs thru there too compared to Miami.

I've heard good things about Wyndhams Royal Vista although I have not stayed there yet but will soon since I am now a Wyndham owner.
I have stayed at La Costa (do not send them there). The place is a mess, needs alot of maintenance.

It's 43 degrees here in Sunny South Florida today so my heater is on.
I hope that makes you feel better about your cold spell.

Yes, I have heard about the Miami airport so I avoid it like a plague! Will put in a request for Wyndham Royal Vista and also Santa Barbara as those two get very good ratings. Wyndham from what I hear is pushy but if you can just avoid those sales people Wyndham can be a good deal. If you place a studio unit, Red (71,000 points) in RCI, you are eligible for high points and it will trade for a two bedroom, 2 bath at some great resorts.

Sorry you are having cold weather too! A friend called from Key west and it is in the 50-60 degrees range, pouring down rain. We would love to have a little warmer weather here in Nashville. It has been in the teens at night.

[cleondann Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cleondann]

Orlando is most famous what i heard. i never go there. I m a really busy person but some how i had a trip to ubud Indonesia last month. boutique hotels in bali are great in accommodation and services.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

SWFL, Englewood to Marco.

Airport is not that important as you will need a rental car anyway.

We fly into St. Pete/Clearewater or Orlando. We are heading back home later today.

[Jennie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jennie]

The Ocean Palms building is very nice. Don't worry at all about booking there. It is located on the same property as the Wyndham Sea Gardens Resort, which receives mixed reviews because some of those units are older and not always upgraded. But the Ocean Palms is the newest and nicest building. The reviews are excellent when not lumped together with the Sea Garden reviews. It is located in Pompano which is just a few miles north of Ft. Lauderdale along A1A, the road that parallels the ocean as it passes through many towns.

You have free and secure indoor parking in the Ocean Palms building. The units are quite spacious and very modern. The kitchen is large, with modern appliances, granite counter tops, and tile floors. There's a stackable washer and dryer at one end of the kitchen. The bathroom is huge and the bedroom has a whirlpool tub. Each unit has a terrace with excellent views of either the ocean (one block away) or the Intercoastal waterway, where you can watch luxury yachts sail by all day. Many units have access to the terrace from the bedroom and also from the living room.

The Sea Gardens grounds, which are shared with the Ocean Palms building, are very nicely landscaped, with meandering paths. There are 4 swimming pools, 3 of which are heated. Each pool has a whirlpool section. There's an on-site snack restaurant, and free wi-fi in and outside the Front Desk area. The staff is very friendly and helpful and there are a lot of planned activities (free or low cost). A lovely Atlantic Ocean beach is right across the street.

With your guest card, you are welcome to use the facilities of the nearby Wyndham "sister resorts"--Royal Vista, Santa Barbara, and, a bit further away, Palm Aire which is great for golfers.

There are many nice restaurants nearby--casual and formal. There's tours arranged by the resort to the Everglades, Miami, Key West, etc... There's lots of shopping, and water sports.

We own several timeshare weeks but the 4 we own in the Ocean Palms in February are near the top of our list of favorites. They were bought one by one on Ebay after years of staying at many other timeshares in the area. It's not a Marriott or Hilton but it is an excellent place. When we come in February, there are almost no children, except for a few during President's week. We have never encountered any rowdiness or excessive noise. Most of the owners are age 50 and up and are a very friendly group.

I hope you haven't cancelled your reservation. I am sure anyone staying here will have a wonderful vacation.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Jennie,
Thanks for the great review of the resort.
Sounds like a place I'll try this year.
I'm sure my Mom will love it.
Always looking for senior friendly trips for Mom.