A weekend in Wynwood is just enough time to take in the blocks of street art, shops, museums, and dining. The best place – and only luxury hotel to stay at is the Arlo Wynwood, an experience-driven hotel that opened on November 1, 2022. 

Located in the heart of Wynwood, the hotel is the first in Miami’s preeminent creative and cultural district, currently home to the world’s largest concentration of street art. We quickly checked in to the 217-room, nine-story hotel, marveling at the outdoor mural, soaring lobby, and digital wall art.

Designed by Nicholas Architects, a distinguished Miami-based architecture firm with over 55 years of experience in the hospitality sector, Arlo Wynwood draws on the neighborhood’s curated artistic nature and an eclectic industrial aesthetic of organic meets modern. Meyer Davis was responsible for the exceptional interior design of the building, contributing significantly to its overall appeal.

The sleek elevator has a bullet-proof security entry system that whisks you to your floor; artist Brooke Einbender designed each of the elevators with 3D decals that reflect the intersection of where art and technology meet. 

Once in the room, we liked the metal hat rack and slatted wood cabinet with a well-stocked coffee and snack station. The king-sized bed had luxe white linens and a padded headboard with various lighting setups. A huge TV is anchored on one wall. The white and gray tiled bath is modern and stocked with products and towels. 

The best feature is the balcony with two seats and a grand view of the sprawling, colorful city. From the 7th floor, it was a clear shot of the bay and the gleaming towers that defined the new Miami skyline. Watching the city change from day to night, with views of courtyards and penthouses, was a thrill.

After checking, we returned to the lobby to eat at MaryGold’s, led by James Beard alum Chef Brad Kilgore. Their modern American cuisine pulls from Miami and the melting pot of flavors that make up the country’s culture. Kilgore, a James Beard “Best Chef: South” nominee and Food & Wine “Best New Chefs in America” alumnus, has been credited for helping define the Miami dining scene. We scanned the menu of locally caught seafood, homemade pasta, and numerous small and large plates.

Brunch has beignets with dipping sauces, salads, brioche French toast, egg dishes of benedicts, frittatas, and something called eggs in purgatory. Super delicious blueberry muffins were warm and fruity, and the almond latte was one of the best I’ve ever had. Later, we feasted on prawn cocktails, ravioli with creamed sweet corn, and spicy brown butter for dinner. Desert was chocolate cake and sorbets.

We made our way up to the pool to check out the 360 view with cabanas and lounge chairs. Arlo’s 76-foot-long heated pool is the property’s crown jewel, with resort vibes in the city’s heart. A full-service menu has Asian beef skewers, roasted chicken wings, tuna poke guacamole, and more to go with wine, beer, cocktails, juices, and soft drinks. 

Art is everywhere—the hotel has more than 250 works of art throughout. On the serene yoga deck, Florida-based collage artist Ari Robinson created a plexiglass mural featuring overlapping organic shapes of varying sizes and hues.

The property’s exterior walls feature works by Miami-based artist Hoxxoh, known for his “spheres of life” that illustrate the motions of space and time, and MILAGROS Collective, whose co-founders Felici Asteinza and Joey Fillastre created site-specific work that explores the history of the community through striking arrangements of color and lines. 

Photo Gallery

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Venturing out to see the top attractions in the area, we visited Aliona Ortega Fine Art gallery, whose current show, “Songsforstarlings,” was of elegant dark, moody paintings by Psychedelic Furs singer / visual artist Richard Butler (who prefers to call himself “a painter who sings”). A black and white video of him singing and painting his visage runs on a loop in the back.

“When I was a child in rural England, starlings would flock in the thousands on telephone wires. It presaged the beginning of winter, and it invoked a certain sense of melancholy. I would like to think the paintings do the same — a certain sense of beauty, yet sadness simultaneously,” Butler says of the show.  

Ortega says, “I try to stay with art, not street artists per se. I work mainly with painters, sculptures, photographers, and designers who create functional art.”

“It was scary to start a gallery in Wynwood back in the days,” she says. “But I’ve been in the art business a long time. I’m working with new artists that have joined the gallery. I just finished a solo exhibition by Luis Garcia Nerey, whom I’ve known for a long time.  On view through Miami Art Week is Butler’s show, and afterward, I’ll have a group exhibit. I enjoy doing group shows because you make your own story with different art, creating a dialogue between the works of artists that are very different. It’s an enjoyable, curatorial exercise.”

“We built our business around second Saturday art walks here. It was always a new show, always crowds guaranteed that came to see the galleries. There were more than 80 at one point. Around 2017, landlords increased the rent so galleries couldn’t survive. Many went north to little Haiti or west to Alapattah, but then came back as more upscale places like condos and offices opened here.”

Ortega says a lot of people from New York are now here, along with the new high-tech businesses. 

“I’m happy that we’re still here; I enjoy the fact that people are walking around this neighborhood, and there’s the sea and major museums close by.”

Other top attractions are the Museum of Graffiti, Wynwood Walls, art galleries, the Oasis shops, and Panther Coffee with fun 3D art by Mark Diamond.

Arlo Wynwood has partnered with internationally recognized L.A.-based artist and painter ThankYouX, a leader in the NFT space who is bridging the gap between the traditional art and crypto worlds, to create a brand-new mural on the rooftop called “Want to Be Reminded.” ThankYouX’s creation will showcase the energy and movement around the city by incorporating unique color schemes that represent both the hotel and the neighborhood. The mural will be unveiled on Wednesday, December 6, during a free event – open to the public – from 6-9 p.m.

Online at www.arlohotels.com. On Instagram: @arlohotels @marygoldsbrasserie 

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All Andy Warhol- and Keith Haring-style prints, bold patterns, primary colors and mid-century mod design, the structure DePiazza has designed looks and feels like a museum exhibit dedicated to all of those cultural influences.

Oh, and then there’s the fact that it’s all housed in nine shipping containers — proudly rusted out, mind you, as far as DePiazza is concerned. The display certainly stands out in this sedate residential neighborhood populated mostly by modest old Florida stuccos or split-level ranches off U.S. 1 in St. Augustine.

Converted container homes, with their utilitarian and stark industrial aesthetics, have been catching on in communities all over the country.

When DePiazza first built the home at 1369 Prince Road, he intended for it to solely be his family home, a replacement to the residence he’d lived in for more than three decades adjacent to the property that was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Since the structure was completed in February of this year, he considered sharing his creation with others and renting it out on Airbnb.com whenever he travels. After getting the proper permitting in place, the listing is already up on the short-term rental website.

“A lot of people are always very curious about it, especially what it’s like on the inside,” said DePiazza.

They’re not alone.

According to a recent survey by Airbnb.com, 21% of travelers said different kinds of accommodations appeal to them: out-of-the-ordinary spaces like farms and yurts, tree houses and, yes, shipping containers.

In the first half of 2021, nights booked at unique listings grew 45% compared to 2019, and the number of searches for unique listings grew 94% compared to the same period in 2019, according to Airbnb.

For $350 a night, guests at what DePiazza calls his PRCH (Prince Road Container House) get 1,600 square feet of living space with room to sleep six, including a landing-pad lounge; a restored 1957 jukebox; retro-style dining booth/counter; BOSE sound system; Viking gas range; and a large collection of art.

Guests can also take advantage of the PRCH’s unusual deck space, which includes a barbecue, as well as kayaks to launch in the waterway nearby.

For several years, DePiazza played with the idea of a shipping container home. With the help of friend and architect Stephen Bender, he figured out the logistics of the project.

The longtime owner of Screen Arts, DePiazza has operated a successful graphics screen-printing business in West Augustine for years. The space has also acted as an art gallery as well, showcasing local and national art pieces known for their edginess and innovation.

In the process, DePiazza’s own love for collecting pop-culture art has helped him amass a large collection, which he wanted to creatively display in his dream home.

His daughter, Gisella, 19, a sophomore at the University of Florida, also played a part in giving her dad ideas and he said their collective vision for the space “just brought it all together.”

As far as the final result, Gisella said, she and her friends think it’s “really cool; people are just really interested in places that are kind of different,” as she stopped to point out some of the original raw surfacing of the shipping containers that is still visible within the walls of the house.

Wanting to travel more in the near future, DePiazza said, he decided to take a chance and put the property up on Airbnb. Just a week later, he’s already received a number of confirmations upcoming stays.

A condominium that sleeps six in a similar area of St. Augustine to DePiazza’s listing typically goes for between $150 and $200 a night on Airbnb, while a single-family residential home in the vicinity is upwards about $250.

DePiazza said he’s hoping to have the reason to both go off exploring new destinations on his own while getting to share the house-slash-museum he’s taken so much pride in building and that others might enjoy as well.

It appears others agree.

The PRCH is already booked for the holidays.

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St. Augustine Airbnb shipping container a hit with ’60s pop art

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Hollywood’s flattering spotlight has put small towns on the map, like Wilmington, North Carolina, from “Dawson’s Creek” and the woods of Senoia, Georgia, from “The Walking Dead.” And that’s exactly what travel marketers in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida, were hoping to capitalize on when they commissioned an original, scripted TV series, seeking to draw quarantine-weary tourists to the area’s sugar sand beaches.

“Life’s Rewards” aired on Amazon Prime last month. The eight-episode show is based on a charming yet cavalier wealth manager who loses his money and uses travel rewards points to stay at the posh, pink Don CeSar hotel while rebuilding his life.

Each episode is only eight to 14 minutes long, and was filmed using a local production company, director and actors. The series cost roughly a million dollars to create, with contributions from the city and the state’s tourism arm.

Some of the “ad” spots woven throughout the dialogue are obvious, like the random episode about the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center. But the characters quickly pivot back to plot-forwarding dialogue. It’s a quick-hit ad versus the sustained 15- to 30-second hard sell of conventional commercials.

At other times, the settings feel natural, like the gay nightclub Blur or a tour of the colorful WhimzeyLand “bowling ball house” in an episode featuring a scavenger hunt. Even the countless gratuitous beach shots mostly feel believable.

“I’m watching something and I’m drawn into the show because of the story line, but also the places I’m seeing in front of me,” said Steve Hayes, president of Visit St. Pete Clearwater, who noted that he and his wife frequently talked about visiting Wyoming while watching their favorite show, “Yellowstone.”

While sometimes awkward, the characters in “Life’s Rewards” refer to every destination in the scene by name. There were no fake dive bars or coffee shops.

“You start to build, ‘Hey, this looks like a really cool place I want to visit,’ and it’s in the background,” said Hayes. “It’s not in the front where you want to go through and hit the fast-forward button.”

It’s too soon to gauge whether the series has impacted tourism, or even how widely it was viewed.

The hospitality industry was hit hard by the pandemic, and tourist towns are eager to seize on the new willingness to travel. That’s put more pressure on destinations to market outside the box.

“Every single destination in the world is now looking for that tourism boom. I think it’s more important than it ever has been,” said Alexandra Delf, executive vice president for London-based Grifco, a travel marketing firm.

Movie- and TV-inspired travel is so popular that the firm is using pandemic binge shows to promote its biggest clients. Promotional ads note that scenes from Netflix’s “Bridgerton” were filmed near The Gainsborough Bath Spa. “Game of Thrones” packages at Slieve Donard Resort and Spa tout tours where notable scenes were filmed nearby, including Robb Stark’s battle camp and “Red Wedding.”

With travel halted during the pandemic, scenic destinations felt even more aspirational.

“A lot of what we do in travel marketing is selling that dream of relaxation,” said Delf. “It gives them something to look forward to.”

The production company behind the Florida show said scripted shows are a new genre for travel marketing, and that they’re already in talks to shoot some for other cities in the state.

“We don’t want people to feel marketed to. We want them to feel lost in the story line and get invested in the characters like any other show on streaming or TV, but we’re providing a positive context for our destination,” said Brianne Maciejowski, director of film and video for Odyssey Studios.

Consumers retain far more from branded content compared to traditional advertising, she said. The Florida TV series ended with a cliffhanger, so a sequel is still possible.

“Part of our business model is to help destinations find a voice in this entertainment-first world,” said Maciejowski. “There’s a lot more in our future.”

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Life’s Rewards: St. Pete writes Amazon TV series to lure tourists

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The non-profit Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation recently acquired the vintage Lincoln Cosmopolitan stretch limo from a private collector in Texas. The vehicle was based in New York City during Truman’s presidency, which ran from 1945-1953. Its new home is the Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West.

The car, which has about 32,000 original miles (51,000 kilometers) on its odometer, features an intercom system, interior privacy shield, security elements, and an airflow controller for the president’s comfort.

“This limo is one of nine situated at different cities throughout the United States for use by the president when he would travel to different locations,” Little White House museum operations director Clinton Curry said. “Back in that period, the presidential limousine did not travel on the presidential plane.”

Limo rides are part of the museum’s new small-group White Glove Tour, where participants can view galleries of Truman objects not on public display. They can even wear white gloves to hold presidential belongings, like Truman’s prized whiskey jigger.

“Truman made 11 presidential visits to Key West totaling 175 days of his presidency, essentially running the United States right here from the Key West Little White House,” Curry said.

Restored to its Truman-era appearance, the Little White House showcases artifacts including the former president’s handmade poker table, one of the tropical shirts he wore in Key West, and the desk where he carried out his official duties.

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Florida Keys visitors can ride in President Truman limousine

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It’s compared to sugar, and is so white it’s almost blinding in bright sunlight. And people who have been cooped up because of stay at home orders can once again go walk along with it and hear the unique sound the beach makes when bare feet sink in the sand.

“It’s that fine powdery sand that talks to you,” said Dave Rauschkolb, a restaurant owner, surfer and beach enthusiast who lives nearby. “The ‘squeak,’ ‘squeak,’ ‘squeak’ of the sand when you walk in it.”

It’s a large reason the beach was picked as the best in the United States by Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman, a coastal scientist and professor at Florida International University, who has been ranking the nation’s beaches for 30 years.

“It’s some of the finest white sand in the world. The first time I saw it I felt like I had to put on sunglasses it was so bright. Some people thought it was snow. I said, ‘No that’s not snow!’” Leatherman said with a laugh. “The sand is the highest quality in the world. It’s a pure quartz crystal.”

It is one of two Florida beaches that were on the 2020 list, along with Caladesi Island State Park at No. 6. The other beaches on the list, in order, are Lifeguarded Beach on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina; Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York; Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Oahu, Hawaii; Lighthouse Beach in Buxton, North Carolina; Hapuna Beach on Big Island, Hawaii; Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Coronado Beach in San Diego, California; and Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

Leatherman says he gives bonus points for beaches where smoking is banned and that are staffed with lifeguards, which elevated the North Carolina beaches.

“Beaches are not big, giant ashtrays, and that’s what some people use them for, which is really disgusting,” Leatherman said.

Grayton Beach State Park won the list’s top spot — even without a smoking ban — based on its sheer beauty. Beyond the sand, it has crystal clear emerald water, freshwater ponds that are a geological rarity, and towering dunes that are unique along Florida’s 1,350 miles (2,170 kilometers) of coastline.

Even the walk from the parking lot is special, said Rauschkolb.

“You have to take what I call the tree tunnel trail,” he said. “You can just walk in this little wonderland under the canopy of the scrub oak and poke your head out and suddenly see the Gulf.”

While there are currently some restrictions at the nearly 2,000-acre (809- hectare) park because of the coronavirus outbreak, it is open. Groups larger than 10 are not allowed and the park is controlling capacity to allow for social distancing. Cabins and camping are temporarily closed.

In normal times, the park attracts 500 to 1,000 people during peak summer days. But with 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) of beach and plenty of trails, it doesn’t get overcrowded, said Ben Faure, who manages 37 state parks in the Panhandle for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

“Grayton Beach is one of the gems along the Emerald Coast of Florida,” Faure said. “We like to call it a desert oasis. It really is a unique place with the sugar-white sands that are almost 99.9% pure quartz. Your feet squeak as you walk on the beach, it’s so pure.”

Lynn Cherry, a board member of the nonprofit support group Florida Parks Foundation, lives about an hour from the park and has visited many times.

“Oh, the fishing is great at Grayton Beach! I have caught lots of fish at Grayton Beach State Park,” Cherry said.

And the Gulf of Mexico tends to have calmer surf than Florida’s Atlantic Ocean beaches.

“On a typical day, it’s a nice surf and very enjoyable swimming,” she said.

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Grayton Beach No. 1 in top-10 US list by “Dr. Beach”

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Some simple pre-departure tasks are crucial to a happy homecoming. These include: tidying up, putting your mail on hold, stocking up on frozen or non-perishable food (or scheduling a grocery delivery for when you get home), unplugging appliances, turning off the water supply, putting fresh sheets on the beds and giving a spare key to a friend.

“It’s awful to come home to a cold and messy home,’’ says Amy Panos, home editor of Better Homes and Gardens. “It’s definitely worth it to clean up before you go. Think about what you want to come home to …. Take out the trash, and if there’s food in the fridge or on the counter that will spoil before you get back, get rid of it.”

Jacqui Gifford, editor in chief of Travel and Leisure, says she travels about once a month and has set routines before each trip.

Some tips from the experts:

Tidy Up: Take out the trash and dispose of perishable foods, Panos says. Make sure your home looks neat and welcoming.

Make it Welcoming: Make sure you have groceries on hand to make an easy meal when you return, says Gifford, who suggests things like frozen foods or pasta with sauce as easy fixes for the travel-weary and hungry. Panos says it’s also nice to have fresh-made beds waiting for you when you get home.

Safeguard your home: Program your lights to turn on and off at regular intervals. Have your mail and subscriptions placed on hold so things don’t accumulate at your front door, tipping off potential thieves that you’re away. Reinforce sliding glass doors, lock all doors and windows, and leave your car in the driveway, Panos and Gifford said. You might consider waiting until you are home to post your travel pictures on social media, so you’re not advertising to the world that you’re away and your home is empty, Gifford says. Letting your neighbors know that you’ll be away is also a good idea, says Panos, so they can keep an eye on things while you’re gone.

Shut things down: Turn off the main water switch if you’ve got finicky plumbing, says Gifford, and put together a checklist of things that need to be turned off or unplugged. Set your thermostat lower before you go and, if possible, program it to heat up again right before you get back, suggests Panos. “The last thing I do before heading out the door is to unplug all my electric items. It’s good for your pocketbook because it saves energy, and can save your electrical items in case there’s a power surge. It’s also good for the environment,” Gifford says.

Leave a key: Give a spare key to a friend or neighbor, in case you realize on your way to the airport that you forgot to turn something off or need something checked on, Gifford says.

Consider extra security measures: In addition to the more basic pre-departure steps, there are other precautions to consider.

“Make sure your itinerary is left with a friend or neighbor not going on the trip, so someone knows where you are in the world and how to reach you. It’s also a good idea to leave a copy of your passport and credit cards with a family member, and also bring a copy with you that you can keep separately from your documents in case they’re stolen,” Gifford says.

If you travel frequently with children or someone with health issues, supplemental travel insurance may be a good idea, she says: “One in 30 trips ends in a medical emergency and, particularly if you travel a lot, that extra sense of security is worth it.’’

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The post Before you Travel, Take Steps to Ensure a Happy Homecoming appeared first on The Florida Daily Post.

The town of Lauderdale by the Sea offers a walkable-friendly retro vibe, with one-story row of boutiques, casual seafood and Mexican restaurants, and community events. The Block Party at Anglin’s Square and Pier on Friday nights is like Key West, but a lot more chill. Another key attraction is a coral reef just 100 yards offshore, making it a popular spot for scuba divers.

My recent weekend stay at one of their ocean-front room was like being on a tropical island in the Caribbean, as my room’s spacious terrace literally opened out right onto a small grassy garden area with bright green lizards scurrying about, then beyond that, white sands leading to the ocean. A bright striped beach ball awaited on my big comfy platform bed, while the bathroom had a cool wooden slab counter, huge shower and high end herbal bath products. Modern amenities of Bluetooth capabilities, a 50-inch LED HD television, a large in-room safe, and a mini-fridge added to the comfort.

Heading to the beach, it was thrill to see so many roped-off turtle nests, a sure sign of a healthy ocean. The little hatchlings should be scampering out of their sandy nests soon. Kite surfers, paddle boarders and kids on boogie boards reveled in the quiet surf. A group was snorkeling further out, checking out the coral reef and fish. The seaweed that plagued the beaches here last summer seems to have stayed away this time.

A real little paradise feel.

Plunge Beach Hotel provides lounge chairs, umbrellas, cheery pink and blue beach towels to make that 84-degree dip in the calm ocean a delight.

And for lunch, the backflip Beach Bar sits right on the sand, the only toes-in-the-sand beach bar in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Hmm, what to choose from –  Garlic Shrimp Tacos, Yucca Fries & Queso, Grilled Romaine Salad with avocado and toasted pepitas, or maybe the signature Backburger with Colby Jack cheese, bacon, avocado and chimichurri mayo.

But for my first meal at Plunge I opted for the tacos, served with chips, and a frozen Pina Colada with orange slices and a cherry on top because when on the beach that’s what you order.

The pool scene is idyllic too.

There are two pools to choose from, a large angular shaped pool just behind the Backflip Bar and then a smaller, quieter pool nestled in the bungalows. The scene at the large pool is lively with music wafting in from the bar, and lots of sunny and shady places to lounge. I took a leisurely swim, then plopped onto my chair, cracked open a new book and dove into another world for a while.

Later in the afternoon after a dog nap —forgot to mention the hotel is dog-friendly and I had brought my 5-month old little Greyhound with me— I took little Hallie with me over to the main lobby building across the street to check out the scene where big video screens roll with tropical images.

The front desk is just inside with a large bar to the left. Table top games of foosball and table hockey await in the back; live music was provided by a swinging blonde singer. A lively birthday party was going on at the bar as the hotel is a prime spot for special gatherings.

Two eateries are located in the lobby, Octopus Gastro Pub for lunch and dinner offering a casual vibe with elevated seafood island-style.

I tried their crab fritters with charred corn and bacon and also the lime-coconut coco mussels. I also tried their namesake octopus, served with white beans, and the server suggested the blackened mahi, done to perfection with sautéed spinach and fingerling potatoes.

In the back of the lobby by the sunny windows that face A1A, is Bean & Barnacle, the onsite coffee shop and market, to pick up fresh-brewed coffee, sweet pastries like my fave chocolate croissant or a breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese and bacon to munch on the terrace or take to the beach for a sunrise picnic. It’s also good for snacks, gelato, smoothies and juices.

While at the hotel, I pampered myself watching the sunrise in the mornings from my terrace, always pale blue turning to warm yellow as sea birds flew past low-lying clouds. No matter how many times you’ve seen it, the wonder of it all never goes away.

Outside the main doors of Plunge Beach Hotel are cruiser bikes, great for heading off on an adventure down to Anglin’s Pier to see the sweet kitschy charm of Lauderdale by the Sea.

As hidden gems go, this one’s a real find.

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If you visit, Plunge Beach Hotel is located on 4660 El Mar Dr. Lauderdale by the Sea, 33308. Find information on their services and offers here: plungebeachhotel.com.

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Plunge Beach Hotel: Lauderdale by the Sea’s Hidden Gem

The post Plunge Beach Hotel: Lauderdale by the Sea’s Hidden Gem appeared first on The Florida Daily Post.

The hotel rooms and amenity uncover the perfect romantic escape. The wave patterned rug and dark to light blue ombre curtains in the suites lead to welcoming balconies with couches, lounge chairs and a table set for two.

As a glass wall allows for a seamless view of the Atlantic Ocean, endless skies and the line of cruise ships glide in and out of Port Everglades, one of the largest ports in Florida. The hotel reflects the cruise ship aesthetic with slanted bow, sailboat-shaped buildings, raised pool decks, and nautical touches that include hanging rope sculptures and glass lanterns.

Feel and smell amazing! Amenities in the glass walled bath is filled Bliss products, lemon scented and refreshing, but soon to be replaced by the W brands Away line. A box of snacks, beach kit, full bar, Nepresso machine (!) and other goodies complete the welcoming vibe.

Speaking of luxury, there are suites to stay in and to buy that are full two-bedroom apartments with a full kitchen and large balconies. One of the suites, called the Wow Suite, has been the site of some reality TV show filming. And the price? Well if you have to ask it’s…not cheap. A girl can dream, can’t she?

Food experience at its best!

Sauntering into the main floor lobby, the tropical Mexican aura of Stephen Starr’s El Vez restaurant lures with the promise of either indoor or outdoor dining, booths, a lively bar, and a decorative wall of Mexican beer cans. For guacamole lovers the menu is a delight with options of flavors, for example the Verde Guacamole made with leafy herbs and Meyer Lemons, is a tangy-rich twist on the jalapeno/tomato/onion standard—they have that too.

El Vez Fort Lauderdale is a festive dining space with a spacious patio with ocean view where mahi mahi tacos, burritos, ceviches, saladas, and a nacho pizza hybrid —layered with beans, cheese, olives, and peppers— pay tribute to the classic Mexican fare offered to celebrate the fresh seafood of this South Florida region. The restaurant serves breakfast (huevos rancheros and frothy cappuccino are a must-try), lunch and dinner, featuring an extensive menu with emphasis on baja-style cooking.

Other restaurants at the hotel are the classic steakhouse at beachside Steak 954 that serves dry-aged meats with delectable sides and the WET Bar & Grill which offers a variety of fresh salads, mouth-watering burgers and other casual fare.

From the Outstanding Restaurateur of the year in the 2017 James Beard Foundation Awards winner, Stephen Starr, Steak 954 looks like wallpaper that turns out to be a large tropical mural of leaves and flowers by French artist Cyprien Chabert who drew the whole work with a Sharpie marker. Past that beautiful touch is a 15-foot-long aquarium swirling with 175 jellyfish. These bizarre beauties are fed-brine shrimp and cared for by local aquarium staff.  The food is exceptional with dry-aged meats and fresh caught seafood. A one-of-a-kind restaurant experience that wows guests with its tropical feel, selection of fine wines and cocktails, and exotic food.

Away Spa

Debuted in January 2019, W Fort Lauderdale’s brand-new AWAY Spa is the first AWAY spa location, with a full beauty menu in addition to a lineup of massages and facials. As a big wedding and special event destination, the Spa has it covered. AWAY Spa is injected with amenities and treatments to detox, retox, and repeat.

After an Elixir refreshment of secret fruit juices (each spa experience begins with a complimentary Bright Elixir), a Go Deep Massage is the most rewarding treat.

Attractions

The Wet East deck, where you literally walk up into the pool from the 4th floor after watching swimmers from above, is the perfect oasis to settle into lush daybeds and sip on frozen hand crafted drinks. The Wet East can get pretty lively with a DJ and lots of people soaking up the sun and the view. For a quieter swim there’s the Wet West in the back of the hotels second tower with private cabanas, a Jacuzzi and gorgeous views of the intracoastal’s boats and homes.

One of the main attractions while at W Fort Lauderdale is kayaking the intracoastal. To do this tour, guests can use the hotel’s cruiser bikes to pedal a few scenic blocks up A1A to Blue Moon Adventures. The calm waters are an easy cruise past mega yachts, mega mansions, mangroves, birds and bridges. The tour explores the area’s most exciting attributes, focusing on history, architecture and natural developments.

On the way back from the tour, lunch at Coconuts —a nearby restaurant— proved to be a magnificent experience. The restaurant has expansive, uninterrupted views of Fort Lauderdale’s intercostal waterways and it is open 7 days a week and providing an upscale dining experience, including brunch on Sundays. Coconuts is a classic-on-the-dock eatery with vintage signs and an outstanding seafood menu. The Scoobie starters – little crab claws in a warm garlic herb broth are very delicious. The grilled swordfish steak with white bean salsa and sautéed spinach is one of the best I’ve ever had.

Cinema Paradiso, Escapology (one of the hardest escape rooms in Florida), The Classic Gateway Theatre, jet ski, segway, parasailing, and scuba diving are among other nearby attractions to enhance your stay at W Fort Lauderdale.

The W brand is proving to be insanely popular, with a hotel opening somewhere around the globe every 16 hours. It’s a world away at the W Fort Lauderdale, and summer is as good a time as any. Maybe better!

If you visit, W Fort Lauderdale is on 401 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, 33304. The hotel offers seasonal deals that can be found here.

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W Fort Lauderdale: Oceanfront Luxury With An Edge

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Keep in mind that availability is limited, and award charts, redemptions, transfer options and deals can change. Remaining flexible is key to getting the most out of your points and miles. Remember, too, that if you’re not careful, interest charges, late fees and careless spending on a rewards credit card could cost you more than you can save with your points.

Kauai with Marriott Bonvoy Points

Sheraton Kauai Resort, right on the sand at Poipu Beach, may be one of the top rewards redemption deals out there. The Bonvoy rewards program ranks this relaxing piece of paradise as a Category 5 redemption, meaning rooms there start at 35,000 points per night. From your Kauai home, enjoy boat tours of the breathtaking Napali Coast, plan hikes through Waimea Canyon or golf at some of the nearby courses.

To put that in perspective, consider that the Courtyard by Marriott in crowded Waikiki (a 10-minute walk from the beach) is a Category 6 redemption, meaning rooms start at 50,000 points per night.

Get there with miles: Fly into Lihue Airport using American Airlines AAdvantage miles on nonstops from San Francisco starting at around 45,000 miles round trip.

Aruba with IHG Points

Aruba offers a sun-drenched Caribbean escape outside the hurricane belt, making this island retreat an irresistible option for late-summer travelers. And unlike many destinations where reasonably priced accommodations are a block or three from the ocean, here you’ll find the affordable Holiday Inn Resort: Aruba-Beach Resort & Casino right on the beach, with rooms starting at 40,000 IHG points per night. From this sensibly priced base camp, you can go diving off Hadicurari Beach or enjoy Aruba’s famous nightlife.

Get there with miles: American Airlines passengers out of Dallas can find connecting flights to Aruba for as little as 25,000 miles round trip. Southwest passengers flying from Boston might find round trips as low as 23,000 Rapid Rewards points, though most dates start around 46,000 points.

Mauritius with Hilton Honors

Looking for something a little more exotic? Something far, far away? Hilton Honors members can find their slice of heaven in the Indian Ocean, about 1,200 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, at the Hilton Mauritius Resort & Spa.

The beaches and the too-green-to-believe mountain peaks are the very definition of island beauty. But even paying with points, this place is a splurge: Rooms start at around 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night at a place where a free hotel can offset the cost of ultra-long-distance flights (not to mention the psychological hurdle of committing to a vacation so far from home).

Get there with miles: Passengers departing New York’s Kennedy International Airport can find connecting flights on Air France for around 90,000 Flying Blue miles (which can be transferred to some other loyalty programs in a 1-to-1 points conversion through some issuer programs).

From Los Angeles, scant award seats for this journey are available on British Airways for upward of 100,000 Avios round trip.

San Juan Puerto Rico with Bank of America Points

For a truly unique experience, stay a few miles from the beach at the historic Hotel El Convento in Old San Juan, which was built as a Carmelite convent about 350 years ago. This historic, boutique-style hotel is your luxury home base for exploring Castillo San Felipe del Morro and cobblestone streets lined with colonial structures. Bank of America Rewards members will find rooms there starting at about 28,000 points per night.

Get there with miles: Arrive from Baltimore on Southwest Airlines starting at 31,000 Rapid Rewards points round trip.

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4 Beach Vacations that Maximize your Points and Miles

The post 4 Beach Vacations that Maximize your Points and Miles appeared first on The Florida Daily Post.

Hosted by Airbnb, a small number of guests will travel across 18 countries using eight modes of transportation, including a hot air balloon, to promote a new collection of available bookings called Airbnb Adventures.

The experience is meant to mirror Fogg’s journey from exploring the Galapagos islands to hiking mountain ranges in Australia, said Joe Zadeh, Airbnb’s vice president of experiences.

“We thought that the notion of circumnavigating the globe and visiting all these different cultures and communities in 80 days is just a really fun and interesting premise,” he said.

Starting June 20, guests can book the 80-day trip, which comes with a price tag of $5,000 and includes all travel, lodging, activities and meals. Guests will depart from London on Sept. 1, 2019. The company did not say how many of the packages would be available.

Zadeh said the company chose to recreate the story of “Around the World in 80 Days” because it encompasses the spirit of the new program, focused on giving travelers an experience that is difficult to find anywhere else, especially for the price tag.

“We really want to make the point that adventures are accessibly priced,” he said.

Developed from already available hours-long trips called Airbnb Experiences, Airbnb Adventures allows people to participate in two- to 10-day treks ranging from $79 to $5,000. Adventures are capped at 12 travelers or less. Other notable bookings include searching for Sasquatch in Washington and trekking through the Amazon.

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Airbnb to Recreate Trip from ‘Around the World in 80 Days’

The post Airbnb to Recreate Trip from ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ appeared first on The Florida Daily Post.