In late September, I attended a VCTA training course down in Sunny Isles, Florida. (VCTA is a Virtuoso professional development class.) Attendees are required to stay at the host hotel, although we do receive a discounted rate. For me, in Florida, this was Acqualina Resort and Spa, a boutique property right on the beach. In addition to staying there, I also got the chance to explore some of the other parts of the property, like dinner at Il Mulino and a spa treatment at Espa. The hotel also hosted a reception for us, where we enjoyed canapes and champagne in one of the three bedroom suites.
Acqualina Resort and Spa
Acqualina’s tagline is “elegance on the beach,” and let me tell you, it truly is. When I arrived, the doormen had my cab door open and my luggage waiting for me before I finished paying. They greeted me by name and asked how my trip in was. One held the door while another escorted me directly to the reception and offered me a drink: my choice of champagne, bellini, or fresh juice. I opted for a bellini; it sounded refreshing. He left me in the very capable hands of Carly at the reception who checked me in.
The general manager, Christof, came out to greet me as well. He let me know that if there was anything at all I needed, to please contact him. After finishing check out, Carly escorted me to the concierge desk, where I left my luggage, and then took me on a brief tour of the property. She then showed me to my room, where my luggage was already set out.
I was sharing the room with two others, and so I was pleasantly surprised to see that we had enough space for all of us girls – even in the bathroom! Our view was of the intercoastal waters, not the ocean, but every evening we had spectacular views of the sunset.
And how awesome is this duck?!
Acqualina’s facilities
I had some time before drinks with the VCTA arrivals, so I decided to check out the fitness centre. Acqualina’s fitness centre is by far one of the best I’ve ever seen in a hotel! There are countless treadmills, bicycles, stairmasters, and ellipticals. The weights section is large, and there are two spaces for stretching. It even has medicine balls and core balance equipment like bose balls. Sore muscles? I’m a huge fan of foam rollers, but I’ve never seen one in a hotel gym. Acqualina has five!
That evening, I joined some other advisors and our Virtuoso leaders for a cocktail at the AQ by Acqualina bar. At the time of my visit, the restaurant part of this dining facility was under renovation. Seating for the restaurant, which is light Italian and Mediterranean fare, was only available outside. The inside bar, however, was open for business.
Over the next week, most of what I saw at Acqualina was in the conference space! Every meal and snack we had was served by our wonderful server, Franco, who ensured we were well taken care of and had enough coffee for everyone. Our tea breaks often had special touches from the chefs. Once we had homemade granola bars, while another day it was fresh coconut water and little sweet treat. No request is too small; one of our class preferred Coke Zero – and Franco made sure she had it every day. Dietary restrictions are accommodated without fail, even in settings like the meeting space.
Our site tour
Monday evening, Acqualina Resort and Spa hosted us in their three bedroom suite, located on the 35th floor. This stunning space has both ocean and intercoastal views (and balconies on both sides). The ocean views are best taken in from the balcony, which extends the width of the suite. There is a separate living space and full kitchen, two king rooms and a twin bedroom, and two and a half baths. This suite can sleep up to eight adults and is perfect for families!
We also had the chance to visit several other rooms and suites on property before our hosts presented a little bit more about themselves and the property. One of our delightful hosts was Deborah Yager Fleming, owner and CEO of Acqualina, whom I also had the chance to speak to later in the week!
And now, the details
Enough about my week at Acqualina! Here are some specifics about the property, which is located halfway between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The 98 room property features 54 rooms and 44 suites, all with luxurious modern furnishings. While it looks large from the exterior, the majority of the buildings are the residences. These flank the central tower, which are the rooms and suites. Each floor only has four rooms, which can be enclosed to create two two-bedroom suites on each floor.
Did you know? Acqualina is one of the “smaller” large hotels in the Virtuoso portfolio, while the Bellagio in Las Vegas (where I stayed in August for Travel Week) is the largest at 4,000 rooms!
There are four pools on property. Three are open to all hotel guests, however one of these is the Tranquility Pool, which is an adults-only pool. The fourth pool is the Espa pool and is only open to guests of the Espa. Acqualina Resort and Spa is also the only property in this area (Miami and Fort Lauderdale) that has unimpeded access to the beach. What this means is that there is no wall, no gate to pass through, nothing between you and the beach. You can walk straight from the pool, across the soft grass, right into the white sand.
Dining at Acqualina
Finally, Acqualina Resort and Spa is home to several world class dining establishments. A buffet breakfast is included for Virtuoso clients. For a relaxed lunch, there’s Costa Grill. This beachside eatery serves light meals and cocktails. There is no indoor space, as some of my classmates learned when they dined there and it started pouring!
For a relaxed and casual – yet still elegant – meal, dine at AQ by Acqualina. It serves contemporary Italian dishes in a soft, candlelit setting. As noted above, as of October 2017, it is undergoing renovation.
Finally, the jewel in the crown is Il Mulino New York. This sophisticated Italian restaurant serves scrumptious meals with impeccable service. The wine list is extensive and the bar staff also creates both classic and creative cocktails.
We dined in a private room at Il Mulino on our second night with several partners. I speak from experience when I say that it was delicious as well as filling! Il Mulino is the perfect restaurant for business dinners or romantic evenings.
If you are celebrating anything special, the staff at Acqualina can arrange an intimate beach dinner for two. This private event takes place on the sand behind the hotel as the sun sets.
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Just a reminder that all Virtuoso clients get an upgrade on arrival to Acqualina Resort and Spa (subject to availability), daily breakfast, complimentary wifi, and a $100 spa credit. Reach out to your awesome Virtuoso advisor (wink wink) to book this gorgeous property!
**I received nothing in exchange for this post. I was required to stay at Acqualina during this professional development course, and as noted above, did pay a discounted advisor rate.**
