I recently traveled with my wife and infant to the Four Seasons Palm Beach in mid-September for three nights, and we had a wonderful time. It was our second visit to the property, after a very positive stay three years ago on a family trip with all adults. We had been looking for a chance to come back, and it turned out to be perfect for us now with a baby in tow. We could not have received warmer and more attentive service, and we just love how this property exudes a laid-back retro beach vibe that is comfortable, but luxurious enough to be a Four Seasons.
Trip Planning/Pre-Arrival:
As we always do when booking a Four Seasons, we made sure to book through a Preferred Partner travel agent, which enabled us to get free perks (I highly recommend doing this). For no extra cost, our reservation included early check-in and a room upgrade based on availability, a one-time $100 resort credit, and a breakfast credit each morning of $110, which could be used in the restaurant or for in-room dining. We appreciated that the breakfast credit was actually enough to cover breakfast for two, which is not the case at all Four Seasons properties. We had booked the most basic Palm View Room, and also appreciated that our travel agent was able to confirm an upgrade to a Resort View Room prior to arrival with the hotel, even though the upgrade is usually not given until check-in.
Prior to our stay, I contacted the hotel with questions through the Four Seasons app, and they always responded within minutes. They sent me a variety of helpful pre-arrival information, including a local guide to popular restaurants, as well as the daily activity schedule at the hotel. I was really impressed at how nicely presented and organized the recommendations were. It was also nice that when I asked some follow-up questions related to traveling with an infant, the staff was easily able to customize the recommendations further.
The only slight negative was that while the staff would always respond to my initial messages very quickly, the follow-through to complete the request was sometimes missed. For example, a request to make a dining reservation was acknowledged, but only completed when I followed up over a day later and it was clear it had been forgotten. A similar thing happened again when we asked for information about cabana rentals. I received a response saying information would come shortly, but never received anything.
There was then a third communication miss during our stay. We had made a request on the app at one point to have an in-room dining plate removed from our room, and were told someone would be right up. Six hours later, it was still there. While the staff is great, and these were minor misses, a little more attention to the chat messages would be helpful to ensure the app works as intended.
Arrival:
Our arrival experience at the hotel was very positive. We were helped promptly by a bellman and directed to the front desk, where the clerk who checked us in was friendly and professional. She immediately offered us glasses of sparkling wine, along with a welcome back to the hotel and acknowledgement that they were looking forward to making sure we had an even better stay than last time, when we had some minor suggestions for improvement. As part of the hotel’s efforts to make sure we had a great return stay, we really appreciated the news that our room had been upgraded several categories beyond what we expected, to an Ocean View Studio Suite, and that it was ready early around noon. Justin, the hotel’s front desk manager, also greeted us upon arrival, as did another member of the management team. We really loved the warm welcome and the strong effort to make sure we were recognized as repeat guests.
Room:
For a little bit of context on the room types and hotel layout, the hotel is an unassuming set of three nondescript white concrete buildings (North, Main, and South), which are each four stories tall and arranged in a U-shape facing the pools and beach. Although the hotel has been a Four Seasons for a long time, it wasn’t originally built as one, and the look of the buildings reflects that. However, the entire interior is great, with a pink and green botanical and beachy feel that carries between common areas and the rooms, which pairs well with the lush exterior. All portions of the hotel are connected by interior corridors on the ground level, and it is relatively compact, which we love. No matter where your room is, it’s not far to any hotel amenity, and it’s just spread out enough to not feel crowded.
All of the standard guest rooms are split between the North and South buildings, which are positioned perpendicular to the ocean, so the rooms have angled balconies. The difference between the standard room types is really just view/location, as they are all identical in size at 393 square feet, which definitely felt small during our last stay.
The best building is the Main Building, which I believe only contains suites, and was where we stayed this time. The location is ideal, with rooms right above the lobby, and easy access to the pools and restaurant. The views are also the best, since you’re looking straight at the pools and ocean.
We really enjoyed the Ocean View Studio Suite, and I would love to have one again in the future. While the title of “suite” for this room type feels like a little bit of a stretch, since it was basically just a large hotel room, it was certainly a step up from the small standard rooms. Especially with a baby and all of her gear, we really appreciated the extra space, since the room had a king bed, plus a large sitting area with a pull-out couch and extra armchair. The covered balcony was also nicely sized with a table and two chairs.
The bathroom was nice as well, and was spacious as compared to those in the standard rooms (again, like the rest of the room, the suite bathroom would probably seem standard sized at many hotels, but was noticeably an upgrade here). The bathroom was nicely appointed in marble, with a spacious walk-in shower and large vanity with two sinks. We like the geranium and mandarin-scented bath products at this hotel, which fit the destination well. The bathroom was well stocked in general, including plenty of thick towels and robes.
The minibar features an espresso machine and tea kettle, along with snacks and a stocked fridge. You can’t use the fridge to store your own things, since it was the type where you are automatically charged if a sensor notices that you move any of the minibar items. However, when we requested a separate fridge for our own use with the baby, they sent one up right away, which was large.
I was also glad to see that this hotel continues to evolve and takes guest feedback into account. During our last stay, one of my complaints was that there was no beach bag offered in the room, but the rooms now offer them for guests to use during their stay.
We were also very impressed with how well-equipped the room was for traveling with a baby. Prior to our arrival, we had requested any baby items the hotel could provide, and there were many of them, ready to go when we arrived in our room. In addition to some cute baby gifts, including two stuffed animals, the room was stocked with an Ubbi diaper pail, hooded baby towel, diapers, sound machine, baby tub, and baby shampoo and lotion. They also included a full crib. We also needed distilled water to make bottles, and the hotel was happy to provide a full gallon for us so that we didn’t have to go out to buy it. The breadth of items offered was incredibly appreciated and helpful.
In addition to enjoying the amount of space and amenities, I thought the room was in good condition, although there is starting to be just slight wear and tear to the some of the furniture and fabrics that will need a little bit of a refresh in the coming years.
The hotel also provided daily amenities that we really enjoyed. Shortly after check-in, handwritten notes welcoming both us and our daughter individually to the hotel were delivered, along with bottled water, a bowl of fresh fruit, and some small desserts. The next day, we received a plate of chocolates, and then on our last night, a cheese and charcuterie plate. We know this is above and beyond what we’d normally receive, even at a Four Seasons, but really appreciated the staff’s commitment to making sure our return visit this time was perfect.
Housekeeping did a good job, and our room was always very clean. We would typically request cleaning at the time that worked best for us each day, and it was always completed when requested. Turndown was a little more of a mixed bag. While the turndown service itself was fine, the timing of it wasn’t ideal, and it was always done very early. One night, the housekeeper came for turndown at a time that wasn’t convenient, so we asked if she could come back a bit later while we’d be at dinner. She responded by saying she’d see if she could make it work, since she planned to be in the other building later. She did return, but still earlier than we had requested, so we had to ask again for her to come back. I didn’t like feeling pressured about it, and we weren’t asking for it to be done at an unreasonably late time. We were also disappointed on another night to come back from the pool shortly after 5:00 pm to find turndown already completed. That’s simply too early, and we much prefer to have time to shower after being at the pool or beach, and then have turndown while we’re at dinner, so that we can get towels replenished for the next morning.
Beach & Pool:
The beach and pools at the Four Seasons Palm Beach are lovely, and were a major motivation for returning to this hotel in the first place. The pool deck itself is very spacious, with more than enough lounge chairs and space for everyone, set up in various locations facing the pools or toward the ocean. The two pools offered are a main family pool, and then a separate smaller adults-only pool on its own to one side, separated by a wall of landscaping. Both pools are truly just steps away from the beach itself, which is perfect for easily going between the beach and pools or back to your room. The beach itself is also very nice, with typically placid waters, soft sand, and rows of chairs set up each morning facing the ocean. The staff even set up fun displays in the sand with toys for kids each day as well.
There are also a few cabanas in prime spots by each pool that can be rented, in addition to sun beds on the beach. We ended up deciding to book a cabana by the family pool one day, and it was easy to reserve using a QR code in our room that listed hotel activities. We really loved having the private space and personalized attention and service that came with it. The cabana we rented was $250 for the day, and included two glasses of any wine on the pool menu, a fruit plate, and unlimited still and sparkling water, tea, and soda. Given what was included and how nice the space was, we found the cost to be relatively reasonable.
The beach and pool had impeccable service, with personal attention from friendly and enthusiastic staff members. It was not very crowded a couple of the days we were there mid-week in September, and the staff was just always present, kind, and ready to be helpful, which we loved. They did a great job of checking in on us very often, sometimes even with just a quick wave or thumbs up to make sure we were ok, which provided a perfect level of attentiveness without being too intrusive. The staff would also leave a button to press anytime we wanted service, which usually wasn’t necessary since they were around so much. However, the couple times we did press the button, we were being served truly within seconds.
There were also frequent little extras passed to guests at the beach and pool, which are always really nice at luxury hotels, including fresh fruit, mini smoothies, and even mini mimosas one time. Our favorite pool amenity was the gelato cart that was offered for an hour each afternoon by the family pool, with several flavors and toppings to choose from.
It was clear to me that the high level of service was not just because the hotel was pretty empty (although it certainly helps), as even on a busy Saturday when we first arrived, service from Gwen at the beach was top notch, and we really appreciated how helpful Michael and the other beach staff members were with setting up umbrellas, adjusting them with the sun and wind, and making guests aware of the ocean conditions and possible hazards.
Other Hotel Activities:
Outside of spending time at the beach and pool, I would highly recommend taking advantage of some of the daily hotel activities that are included as part of the $45 per night resort fee. In our room, there was a QR code that only works on the hotel wifi network, which took us to a website listing the various classes offered each day. The only health and wellness class offered was beach yoga (more general fitness classes would be nice), and then there were a variety of food and beverage options, with something different offered each day (mixology, cooking school, a chocolate class). There are only a few spots in each class, so it’s worth signing up early in your stay for any you may be interested in.
The only class that worked with our schedule this time was a mixology class at Seaway, the outdoor restaurant by the pool. It was a quick, but enjoyable experience, and the bartender who conducted it was very nice. He had a station set up for each participant to mix the various ingredients to create one of the cocktails on the pool/beach menu, and then we got to take that cocktail with us back to the pool.
Otherwise, the resort fee includes complimentary bikes available to rent, as well as use of a house car that can go within a six-mile radius. We didn’t use the house car, and it seems to be of limited utility, since the main areas for shopping and dining in Palm Beach that everyone would typically want to visit are further than six miles away.
The hotel also has tennis courts (with lessons available for a fee), a gym, and a spa for additional activities.
Dining:
Florie’s is the main hotel restaurant, which overlooks the pool from pretty interior and exterior seating areas. We had breakfast there two mornings, and had a pleasant experience each time. The service was always attentive and friendly, and the food was pretty good. However, we thought Florie’s really stood out more in the evening. We went there for dinner on our first night and had a really wonderful meal. The tuna tartare and local burrata were great starters, along with the delicious complimentary warm bread that is provided. We also had a truffle pasta special and the salt-crusted dorade that was fileted tableside, and both were really excellent.
We enjoyed our dinner at Florie’s so much that we even cancelled a dinner reservation at an outside restaurant another night because we enjoyed staying at the hotel to dine so much, which is really rare for us when traveling. We ultimately returned to the Florie’s lounge area on each of the next two nights for lighter meals and drinks, as well as another time during their daily happy hour for discounted oysters and drinks.
The Florie’s bar/lounge area is especially pretty and comfortable, like being in a cozy living room. Our visits there were made even better by the server Christian. He was absolutely wonderful, and provided excellent service. He remembered us each day, was always attentive, and exhibited a truly caring, kind nature. On one occasion when our daughter started melting down toward the end of our visit, Christian showed such care and concern for her, and without having to ask, went ahead and prepared a tray of our food and drinks, plus some small dessert items, to take back up to the room. He anticipated our needs so well in that situation, and seeing him each night was a highlight of our time at the hotel. He is a huge asset to the team.
The other main dining option at the hotel is Seaway, an outdoor restaurant overlooking the beach that is only open for lunch. It would be nice if it had dinner service as well, since it has great views, and it would be nice to have a second dinner option. The menu at Seaway is what is offered at the pool and beach as well. We enjoyed lunch at Seaway on our arrival day, plus food and drinks on multiple occasions at the pool and beach. We’re big fans of their chirashi bowl and mahi tacos in particular. Their bartenders also make great cocktails, with the Endless Summer (basically a spicy margarita with mezcal) being our favorite.
We did choose in-room dining on one occasion for breakfast, and it was a positive experience. The food arrived in exactly the time frame quoted on the phone when I ordered, and the staff member set it up nicely for us on our balcony. Food quality was identical to dining in the restaurant.
Location:
Although the Four Seasons is located in Palm Beach, it’s at the quiet, south end of Palm Beach, a good 15-minute drive from the main shopping and dining areas. If you plan to go into the thick of Palm Beach often, it might be helpful to have a car. We don’t mind the location at all, since we like the peace and quiet that the Four Seasons affords, but I could see others being unhappy if you were hoping to be in the most central location possible. Somewhere like The Breakers would be a better choice if a more central location is what you’re looking for, although that property is much larger than the intimate Four Seasons.
We do love how convenient it is to fly into West Palm Beach (PBI) for a stay here, which is an easy 15-minute drive from the hotel.
Staff Service:
When staying at a beach resort where we’re going to spend most of our time on property, service is really key, and this hotel was perfect. We felt recognized and valued as guests throughout our visit. It helped that it wasn’t busy during most of our stay, so the staff/guest ratio was high, but we were also there on one busier day, and the service level was the same. Everyone was friendly and approachable, and it felt genuine. It truly feels like the team at this hotel takes pride in their jobs and wants to make sure guests have a great experience. I’m often frustrated with service at luxury hotels just not being quite good enough, but I would point to the Four Seasons Palm Beach as the template others should follow.
The personalized nature of the service was noted and appreciated. For example, Justin, the Front Desk Manager, was so nice, and went out of his way to find us and check-in on us every single day of our stay, which we loved. He remembered what we were doing and asked about it afterward, and it really helped to know we had someone we could go to if we needed anything at all.
Separately, when we mentioned that our dog, who often travels to Four Seasons hotels with us and had been at this hotel previously, couldn’t make it this time, the hotel sent up a handwritten note for her, along with a flamingo dog toy and dog treats we could take home. This personalized touch meant so much to us.
The only place where service could be considered at all poor was at the hotel boutique, Swell. We went in there very briefly to look around and found the staff member to be rude, which was interesting, since we had the same complaint about Swell during our stay three years ago. However, that was truly so minor and in no way overshadows the near perfection that is the service at this hotel otherwise.
Overall:
We love the Four Seasons Palm Beach, and were so glad we chose this for a weekend getaway. The property is lovely and easy to navigate, with excellent staff and facilities. It was a perfect stay with a baby, and we look forward to returning as a family in the future. After stays at many Four Seasons properties, we have concluded that this is one of our favorites.
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