Kate F.
Yelp
5 star stay, across the board
LOCATION
The location is convenient for beach access and local bars and restaurants. If you have a longer stay or prefer to diversify your food and shopping options, you may want to rent a car. Otherwise, there are some (very) small and limited markets that you could walk to. Publix is about a 22 minute walk, but its a hot walk. Your resort fee includes a 2 hour bike rental and the bikes have a basket on the front.
ROOM
The rooms are mainly suites, ours faced the ocean and bay area. We woke up to gorgeous sunrises and were able to watch the Christmas boat parade with fireworks going off in the bay. The balcony is large and surrounded by clear glass. The beds are super comfy and clean, lots of pillows. There is a free shoe shine service and plenty of closet space. There is a large sectional couch, one flat screen in the living room and one facing the bed. The rooms come with the kitchen which was very convenient for our 8 day stay. You can order pots and pans and utensils and it comes with all of the dishes and detergent and sponges. There is a microwave, refrigerator (no freezer) electric stove top, electric water kettle, toaster, and a Lazza espresso maker. Loved waking up to sunrise on the patio sipping my Crema Espresso before yoga! Room service is very responsive and they don't miss a beat. The bathroom is pretty big with everything in one room (tub, toilet, shower). I never take a bath, but it was SOOOO clean and sparkly, I took a few baths after my beach days with the bath salts provided.... Ahhhh I miss that. The shower is amazing!!! Great pressure and it has Mojave soap, conditioner and shampoo dispensers. Blow dryers and bathrobes included.
Perfect room for a long stay. You can also purchase suites at the Conrad starting a $500k.
You can easily exit the hotel next to the lobby and enter that door up until about 11 or midnight.
RESORT FEE
$40 per day is the elective fee which covers a full day of 2 beach chairs and an umbrella, with towels and water. You get 2 bicycle rentals for 2 hours.
You can decline at checkin and simply approach the front desk and ask for a beach day on the days you want to be charged the $40 fee.
Servers come out for a small window after lunch and take drink orders. There are washing showers at the entrance. Come early to get a chair, but if its busy you cant come and go. Be there by 9 (or just hang out after yoga) to get a chair. I put a book on the chair before 9 and that kind of held the front row seat :)
AMENITIES
Nice sized gym and a spa on Floor 6. Standard cardio and small free weights and mats. They also provide fresh fruit and water in the gym and it overlooks the bay.
The pool is pretty big, not really crowded. Its a mix of babies and adults, I did not see many children- maybe because they were still in school. There is also a hot tub. The staff is always onsite walking around and providing towels and food and drink menus. Spinnaker Grill and Bar is at the pool, they play house music and have plenty of seating and drink options. Its a full bar and light beach snacks.
Takato is the main restaurant facing A-1, somewhat pricey featuring Korean and Japanese fusion (korean bbq and sushi). There is also a bakery inside with pretty outrageous prices for bakery. There is a full starbucks about 8 mins south in the Westin, overlooking the ocean with a shaded deck. There is a bar inside the lobby, the Atlas... you must try one of this guys cocktails- its worth it!
YOGA
There is yoga on the beach daily from 7:30 to 8:30. I HIGHLY recommend it, its a great way to start the day. This class works for beginners and advanced yogis... there is just something about feeling the warm sun on your face in practice with the sound of the ocean lapping against the shore. Towels and water bottles are provided. Just exit the side door by the elevators and walk straight towards the beach, cross the street and the yoga instructor is there with a cart and signs you in on her phone using your room number. The reference point is lifeguard tower #11.
PARKING
The entrances are on the South and North facing side streets, Takato occupied the entire front space of the Contad. When you pull up in an uber be sure to get dropped off at the main lobby entrance on the south side, not the high steps!
I think valet is about $50 per day. We parked our rental 2 blocks behind the hotel on a street for free every day, it was about a 4 minute walk and its mostly shaded by the highrises.
OVERALL
Easy check in and check out, no surprise fees. Everyone on sight; the maintenance, the valet, the pool attendants, the yoga instructors, the lobby staff, the house keepers, the janitors on the room floors- EVERYONE is friendly and helpful. It was a great getaway. I truly enjoyed this stay, and I am grateful to all of the staff who commit to the guests' experience. Thank you Conrad!