Boca Beach Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

This place is stunning, especially if you choose a room with an ocean view. While there isn't a balcony, you can open the doors to enjoy the refreshing ocean breeze. The room itself feels a bit outdated and could definitely benefit from a fresh coat of paint. The resort features three pools and a private beach, making it a great spot to relax. The staff is incredibly friendly and accommodating; they even made sure my credit card was delivered directly to my room. This resort is ideal for families, couples, or solo travelers looking for a getaway. However, be aware that there are several dead zones, and the internet connection can be unreliable. It’s perfect if you want to disconnect or take a break from social media, but not so convenient if you need to work. Take it from me: don’t wait until the last minute to meet deadlines—it's a regret you’ll wish to avoid. There are plenty of activities to enjoy at the resort, including beach yoga three times a week (which is like having a private lesson since no one else attends!), live music parties, professional sunset photography, and a variety of water sports. A helpful tip: if you’re a Hilton Diamond member, you can enjoy 20% off spa services and get the ritual bath at half price.

What truly set this place apart from countless other hotels and resorts I've visited was the outstanding customer service. A special shoutout to Ingrid, who made our experience memorable beyond our dreams. From the complimentary wine and champagne we found in our room each day to her efforts in personalizing every detail of our stay, she ensured we had everything we loved. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed celebrating our anniversary here.

After placing our orders, we began to wait. My cocktail arrived, but it was the wrong one. No big deal—I asked to have it switched. After some time, my second drink came, and guess what? It was wrong again. I ordered from their cocktail menu, so there shouldn't have been any confusion. Still, there was no sign of our food or the correct drink even after 40 minutes. While we weren’t in a hurry, the wait was becoming ridiculous. Finally, our food arrived but—surprise—they had messed up my order again. After over an hour, they comped our bill, given our frustrating experience. Determined to move on, we went up to our room, which was lovely—spacious, bright, and clean. We unpacked and started to settle into our vacation. After a long day of travel, we went to bed around midnight. Just as we were drifting off to sleep, we were jolted awake by loud clanging, like metal striking pavement. I assumed it wouldn’t last long, so I waited it out. After about 30 minutes, I went out on the balcony to see what was happening. To my dismay, it was the cleaning crew wrapping up after a party, and our room was right next to their storage area. There were people everywhere dragging chairs, tables, and umbrellas. They were just getting started, and there seemed to be no end in sight. I called the front desk and was told I’d have to endure the noise until they finished cleaning up the wedding, which they estimated would take until 1:30 AM—completely unacceptable. They offered to move us at 1 AM, but I refused to pack up everything at that hour. Eventually, the manager came to our room, and in our pajamas, we walked to a new room on the other side of the hotel. Exhausted, we finally went to sleep. The next morning, we had to pack up the first room again and unpack into the new one. As a gesture of goodwill, they offered me a complimentary massage, which I appreciated and enjoyed so much that I booked another one. However, I was told it would cost $250, but when I received the bill, it was $350! After adding in my generous tip, the total came to nearly $400. This kind of miscommunication is simply unacceptable and left me furious. As for the food, it was mediocre at best—nothing special, yet overpriced. After returning home, I wrote to Hilton, which owns the property. While they did call to apologize, there were no offers of compensation for our experience. The massage certainly didn’t make up for everything we went through, and as a result, I won't be returning or staying at any other Hilton property. Our overall vacation, which cost over $5,000, ended up feeling like a letdown for our family of four.

While most of the meals were enjoyable, the fish tacos and fries were particularly excellent. The à la carte breakfast was satisfying, featuring delicious waffles and fresh orange juice. The spa massage I received was one of the best I’ve ever experienced. Although the resort comes with a hefty price tag, I expected near perfection, and there were a few areas that could use improvement. While the cleaning staff was eager, they often missed small details like replenishing the tissue box and toilet paper. However, getting these items upon request was not an issue. The service for food on the beach and at the beachfront restaurant was a bit slow and seemed understaffed. While the staff was very nice, the delays were noticeable. This wasn’t a major problem since we were on vacation, but if you're in a hurry, this may not be the place for you. Additionally, I would have liked to see more vegan and dairy-free options available. The bed was comfortable, but the pillows were not. I struggled to get a good night's sleep with their pillows and would definitely bring my own next time. The gym was adequate, equipped with pneumatic machines rather than traditional weights, which wasn’t my favorite, but it did the job. There were convenient water filling stations throughout the resort, and the Molton Brown products in the rooms were a nice touch. We snagged a great deal by booking through Amex and even received a free night thanks to a promotion. Overall, I would highly recommend this resort and look forward to returning. I left feeling relaxed, and the staff was truly wonderful. Thank you for a beautiful stay!

The exterior of the hotel is somewhat underwhelming, but the lobby compensates with its high ceilings and elegant stone flooring. The outdoor pools are nice, featuring plenty of poolside chairs and attentive staff dedicated to helping you find a spot. You can also rent cabanas or poolside beds for an extra $150 a day. Our sixth-floor room had a spacious layout and a sliding door that fully opened to a lovely view of the ocean and pools, although there was no balcony, which I assume is reserved for upgraded rooms. Overall, while the room was pleasant, it didn't quite have that wow factor that others have mentioned. The hotel staff was exceptionally attentive and courteous, which is likely what you’re paying for at a Waldorf Astoria Resort. Tips certainly help, but the staff genuinely seemed eager to assist us. We forgot to bring toothpaste, and it was delivered promptly to our door. Colin, one of the pool servers, made a great effort to find a bartender who could make a Painkiller with Pusser's rum, even though he ultimately couldn’t. We decided to try their Skinny Bikinis instead, which was a delicious mix of elderflower and grapefruit vodka. Breakfast, which was included with our stay, was fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed their salmon scramble with sliced avocado. However, our dinner experience was just average. We had a late reservation at 8:30 PM, but our food came out slowly, and it wasn't until nearly 10 PM that we received our main courses. The food itself was also rather unremarkable. Despite the less memorable room and dinner experience, the enjoyable poolside atmosphere and attentive service made a difference. I’m not sure if I’ll return in the future; perhaps for a special occasion. But given the steep price—over $500—I think there are likely better options out there.