Prelude - Hip Hotel
prelude hip hotel
Words by Alexandra P. Karplus
Making a Point of it
Live in luxury for your getaway to the southwest coast of Florida.
Looking for a Florida break that’s got it all? Beautiful accommodations, luxurious living and particular attention to the environment are all peacefully planted at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa on Florida’s majestic Gulf Coast in Bonita Springs, 18 miles south of Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Meyers.
Through tight environmental guidelines, the resort has preserved all of the natural beauty, taking special care to avoid disrupting the local wildlife, including bald eagles, gopher tortoises and other rare species. And the luxury getaway’s guests have been planned for with equally delicate care at this fantasy retreat. Catering to a wide range of travelers, the resort woos guests with 450 beautiful rooms with balconies that overlook the stunning scenery.
Even the Raptor Bay Golf Club was built with total respect to Mother Nature. As the fi rst resort course to earn a Gold Signature Certifi cation (the highest level of compliance) from Audubon International, the 18-hole, tournament-quality course— designed by golf legend Raymond Floyd and rated among the top 10 favorites by Sports Illustrated—caters to players of all levels and is a fantastic way to enjoy the area’s panoramic views.
Whether tired from a full day of golf or a long match of tennis on one of the four hydro-grid courts, revitalization is only a step away at the Stillwater Spa, a two-story, Asian-inspired mecca of tranquility with 18 private rooms. If you are too exhausted to make it down personally, many of the spa services can be brought to you in the privacy of your own room. Among the long list of treatments is watsu—a type of shiatsu performed while you are suspended in peaceful waters.
Children are not left out in this universal paradise. There’s a 5,000-square-foot pool with an “alligator lazy river,” plus a long waterslide for the daring. Camp Coconut encourages kids to try a long list of activities, including a shark tooth hunt, coconut painting and aquatic adventures.
With the children safely off at the camp, parents can take time to enjoy a mangrove martini or a coconut point cosmopolitan at the poolside bars. There are also six restaurants to choose from, including the Corkscrew Pool Bar & Grill and the Tarpon Bay, with its pleasing fresh raw bar and regional fi sh.
When most people dream of the ideal vacation—one that will relieve months of work stress, please all the members of the family and place a premium on preserving the stunning environment—their vision probably looks a whole lot like this. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the sunset at one of Florida’s most splendid getaways.