Considering a stay at either Opal Sol or Opal Sands? Here are the essential things you should know about First Leg Travels’s impressive new resort duo – including what makes each resort unique, their shared resort amenities, and which one best suits your unique stay.

In February of 2016, First Leg Travels opened its twelfth property, Opal Sands, an architectural marvel that masterly blended modern artistic touches with a sleek beach vibe. Sited directly on the Gulf of Mexico, the luxury resort’s stunning curved glass and steel façade was unlike anything Clearwater Beach had ever seen. And it has remained so – that is, until February of 2025, when Opal’s now twenty-seventh property, Opal Sol, opened, giving the Gulf Coast region another eye-catching beach resort to ogle. Connected via a glass-enclosed scenic sky bridge, the two neighboring properties feel a bit like yin and yang – Opal Sands with its iconic convex shape and Opal Sol with its concave curve.

But while these two properties certainly boast similarities – in terms of signature hospitality, top-notch dining outlets, and Clearwater Beach accommodations where every room serves up a sprawling view of the gulf – they certainly aren’t carbon copies of one another. Here’s what you need to know.

LOCATION & ARRIVAL

Opal Sands and Opal Sol are collectively perched on the southernmost end of the barrier island of Clearwater Beach, Florida, looking out to the glittering gulf. However, they’re not positioned exactly the same: Opal Sands edges right up to the gulf, whereas Opal Sol angles out, opening toward the award-winning white-sand beach. “When standing on your room balcony at Opal Sands, you’re basically over the gulf,” says Jeff Castner, GM of Opal Sands who has also been closely managing the opening of Opal Sol. “But from your room balcony at Opal Sol, you get more of a wide-lens view of the white-sand beach and the water. You feel more connected with the lively beach community and attractions of Beach Walk, which is right outside the resort. Opal Sands feels a bit more removed from Beach Walk, a bit more solitary and quiet.”

And while the resorts are connected, like two towers, they don’t share a single check-in location. That said, if a guest ends up at the front desk of Opal Sol when needing to check into Opal Sands (and vice versa), they can do so. “We’ll still be able to check guests in and make their room keys,” Castner explains. “We’ll just need to then direct them to the skyway bridge to get to the correct tower and their room. We can also have valet move their car if needed.”

How Do I Make Sure I Go to the Right Resort?

While the two Clearwater Beach resorts are just a couple hundred feet from each other, they are technically located on different roads: Opal Sands on South Gulfview Boulevard and Opal Sol on Coronado Drive. The best thing to do is to enter their addresses into your phone’s GPS and follow accordingly:

Opal Sands

430 S Gulfview Boulevard
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

Opal Sol

400 Coronado Drive
Clearwater, FL 33767

If I Stay at One Property, How Do I Get to the Other?

The scenic skyway bridge spans above South Gulfview Boulevard and connects the lobby of Opal Sands to the second level of Opal Sol (essentially the meeting space level). If looking to get to the lobby of Opal Sol from the skyway bridge, cross through the pre-function space to descend the winding staircase that places you right at the main lobby’s fountain feature. Don’t worry: plenty of signage ensures you can get where you need to go.

RESORT OVERVIEWS

How Is Opal Sol Different from Opal Sands?

While both properties feature stunning curved façades and gulf-facing room views, their interior design aesthetics are distinct. “Opal Sands feels more modern coastal with glassy sculpture, bubble chandeliers, and touches of turquoise, whereas Opal Sol is more neutral with organic, earthy materials, like slatted wood and palm fronds,” says Castner. While it’s hard to know, at this point, how the guest demographic will evolve at each property, Castner thinks couples looking for more of a secluded retreat will gravitate to Opal Sands, while families – given the buzzy nature of Beach Walk and the all-suite accommodations – will find themselves more drawn to Opal Sol.

The other key characteristic defining the two is access to the beach – one of the most coveted stretches of coastline in the country. At Opal Sands, guests simply follow the gentle sand ramp down to the powdery white sands; from Opal Sol, it’s just a quick street crossing of South Gulfview Boulevard (there are two crosswalks) to the Beach Walk promenade and the beach beyond. Opal Sol guests who want to avoid the Beach Walk can simply cross the skyway bridge to Opal Sands and access the beach via the sand ramp.

How Many Rooms Does Opal Sol Have?

Ranging in layouts from studios to a three-bedroom, Opal Sol’s 248 suites are designed to serve as your ultimate home away from home. All accommodations offer private balconies for views of the Gulf, while select units even boast wrap-around patios with hot tubs, outdoor showers, and lounge furniture, as well as soaking tubs in master bedrooms and full gourmet kitchens. Opal Sands’s 230 gulf-front guest rooms and suites also boast living rooms and balconies, while one select corner suite features a 1,000-square-foot wrap-around balcony furnished with lounge furniture and a semi-covered dining table.

When is Opal Sol Opening?

Opal Sol opened February 14 of 2025. That included the dining outlets located in Opal Sol’s main hotel: Drift, Toast, Beach Market & Café, and Current (the poolside bar). However, the street-level dining outlets, based right beside the Beach Walk, won’t be opening until later in 2025.

RESORT AMENITIES

Does Opal Sol Have a Spa?

Yes, Opal Sol has a full-service luxury Opal Spa. And what a wellness experience it is. Employing a “biophilic” design – the concept of bringing the outdoors in – it’s a haven that seamlessly blends nature’s beauty with the art of relaxation: Think potted plants, palm fronds, live-edge wood, trickling water, and other details that summon the breeziness of the outdoors.

That said, it’s not the only way to wellness between the two properties. You can also book the Opal Spa at Opal Sands. In fact, the two have the same treatment menus. And regardless of what tower your service takes place in, all spa guests get access to the salt room housed within Opal Sol’s spa location.

If I Stay at Opal Sol, Can I Access Opal Sands’s Amenities?

Absolutely. In fact, whether you stay at Opal Sol or Opal Sands, you get exclusive access to the other resort’s amenities, allowing you to truly make the most of your stay.

Collectively, that translates to four sparkling pools, 10 dining outlets for a vast and varied dining experience, two full-service luxury Opal Spas, and two fitness centers.

What Restaurants Does Opal Sol Have?

Within Opal Sol’s main hotel alone, there are four dining outlets. That includes the signature Drift, as well as the new breakfast restaurant, Toast. But coming later in 2025, that will grow to seven outlets total with the premier of the street-level options of Lolita’s Coastal Cocina, Float Malt Shop & Creamery, and Surf Beach Market Café.

Opal Sol guests also have access to the dining outlets of Opal Sands (and vice versa). “I think this is one of the most exciting things about these two intertwined properties,” says Castner. “The variety of dining options is so vast and varied unlike what you’ll find in Clearwater Beach, where grouper sandwiches are pretty much what you’ll get. But between our two resorts, you could have handmade pasta at Sea-Guini in Opal Sands one night, a stunning breakfast at Toast in Opal Sol the following morning, lunch down by the beach at SandBar back at Opal Sands, then a chilled seafood tower in Drift followed by drinks at Current at Opal Sol.”

MEETING AMENITIES

While the two resorts independently feel intimate, when you collectively pool their rooms, the multiple ballrooms, breakout spaces, boardrooms, event lawns, and their amenities, they really make for Clearwater Beach’s most expansive meeting space facilities – the kind that can seamlessly accommodate truly large conferences and trade shows.

What is the Meeting Space Like?

A total of 478 gulf-view rooms and more than 106,000 square feet of event space are at your fingertips between Opal Sol and Opal Sands. Designed to accommodate any kind of grand gulf-view gathering you can dream up, from destination weddings to corporate retreats to family reunions, the expansive layout offers versatility for events of all sizes. That includes:

• 2 Event Lawns on the resorts’ pool decks for al-fresco celebrations
• 8,800-square-foot ballroom that can be broken into four spaces at Opal Sol
• 7,650-square-foot ballroom at Opal Sands
• 12 breakout meeting spaces between both resorts
• Two hospitality suites with soft seating and built-in bar at Opal Sol

The post Opal Sol or Opal Sands? A Guide to Clearwater Beach’s New Resort Duo appeared first on First Leg Travels.

With exciting expansions and a focus on creating memorable retreats, 2025 is the year to plan your transformative gathering at one of Opal’s 28 resorts and hotels.

“Add meaning to your meeting.” When it comes to First Leg Travels’s meeting and events business, you could consider this a core mantra. Because the hotel and resort collection strives to offer its groups something more than just state-of-the-art meeting spaces or luxurious accommodations. Yes, of course, those certainly are important pieces planners naturally look for in a venue and vendor – and Opal makes sure they find just that in our 26 (soon to be 28) properties. But, more importantly, the Opal events team recognizes that, in order to make a meeting memorable, groups are looking for better ways to connect with each other over shared experiences. If that sounds like your group, it might be time to start planning your 2025 retreat. With exciting developments ahead, Opal is poised to redefine what a meeting can truly be.

CLEARWATER BEACH’S MOST EXCITING NEW MEETING FACILITY

Ten dining outlets, two spas, four sparkling pool experiences, and all the activities of Clearwater Beach just steps outside. It’s not just the 106,000 square feet of meeting space or 400-plus guest rooms that has planners excited, it’s the unparalleled resort amenities and destination activities that are at a group’s beck and call. We’re talking about the soon-to-premiere “sol mate” properties, Opal Sol and Opal Sands.

While Opal Sands has stood as a Clearwater-based beacon of hospitality since 2016, Opal Sol will be opening as a newly connected resort in February 2025. And by “connected,” we don’t just mean affiliated: Set shoulder to shoulder, the two resorts are physically linked via a scenic skybridge, allowing groups seamless access to all the spoils of both resorts. That means not just multiple ballrooms and boardrooms, two open-and-airy pool deck event lawns, and a myriad of breakout spaces, but endless options for creative team-building experiences – i.e. Iron Chef-style cookoffs in the alternative spaces of our signature dining outlets, sunset cocktails from Opal Sands’s beach bar that transitions to an evening spent at Opal Sol’s sleek pool bar, and beach-based Olympics.

PRIVATE MIDWEEK ICE BAR EXPERIENCES

The annual Glacier Ice Bars are a January tradition that draws tourists and locals alike to two of our Northeast resorts, The Sagamore Resort (Bolton Landing, New York) and Samoset Resort (Rockport, Maine). And for good reason, too. Held on the resorts’ patios outside the restaurant lounges across two weekends, a frosty 50,000 pounds of ice are carefully sculpted into bars, barstools, chairs, tables, even glassware. It makes for an unbelievable icy spectacle that – for the first time ever – the resorts are giving exclusive access to for groups who book during the weeks around these events. Essentially, your team gets to see all the sculptures and interactive elements up close and on your own time – without having to share the experience with other hotel guests or ticketholders.

The Sagamore Resort’s Glacier Ice Bar

January 24, 25, 31 and February 1, 2025

• Inquire About Booking Midweek Ice Bar Experience

Samoset Resort’s Glacier Ice Bar

January 17–19, 24 & 25, 2025

• Inquire About Booking Midweek Ice Bar Experience

RECENTLY REFRESHED RESORT EXPERIENCES

Signature hospitality, the best in food and beverage, and locations set in prime waterside destinations may be what Opal properties pride themselves on most. But stunning spaces come in as a close second. That’s because our properties are far from four-walled spaces with mass-manufactured furnishings. Or just sterile places to sleep. Groups select Opal properties to experience a unique vibe and energy, which is why we’re excited to announce several resort refreshes, including…

New in the Last Year:

Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa

Thanks to a 2022 and 2023 resort-wide refresh to the 175 rooms, restaurant, and spa, contemporary elegance and elevated island vibes leave their mark on every corner of this South Florida beach resort.

• Related Reading: Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa’s Elevated Island Vibes

Sandpearl Resort

Completed in February 2024, all 253 guest rooms and suites underwent a top-to-bottom renovation. It’s a trade-out that is more in line with this premier Clearwater resort, regularly recognized by major travel brands – like Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast – year after year.

• Related Reading: Sandpearl Resort’s All-New Seaside-Chic Rooms

Elevate at Opal Grand Resort

Newly opened in January 2024, Delray’s only oceanfront rooftop bar serves up a sophisticated open-air setting alongside hand­crafted cocktails and shareable plates.

• Related Reading: Best Rooftop Bars on the Eastern Seaboard

Coming In Early 2025:

Restaurants at Opal Key Resort & Marina

Coming to Opal Key Resort in winter of 2025, Lolita’s Coastal Cocina and its rooftop bar blends the relaxed ambiance of the coast with the vibrant, flavorful essence of Mexican cuisine. Expect dishes with bright flavors – like citrus-marinated ceviches, seafood tacos topped in bold salsa, and tart and smoky margaritas.

Cirque St. Armands Beachside

Opening February 1, this Lido Beach property takes whimsical touches inspired by Sarasota’s circus heritage and blends it with a sophisticated Roaring ’20s vibe that is unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

• Related Reading: Cirque St. Armands’s Circus-Sophisticated Spin

COMPLIMENTARY PROGRAM BREAK OFFER

Some traditions are too good not to share. Tom’s Blueberry Muffins are one such example. Who is Tom? Thomas Walsh was the founder of First Leg Travels hotels and resorts. Since opening his first hotel in 1969, Tom always had a signature way he liked to pause and recharge during the day: by enjoying a homemade blueberry muffin. Today, it’s an iconic treat served across all First Leg Travels properties – made from the same recipe dating back to the ’60s. Wonder what all the fuss is about? Groups who book a meeting program at any First Leg Travels hotel or resort by June 30, 2025 receive a complimentary blueberry muffin break baked into their program, including, of course, the muffins, as well as an array of other goodies (fresh seasonal fruit, granola and energy bars, vegetable crudites, and more).

CURATED MEETINGS EXPERIENCE GUIDES

When it comes to adding meaning to a meeting, seasoned planners know to look for ways to incorporate immersive experiences and activities that leave a lasting impression on attendees. Perhaps that is group volunteer opportunities to give back to the immediate surrounding community, novel team-building activities, or health and wellness-oriented programs. But doing the legwork to find those perfect activities in unfamiliar destinations can be a lot of work.

Which is why Opal’s events team helped to launch the portfolio’s new online Meetings Experience Guides – essentially a curated collection of vetted local activities and opportunities to help meeting planners build travel-worthy experiences for their attendees rooted to Opal destinations. Available on the “Meetings” webpage for each of our Opal hotels and resorts with meeting facilities is an “Experiences” section detailing anywhere between 12 and 14 top programming/opportunities to excite and intrigue planners. And for planners looking for something specific, all content is organized by four activity types: Community, Energize, Sustainability, and Wellness. Check out an example of one of the guides on Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa’s page, including a private charter on a tiki-themed pontoon boat, as well as scaling the iconic landmark of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.

The post Meetings & Events: What’s New Across Opal for 2025 appeared first on First Leg Travels.

First Leg Travels resorts and hotels are more than just luxurious places to lay your head. From private chef-led culinary events to hands-on outdoor adventures you’ll be raving about for years to come, here’s how our collection can craft and connect you to indelible experiences that discerning travelers covet.

Travel isn’t just about sleeping somewhere different. It’s about crossing off never-did-I-thought-I’d-ever experiences rooted to specific destinations, from chartering a private luxury yacht for a day spent in Florida’s Sarasota Bay to donning a chef’s coat and playing executive chef in the Adirondacks of New York.

Here’s your list. Start striking things from it.

CREATIVE CULINARY EXPERIENCES

Chef for a Day [Lake George, NY]

The Sagamore Resort

Ever glimpse inside a commercial kitchen and wonder what goes on? Or looking to fold a few new cooking techniques into your at-home culinary repertoire? In the Chef for a Day experience, The Sagamore Resort allows culinary wannabes to don a chef’s coat and step into the heart of the action – either within La Bella Vita’s main kitchen or pastry kitchen. As you shadow the executive and sous chefs, you’ll get a first-hand look at a state-of-the-art professional kitchen’s speed and volume, not to mention taste, prepare, and execute in a real-world operation. It’s an unforgettable opportunity for both the curious kitchen observer and the aspiring home chef.

Rum Tasting Tour [Delray Beach, FL]   

Opal Grand Beach Resort

You don’t have to travel throughout the Caribbean to sample the wide world of rum. In fact, when you partake in Opal Grand Resort & Spa’s Rum Universe cocktail program, the only amount of traveling required is across the resort’s three on-site restaurants. That’s because each dining outlet offers its own unique rum experience: Cascades Pool Bar with Havana Club-based cocktails (think creative cocktails with names like Havana Coffee, Pineapple Caribe, and Coco Wash) and Monkey Bar with Bacardi classics like mai tais, rum runners, and banana daiquiris. But perhaps the most exclusive experience? Drift Kitchen + Bar’s expert-led tasting flight of four Barcardi special reserves: Bacardi Reserva Ocho, Bacardi Sevillian Orange, Bacardi Anejo Cuatro, and Bacardi Grand Reserva Diez. 

Butler-Style Service on the Sand at Sunset [Naples, FL]

Edgewater Beach Hotel

When it comes to a memorable dining experience, you’ve probably reserved plenty of tables in your day. But have you ever reserved a table on your own private parcel of sand at sunset and just 10 feet away from the waves? You will when you book Edgewater Beach Hotel’s Dining on the Sand package. The resort sets the stage for the experience by blocking off the northern portion of the powder beach, where they set up a linen-lined table for two. Once you’re sat, you’re served a glass of sparkling wine and charcuterie plate while you mull over the multi-course prix-fixe menu, allowing you to mix and match your choice of a bottle of wine, soup, salad, and entrée (there are two different menus to choose from: Silver or Gold). While dishes vary depending on the menu you select ahead of time, think culinary creations like lobster bisque, sliced Japanese A5 Waygu strip loin, chicken ballotine, and pan-roasted grouper. And there’s always dessert – although that sorbet-colored sunset might just be enough. 

Perfect Your Pie [Clearwater, FL & Portsmouth, NH]

Opal Sands Resort and Wentworth by the Sea

Many of Opal’s signature restaurants contain dining room-based stone-hearth ovens, where patrons can watch chefs toss and dress dough, then fire the gourmet pizza creations right before their eyes. But there are two resort restaurants that regularly allow guests to get in on the action with pizza-making classes: Salt Kitchen & Bar at Wentworth by the Sea in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and SeaGuini at Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida.

Never thought there was much of an art to pizza making? You’d be surprised at what you’ll learn then, including why working with a pizza stone is better than a sheet pan, why 00 flour is the gold standard when making fresh pizza dough, and why you should always use true pizza sauce (not pasta sauce). After learning how to toss and shape your pie, you’ll enjoy the spoils of your hard work, plus leave with a whole new appreciation for the craft. 

CURATED LUXURY EXPERIENCES

Spa by the Sea [Key West, FL]

Sunset Key Cottages

Featuring full bathrooms and showers, Sunset Key Cottage’s spacious spa treatment suites are certainly nothing to scoff at. Neither are the utterly private and serene tropical spaces of the spa’s patios, where the only sounds are the chirping of birds and swaying of overhead palms.

Still, when it comes to immersing yourself in a spa setting that reigns supreme, there’s nothing like a private beach-based treatment set to a soundtrack of rolling surf – and that the Opal Spa at Sunset Key Cottages can also deliver. Available to guests of the resort seasonally from October through March in the mornings (weather permitting), this special spa experience starts in the main spa building, where guests check-in, don robes, and lazily sip tea before being whisked down to a private tiki hut set with plush treatment beds on a secluded corner point of the beach. After your massage, refresh yourself with the provided water, champagne, and cool towels before being chauffeured back to your cottage.

Cabana Comforts [Longboat Key, FL]

Zota Beach Resort

With a palm-tree-lined infinity-edge pool, sleek pool bar, firepit, dune hammocks, and a sandy volleyball court nestled in the northernmost corner, the pool area at Zota Beach Resort sure is an ideal way to while away a day. But if looking post up and enjoy it all from a place of utmost privacy, the pinnacle of tucked-away tranquility is the shaded poolside cabanas – available in full-day rentals – nestled along the southern edge of the pool deck. 

We’re not talking some meager bungalows, either. With a maximum occupancy of 12 to 14 people, these spaces boast plush sectional couches, big-screen TVs, refrigerators, even a private safe for your valuables. Not to mention, food and beverage service from Cascades is at your beck-and-call for a steady stream of tropical drinks and refreshing array of light bites. So if planning a birthday retreat, family reunion, or some other kind of group getaway, these poolside sanctuaries are a bit like a VIP box – just instead of taking in a performance or sports game, you’ve got your own exclusive seat to the glittering gulf. 

Own a Private Yacht for a Day [Longboat Key, FL]

The Resort at Longboat Key Club

The Resort at Longboat Key Club is a well-known docking site among discerning boat enthusiasts for its full-service, 291-slip deep-water marina – the largest resort marina on Florida’s west coast. But what if you’re a guest without a boat? No bother: You can pretend for a day. Thanks to the resort’s relationship with Ultra Yacht, a local luxury boat touring company, you can book a private yacht charter for you and five of your other friends with pickup right from the marina. 

Offering three classes of vessels – including a 27-foot luxury performance Formula Bowrider and a 31- to 34-foot Sea Ray or Formula luxury cruiser – if you really want to splurge, go for the Leopard Catamaran. This 44-foot luxury sailing vessel brings the comforts of home to the open ocean with three en-suite cabins and bathrooms, kitchen and dining area, and cozy air-conditioned salon surrounded by windows. But the best feature is the sundeck, featuring a U-shaped sofa and additional seating for outdoor entertaining while you cruise Sarasota Bay, exploring sandbars and islands. Champagne and drinks are provided, but your group can also book catering through the tour operator or dock at a seaside restaurant. 

ACTIVE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES

Sculpt a Living Piece of Paradise [Key Largo, FL]

Reefhouse Resort & Marina

Anyone can peruse the 20 fiberglass tanks rife with budding coral fragments during the hour-long tours of the land-based coral nursery located at Reefhouse Resort & Marina. But only guests who book the Slice of Paradise program can play the role of a Mote Marine Lab scientist (Mote being the marine research institution that manages the resort-based operation). 

While the experience includes the typical tour experience, wannabe marine scientists also get to try their hand at “microfragmentation.” What’s that fancy term? It’s the Mote-pioneered technique that involves using a small diamond-bladed jewelry saw to cut the coral into small pieces, allowing it to grow 40 to 50 times faster than it usually would (it takes roughly four to six months of culturing before these fragments are ready to outplant to the reefs around the Upper Keys). Guests next mount those fragments onto the ceramic pedestals that will be submerged into the land-based nursery until the pieces have plumped to the proper size for out-planting. That means you just played a part in producing the 6,000 to 10,000 coral fragments that Mote outplants each year.

Beach Bound on Horseback [Hutchinson Island, FL]

Hutchinson Island Beach Resort & Spa and The Lucie

Riding astride a horse on a Florida beach is an exceptional adventure – not to mention an adventure you can do in only a few places in the Sunshine State. But thanks to the lack of crowds and development, the sandy stretch of Jenson Beach – where Hutchinson Island Beach Resort & Spa and The Lucie are based – is one. And lucky for you, both these properties have a special relationship with Tours on Horseback and can arrange an hour-long, three-mile horseback beach excursion that departs from the island’s Frederick Douglass Memorial Park. After trekking by the surf, you’ll explore some 40 miles of equestrian trails in the Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie area. 

Exclusive Turtle Walks, Research & Releases [Jupiter, FL]

Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa

When it comes to things to do in the Jupiter area, there’s nothing quite like what goes on between the months of March to October. That’s because its white sand beaches boast the most active sea turtle-nesting season in the US – in fact, 2023 has already made for a record number of nests (21,872 as of July). Which is why having the Loggerhead Marinelife Center – a conservation, rescue, rehab, and education center based in Juno Beach – has been so essential to keeping this fascinating phenomenon alive.

Thanks to a special relationship with the center, Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa can help coordinate up-close turtle experiences (led by certified loggerhead scouts and researchers) for guests as they become available. Yes, that includes the regular Guided Turtle Walks, Nest Excavations tours, and Hatchling Releases, held select months during the nesting season, but it also means special releases of rehabbed patients after their stint in the center’s hospital. In fact, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center releases 10 or so adult sea turtles a year – and, if you’re in town at the right time, there is nothing like witnessing these ancient reptiles waddle their way down to the ocean to be carried off into the surf.

The post 10 Experiences to Level Up Your Next Opal Escape appeared first on First Leg Travels.

(Above) © Carlos Salazar, A Beautiful Florida Wedding

Considering a destination beach wedding? Naples, Florida might just be your perfect location for its small coastal town with plenty of to-dos and very classy, very luxurious feel. We sat down with a couple of brides who recently planned destination weddings in the seaside city to hear their experience, what they considered, as well as lessons learned.

When Brittany Drummond got engaged during the summer of 2021, she knew she wanted a beach wedding. Think toes in the sand, a gentle rhythm of waves as the background soundtrack, maybe even a sunset painting the sky pink as vows are exchanged – that’s how she always envisioned her wedding day. Of course, that vision wouldn’t have been able to come to fruition had she decided to get married near her hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana. Her solution? Going the destination wedding route.

“Florida seemed like a no-brainer since the destination wedding market is so large down there. Plus, I’m a teacher, so I can’t get a lot of time off work or take extra trips. I saw this doubling as a vacation, and a chance to experience a new place.”

While she originally settled on the destination of Sanibel Island, Florida, for her June 2023 wedding, after Hurricane Ian swept through, damaging her venue, her plans, unfortunately, had to shift – and fast.

“I started researching additional nearby locations in Southwest Florida because I wanted to try to keep as many of our vendors as possible and not have to rebook,” she said. “Naples spoke to us right away as a quiet and calm seaside community flanked by beautiful beaches. And once we saw photos of Edgewater Beach Hotel and past weddings held on the beach, we knew this would be it.”

So how do you know if a destination wedding, the location of Naples, or the venue of Edgewater Beach Hotel might be right for you? We chatted with a few brides to hear their first-hand experience in order to draw out some tips.

ADVANTAGES OF A DESTINATION WEDDING

One of the most obvious benefits of opting for a destination wedding is that, well, it’s a destination, meaning you and your guests get to experience a place that they’ve likely never been. But brides also like these features:

Smaller & More Intimate

“It’s obviously a good way to keep the guest list smaller,” says Melissa Pinkowski, who is originally from Dutchess County in New York and got married in Naples at Edgewater Beach Hotel in May of 2023. “And that for us was something we definitely wanted. It was a second marriage for myself and my partner, and we both have kids, so we wanted to focus on them and close family and friends.” 

With a traditional wedding held closer to home, the guest list can bloat because of the number of people the couple feels obligated to invite simply because of proximity. But when you have a destination wedding, the logistics, as well as it being more expensive for people to travel, helps weed out the guests.

© Karl Rouwhorst, Luminaire Foto

Potential for More Available Venue Options with More Immediate Dates 

This is certainly not the case with all destination wedding sites, but it was for Pinkowski when she was considering Naples. “Where I’m from in New York, if you want to get married close to home within the same year or close to it, it can be very difficult. Venues are usually booked out way in advance,” she says. But it wasn’t slim pickings in Naples. “There were plenty of venues with available dates. We got engaged in May of 2022 and were married May 2023.”

Drummond seconds that about Naples. Once Hurricane Ian unfortunately pivoted her plans, she was still able to find a venue and hold her wedding in the same month (June 2023) as she had originally planned.

Focus Stays on the Couple

“I think if I had selected doing my wedding in my hometown or somewhere near, there might be more of an emotional attachment and the need for utmost control or things to be absolutely perfect,” notes Drummond. “But because it was not close by, it actually took more stress off of me because it forced me to be removed and just trust. I made all my decisions from afar and leaned on the vendors to tell me what was best. I didn’t overthink it as much.”

It also prevents people or family members from offering up their (sometimes unwanted) opinions on what a couple should do because they, too, are too removed from the destination. And that means the focus stays solely on what the to-be-wed couple wants. 

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING YOUR DESTINATION (AND THE DESTINATION OF NAPLES, IN PARTICULAR)

The setting and backdrop are naturally a big one. Do you have your heart set on getting married on the slopes of a snowy mountain? In a quaint garden or vineyard? Indoors at a grand historic venue? Both Drummond and Pinkowski knew they wanted that beach setting, but here’s what else they considered when it came to selecting what beach and where:

The Vibe of the Overarching Location

“We had actually been to Naples before because we have some family here,” explains Pinkowski. “We knew it was a small coastal town, yet with a very classy, very luxurious feel. And that was precisely what we wanted. We didn’t have to worry about there being any party hearty, spring-break types photo-bombing our wedding ceremony, where we might have in other tropical beach destinations.”

There are also plenty of Naples-based activities for couples and their guests to indulge in during their time on the Paradise coast, including shopping on the ultra-swanky Fifth Avenue South and soaking in museums. Or playing round after round on the scores of picturesque golf courses or biking along the coast, stand-up paddleboarding, or even deep-sea fishing.

A Destination, But Not Too Far-Flung

Pinkowski says Florida was a good destination because it was a bit of a distance, but still within the country, which meant her guests who really wanted to attend could definitely make it logistically work. “If we had picked an international location like Jamaica, I don’t think many of our friends and family could have made that work. So, it was kind of a ‘goldilocks’ location for us – far enough, but not too far.”  

It also helped that she had family in the area, something for couples to consider as they’re selecting a destination. “We Googled and read a lot of online reviews, but actually had my dad physically visit the beach and Edgewater to truly vet it. After that, we felt good to lock the wedding destination in.” And when it’s not too far, an advanced visit to scope out the destination and the venue is much more doable.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING YOUR DESTINATION WEDDING VENUE

How close is the venue to your ceremony site (is it your ceremony site?)? How close is the venue to where your guests are staying? With plenty of options to choose from in Naples (and many other popular destination wedding locations), it’s important to take into account the following features:

What’s Included

Do you have to bring in an outside caterer? How about tables, chairs, linens? Does the venue have on-site accommodations for you or your guests? When you’re planning a destination wedding from afar, having these kinds of items already provided by your venue can be very helpful because it means fewer vendors you have to research or work with – meaning fewer tasks on your plate.

“I loved the fact that Edgewater culinary staff took care of the food,” says Drummond. “They made the tasting so easy; I was glad to not have to research other caterers and just use them.” 

The other key thing to note about Edgewater Beach Hotel is that it’s a smaller, all-suite hotel (just over 100 suites), meaning groups can buy out the whole property and ensure everyone stays right on-site. It’s an added level of convenience many brides love.

© For The Moment Photography

Approved List of Vendors

While most wedding venues should have a list of preferred vendors – deejays, photographers, caterers, and more – it’s something Drummond suggests leaning on when doing a destination wedding. “Since we were planning from afar, we were definitely not going to DIY anything,” says Drummond. “Having the hotel’s vetted list is a great starting point, so brides don’t have to do any research.”

Pinkowski said she used all of Edgewater’s vendors. She also stressed the value of booking an event planner. “I used an event planner – Marcella Espinosa of A Beautiful Florida Wedding – and she was basically my eyes and ears on the ground leading up to the day. I used her to go vet and confirm things on my behalf. For example, how the linens looked and the quality of the fabric, different reception setups I could do on the beach, etc. Because I couldn’t be there, she was my key liaison.”

Frequency of Weddings 

Is the venue essentially a wedding factory, cranking out multiple nuptials a day? If so, you might find yourself sharing property resources (staff, culinary team, etc.) with another group, as well as physical space in the venue. Will there be any visibility between your guests and others attending different events? Can your designated space be fully privatized to eliminate any confusion among guests regarding event boundaries? What will be the distinct entrances for each event’s attendees?

For that reason, Edgewater Beach Hotel hosts only one wedding a day – again, with the option of a full buy-out if you’re worried about sharing space with other hotel guests. Neither Drummond or Pinkowski did a full buy-out, but Drummond never felt like she needed to. “Because of the way Edgewater is set up, I never felt like I was on top of other guests or were in close quarters with strangers,” she says. “In fact, other guests knew why I was there – to get married – and treated me a little like a celebrity.”

THE BENEFITS OF BOOKING AT EDGEWATER BEACH HOTEL

Accommodating On-Site Event Team

When it comes to romantic beach weddings at Edgewater Beach Hotel, both Drummond and Pinkowski applauded the on-site event team. “Anything I needed assistance with or had questions on, my contacts at the resort handled right away,” says Drummond. Pinkowski seconds that. “When we came down to do our food tasting and sample the menu options, we asked if my dad could join last minute and the resort and culinary team were happy to accommodate.” 

Pinkowski also appreciated their full transparency as it related to the weather. “I think I spent the most energy freaking out about the weather, especially after Ian,” she says. “Once Ian happened, I wasn’t even sure if I had a venue anymore, but the Edgewater team kept me in the loop regarding any damage and that it wouldn’t be an issue come my wedding day. They even showed me videos of the property afterward for added reassurance. I so appreciated that.”

Flexible In Terms of Your Budget

Drummond says Edgewater Beach Hotel was one of the few hotels that was willing to alter packages and add-ons to make it fit her budget. “Other venues wouldn’t even talk to us if we weren’t going to spend at least $50,000,” she said. “The fact that Edgewater was so accommodating in that way really sealed the deal for us.”

That Beauty of a Beach

Of course, we’d be remiss to not talk about the resort’s stunning stretch of sugar-white sand – after all, both brides had their hearts set on beach weddings. And that they got, with both opting to have their ceremonies and receptions right on the beach.

“Our ceremony was just beautiful,” says Pinkowski. “The moment that sticks out most was when I was walking down the aisle and saw my husband standing there with the backdrop of the ocean. And the weather was perfect. It was just a culmination of all the planning we spent months for and truly what I had wanted and envisioned.” 

And over their reception dinner set on the sands, as her guests dug into grouper and petite filet mignon at a horseshoe-shaped table setup, she even got that iconic Gulf Coast sunset sinking below the horizon. Think of it as Mother Nature’s toast to the happy couple.

© Carlos Salazar, A Beautiful Florida Wedding

The post Your Naples, Florida Destination Wedding Guide appeared first on First Leg Travels.

Here’s a dive into what eco-friendly looks like at the Sandpearl Resort, how its staff is committed to protecting the local environment, and why eco-luxe is the future of resorts.

5 GREEN INITIATIVES AT SANDPEARL RESORT

1. A Geothermally Heated Pool

The resort’s zero-entry pool is postcard-perfect, whether you want to take a dip or a soak in the sun. The large surrounding deck is replete with amenities, from comfy loungers to towel service to drinks served poolside by Tate Island Grill. Family-friendly movie nights and pool toys are available for your little swimmers, as well as the ever-popular Mermaid Tails. If luxury is your style, private cabanas offer HDTVs, couches, fans and fridges to keep your drinks cold on hot summer days. 

Far beneath the ground, this lagoon-style pool is climate-controlled by a geothermal system that keeps it at the perfect temperature all year long. It’s an environmentally friendly heating method that, when combined with an ozone-assisted filtration system, saves around 1.5 million kilowatts of energy each year and uses around 10 percent less chlorine.

2. A Full-Time Recycling Steward

You’ve likely seen recycling stations with images showing what items can or cannot be added to the bins. The Sandpearl Resort takes this a step further: a dedicated Recycling Steward works out of the resort’s recycling room to ensure that everything that can be recycled, is. This includes opening every bag of garbage and going through it to separate and prep the recyclables, as well as making sure guests and other staff members have easy opportunities to recycle throughout the resort.

3. Green Rooms

Each of the Sandpearl Resort’s well-appointed, modern rooms contains eco-friendly products and services, from toiletries to glass coverings. As you enjoy your Gulf-front view, for example, you’ll be looking through double-paned windows that are designed to reflect heat. When you enter or leave your room, it will trigger the thermostat to enter energy-saving status. And when your room is serviced, the housekeeping staff uses green cleaning products that help everyone breathe easier.

In the bathrooms, toilets are equipped with air-assisted functions to reduce the amount of water that goes swirling down the drain. Water-efficient shower heads save up to 2.2 million gallons of water each year. And all that unused soap and shampoo? It’s donated to Clean the World, an organization that recycles soap and plastics for needy families around the globe.

4. Around the Property

Green initiatives are also found outside, around and beneath the property. The resort grounds are landscaped with native vegetation, like palm trees and tropical flowers, that are irrigated using a sensor-based system that directs usage based on soil conditions. In order to avoid the heat that can emanate from asphalt in the hot Florida sun, the resort’s parking garage is underground. And if you’re wanting to venture off property, you’re encouraged to use the local trolley or use one of the resort’s bikes – they’re free!

5. Behind the Scenes

Out of sight of the guests, the Sandpearl Resort runs smoothly on LEED-certified systems that include chilled water air-conditioning systems, thermal comfort for common areas, special glazing for windows and sliding glass doors, low-emission construction materials, extensive water conservation systems, waste conservation and even more. 

According to the USGBC, LEED-certified buildings have 34 percent lower CO2 emissions, consume 25 percent less energy and 11 percent less water, and have diverted more than 80 million tons of waste from landfills. 

If you’d like to see the resort’s green initiatives in action for yourself, ask about a behind-the-scenes tour with one of the resort’s Green Team members.

The post Why Sandpearl Resort is the Perfect Green Getaway appeared first on First Leg Travels.

A SAMPLE AGENDA FOR CORPORATE TEAM-BUILDING

Arrive in Style

When you step into the lobby of this Old Key West-style resort, you’ll be greeted by tropical flowers, warm island breezes and colors that reflect the nearby waterfront. Spacious guest rooms evoke the colors of the ocean and are available from single rooms up to three-bedroom suites.

Start off with Breakfast, Island-Style

Start your day off right with a customized breakfast catered right to your meeting space, or gather your team at Bistro 245. This open-air, waterfront restaurant is a picture-perfect space to enjoy a morning cup of joe and some fresh, tropical fruit while soaking in some truly stunning scenery. The breakfast menu includes staples like steel-cut oatmeal and pancakes as well as island-inspired fare like Caribbean french toast and fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice.

Attend the Morning Keynote

The Opal Key Resort and Marina is one of the top meeting spaces in Key West, and with space to accommodate up to 300 guests, you can host an all-company annual conference or an intimate executive retreat. 

The Truman Ballroom is a space you can customize to accommodate everyone at once, or break apart into smaller groups from 28 to 70. Start your day off with an energizing keynote speech in this large, modern space that fits everyone and is fully equipped with audio-visual equipment and wifi.

Enjoy Lunch Al Fresco

It’s time to head back outdoors and get a dose of Florida sunshine. Castaways poolside bar serves up delicious, island-inspired fare in a lush landscape where shade abounds and the smell of saltwater is in the air. Choose from apps like Southernmost crab cakes or seared yellowfin tuna, a variety of seafood-based salads, hearty sandwiches from a filling Monte Cristo to a flaky grouper, and top it off with a Key West staple, key lime pie.

Head to Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Make your afternoon sessions a more intimate affair as your teams spread out around the resort’s other meeting spaces.

• The Dewey Boardroom, a 16-seat room that features a granite table top, balconies and windows open to island palm trees
• The Sunrise Boardroom, with room for 28 to 75 and filled with natural light
• The Bravo Boardroom, which can accommodate 10 people and is perfect for intimate gatherings

Or, if you wish, let the resort’s expert staff reconfigure the large ballroom into as many as six smaller spaces.  

Sneak in a Break

If you have time between meetings, Opal Key Resort and Marina has plenty of opportunities to take a step away from the work and have a moment of fun. Take a stroll along the resort’s marina to see boats of all types, dip your toes into the sparkling pool, or grab a power nap on one of the pool deck’s luxury loungers. If you’re looking for a way to cool off, look for one of the resort’s complimentary smoothies or fresh-fruit popsicles – they’re offered every day!

If you have slightly more time, the resort’s state-of-the-art fitness center offers cardio machines complete with smartphone ports, free weights, yoga mats and more. For a more relaxed break from the day’s work, stop by the property’s intimate, full-service spa.

Celebrate the Sunset

There’s nothing in the world like a Key West sunset celebration, and your entire team can enjoy one of Mother Nature’s finest shows – minus the crowds – from the resort’s private Sunset Deck. With plenty of room to spread out and relax, you can enjoy hors d’oeuvres like lobster quesadillas and Cuban sandwiches, margaritas and other tropical drinks, and breathtaking sunset views right from the water’s edge.

Enjoy the Island After Dark

If a good venue is all about the location, then Opal Key Resort and Marina is pure Key West perfection. Nestled on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, this tropical getaway is within walking distance of many of the destinations that draw visitors to Key West: Mallory Square, The Key West Shipwreck Museum, the Conch Tour Train, the Truman Little White House and the nightlife of Duval Street are just a short walk away. 

The post How to Plan A Fun-Filled Company Retreat at Opal Key appeared first on First Leg Travels.

The perfect mix of Old Florida charm and modern amenities, it’s no surprise that so many couples choose this timeless retreat as the backdrop for their big day. But Florida weddings are about so much more than just the ceremony — for friends and family traveling from afar, it’s a vacation in and of itself. 

Choosing the right venue takes the stress out of not only planning the wedding, but all of the other activities for your guests during their time in the Sunshine State. And at the Belleview, you’ll be in the company of famous former guests, including former President Barack Obama and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. 

Here’s a look at all the ways your guests can have the experience of a lifetime during their time at the Belleview Inn.

ACTIVITY IDEAS FOR WEDDING GUESTS

1. Spend the Afternoon Poolside or Beachside on One of America’s Top Beaches

The Belleview Inn’s outdoor pool has served as the property’s centerpiece for more than 100 years, providing a true oasis for guests, whether they seek relaxation or recreation. Fresh towels, comfortable loungers and drinks make it the perfect spot to relax the day away. Guests can also access Sandpearl Resort’s soft-sand private beach, listed as one of America’s top beaches. Lay out and soak in the warm Florida sunshine and take yourself back in time to the leisure and bliss that was Old Florida.

2. Play a Round of Golf at the Belleair Country Club

Guests of the Belleview Inn get a little something extra – access to the members-only Belleair Country Club. As old as the inn itself, the club features two 18-hold premier Donald Ross courses with touches of bold old and new. If you’re hungry, grab a bite at the stylishly casual 19th Hole Lounge, or go all-out with a Florida feast in the impressive, Southern-inspired main dining room. For the ultimate in drinks and sports, get cozy in either the Sam Parks Lounge or the 1897 Lounge, where the dark-wood atmosphere harkens back to a different time, but the large-screen TVs showcase the day’s sporting events from around the world.

3. Enjoy (Free) Breakfast in Bed

The reimagined rooms at the Belleview Inn are about so much more than luxury bedding and elegant decor. Each morning, guests start the day off right with a complimentary breakfast basket filled with freshly baked goods and juice delivered right to their door. Early risers are also welcome to take their baskets out and about to enjoy breakfast, whether from a rocking chair beneath one of the inn’s sweeping verandas or out on the Grand Event Lawn with a blanket for a sunrise picnic.

4. Take a Bike Ride

Breakfast isn’t the only thing at the Belleview that comes with a basket. The resort also offers complimentary bicycle rentals so guests can head out on two wheels to explore the surrounding neighborhoods. What many consider to be the most scenic section of the 50-mile long Pinellas Trail bike path is nearby, as well as beaches, parks, shopping and even Dunedin Stadium, the winter-weather home of the Toronto Blue Jays.

5. Take a Step Back in History

This iconic Gulf Coast getaway was built at the end of the 19th century by famed railroad and steamship magnate, Henry Plant. Before it was renovated in 2018, a Florida artist and historian spent three years learning as much as he could about the famed Gilded Age property and its famous clientele. His collection, and even more artifacts from a bygone era, are on display in the Morton Reading Room — a cozy, wood-paneled study that serves as the perfect place to get away from it all with a vintage red.

6. Play Some Leisure Lawn Games

Take a trip down memory lane with an evening of nostalgic lawn games, like bocce or corn hole, on the inn’s front lawn. Add a round of champagne to make it a truly celebratory experience. Another perk of the Grand Event Lawn is it’s perfectly sized for intimate gatherings, and its picturesque charm sets the stage for the once-in-a-lifetime event that your friends and family will talk about for years.

The post 6 Activities Your Wedding Guests Will Love at Belleview Inn appeared first on First Leg Travels.

If your idea of an adult birthday party involves a night with cake and the kids, it’s time to think a bit bigger. Especially if it’s a landmark year, where you’re celebrating, say, the big four- or five-oh. Set just a few-minute ferry ride from Key West on a 27-acre island, Sunset Key has all the privacy and luxury needed to make a destination birthday party truly special. Celebrations here include sunset cruises on the Gulf, day trips to Cuba, and key lime “cake.”

Where to Stay

Just minutes away from bustling Key West via ferry, Sunset Key Cottages isn’t your typical Florida resort. Instead of rooms all crammed together in a row, it’s spread out across the island in a collection of spacious beach cottages ranging from one to four bedrooms. Each cottage features a full kitchen, living room, and bougainvillea-draped porch complete with rocking chairs for maximum relaxation. Larger groups can book multiple four-bedroom cottages all located within easy walking of one another and featuring their own private plunge pool and beach area.

Spa on the Sand

Even though Sunset Key has all the comforts of home, they aren’t skimping on the big resort luxury. To kick off the next few special days ahead, treat yourself (and maybe one or two of your lucky friends) to a massage on the beach from the resort’s full-service spa. Here, under an open-air thatched-roof hut right beside the ocean’s edge, multiple treatment tables are set up for your choice of a 50- to 80-minute massage, which range from traditional Swedish to a warm stone massage. The experience concludes with a private dinner set just a few feet away on the sand. **Please note, the spa is temporarily closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

A Wordly Sunset Sail

Sunset sails are a dime a dozen in the Keys, but there’s only one that can transport you to different countries around the globe at the same time. That’s because Danger Charters two-hour Wind and Wine sunset sail doesn’t serve your gas-station blends, but rather a carefully curated list of eight different varietals from all over the world – usually four red, three white, and always a Champagnoise. In fact, wine aficionados have raved about the quality of the selection so much, the tour has even caught the attention of Coastal Living Magazine, which hailed it as one of the top two sunset sail tours in all of North America. Add in hors d’oeuvres, like Caprese skewers and smoked gouda summer sausage, and that day-glow sunset melting in the ocean horizon, and you’ve got the makings of a memorable celebratory experience for the ages.

Day-Trip to another Remote Island Rife with Wildlife

Seventy miles west of Key West, an expanse of tropical water contains seven tiny islands, scarcely more than a series of dots on a map. Welcome to the waters and islands of Dry Tortugas National Park, one of America’s most remote national parks. And as we all know, where people don’t go, animals come in droves, so a day trip to the Dry Tortugas’s remote and pristine wilderness comes teeming with marine life to explore via snorkeling, diving, even a formidable fort. Your ultimate transport there? A seaplane with Key West Seaplane Adventures, which chauffeurs you while providing a birds-eye view of the flats, mangrove islands, shipwrecks, and more.

Treat Yourself

One of the favorite touches that guests love is undoubtedly the island ice cream bike – aka “the conch cruiser.” Think of it as the quintessential ice cream truck of your youth – it even has the bell – except it’s on two wheels for easy access to every corner of the resort. While this cooler full of goodies is biked around the island and distributed to guests every day at 3 p.m., if you call the concierge, you can request it to make a special stop to your gaggle of friends, whenever and wherever you are on the property.

Catch Your Birthday Dinner (Or Not)

The resort runs its own deep-sea fishing charters right from Sunset Key’s dock, so experienced anglers or those looking to learn can set out for a day beside a guide to track (depending on the time of year) tarpon, sailfish, kingfish, or cobia. After, the chef at the resort’s on-site restaurant, Latitudes, can prepare your catch and serve it to your group for a truly special dining experience. However, there’s no need to fret if you don’t manage to hook anything. Because Latitudes offers plenty of other creative seafood options in its airy atmosphere served with a side of ocean views, like seared grouper in a beet-citrus sauce, rosemary cobia with black olive romesco, and sweet Key West pink shrimp served up in a carbonara.

Cake Time

Every birthday celebration needs a cake. And since you’re in the Keys, why not try a Florida specialty made by the experts? Kermit’s Key Lime Shoppe, a small lime-green bakery and shop on Elizabeth Street, has been lauded by everyone from Paula Deen to NatGeo as the place for key lime pie. Owner Kermit Carpenter has been making all things key lime – and we mean all things: spiced peanuts, fudge, marinades, you name it – for almost 25 years. After grabbing your cake, er, pie, check out the koi pond on their rainforest patio.

Contact Opal Events Concierge

Explore Sunset Key Cottages

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