We just got back from Acqualina Resort & Spa in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. Nestled on 4.5 acres of private beach, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star resort makes you feel like you’re staying at a friend’s lavish Mediterranean villa. It’s smack-dab between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, which gives the resort more space than the Art Deco hotels of Miami Beach and closer beachfront access than hotels along Ocean Drive and those further south down Collins — making it an ideal family-vacation spot. We loved the red lounge chairs that lined the beach. The moment we stepped on the sand, a staff member was quick to cover our lounge chair with a fresh towel and place a rolled-up one behind our head, creating a cushy pillow. He stuck a flag next to our chair, and if we needed anything (water, lunch, a cool towel), all we had to do was raise our red banner to receive top-notch service in 20 seconds or less.
