Once in your room, you can either unpack your bags and begin taking in your ocean view (all rooms have them), or step out onto your private balcony and gaze at the crashing waves, taking in the rhythm of nature’s lulling force; night-time is an ideal time to leave the balcony door open and get soothed into a deep sleep by the ocean’s roar

Situated between Daytona Beach and historical St. Augustine, lies the city of Palm Coast, one of northern Florida’s unpretentious luxury destinations, where multi-million dollar homes are the norm, rather than the exception. Off the main thoroughfare, one travels down a meandering road, where lush trees and vegetation accentuate the road, muting any invasive noise. Anticipation is tempered by seclusion.

Approaching this area’s premier luxury resort and private club destination, The Club at Hammock Beach (owned and operated by Ginn Clubs & Resorts), is an impressive twelve-story ($150M) architectural wonder, reminiscent of a by-gone era. Before entering the main lobby, your own personal concierge, who has already checked you in; greets you and, although you’ve already spoken by phone, meeting them personally adds a nice exemplary touch of hospitality. Your personal concierge, and team members, confirms all of the guest’s arrival (and departure) details, including any last minute requests for dinner reservations, family outings, golf or spa appointments, deep-sea fishing or diving, etc.; if a guest forgets anything, the personal concierge will graciously get it for you.

After the introductory pleasantries, you are led into the resort’s spectacular lobby, with its broad-beamed twenty-foot ceilings, tranquil waterfall, cozy fireplace, exquisite over-stuffed seating, and much more. Its overall appearance is bold, yet soft, and has the feel of a grand manor house. Although you feel like you’re at home, you realize that this home is nothing like you’ve ever set foot into, until now. Then, it's off to your room; there are 148 three and four bedroom suites (2 to 4k s.f.), and 126 one-bedroom suites (740 s.f.); each comes with a kitchen (the larger suites also have a laundry room). Although each suite is beautifully decorated, the charming and universally recognized symbol for hospitality, the pineapple, was “artfully” ubiquitous. The larger suites are a major draw for families, wedding parties, reunions, etc.

One to three bedroom units are equipped with a kitchen area, while the three and four-bedroom suites have their own laundry room. Bathrooms have marble vanities, walk-in Euro-showers, and sunken tubs (too bad they weren’t whirlpools). Luxury is the spoken word in each of the suites.

Once in your room, you can either unpack your bags and begin taking in your ocean view (all rooms have them), or step out onto your private balcony and gaze at the crashing waves, taking in the rhythm of nature’s lulling force; night-time is an ideal time to leave the balcony door open and get soothed into a deep sleep by the ocean’s roar. If you’re not quite ready to savor the ocean’s ambiance, your personal concierge will gladly take you on a tour of the entire property and show you where everything is located and all of the on-premises amenities and activities at your disposal.

That said, after having my “initial” senses inundated with all of this luxury, my passion for arriving was soon to set in, which was to experience the resort’s spa and fitness center. The fitness center (nearly 4k s.f.) offers classes daily, and include Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, spinning, resist-a-ball, step class, aqua aerobics, core strength, and individualized personal training; classes are conducted either in the aerobics’ studio or indoor pool; personal training is conducted in the center, by certified staff trainers.

The center is fully equipped with the latest in cardio and strength building equipment (treadmills, bikes, rowing units, etc.), and is the first facility nationwide to offer the trademarked “Life Fitness Signature Series for Strength”. The fitness center is open daily, from 6:00 am until 8:00 pm.

© SPA MANAGEMENT JOURNAL - JUNE 2005

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