Hidden Calm at Bonaventure Resort & Spa, Weston, Florida

Garden at Bonaventure Resort & Spa

A Hotel Review

The glitz and glam of Miami’s South Beach don’t jive with my style, but the lush tropical foliage and clean chic decor at Bonaventure Resort & Spa sure do. The hotel felt like a shimmering green oasis, distant from city and suburbia. The minute my husband and I arrived I kicked off my shoes and put my feet up, basking in warm afternoon sun on our private patio. Don’t know why, but the heated glow sure feels therapeutic.

I peeked into the Elizabeth Arden red door spa, wishing I had time for a treatment.  When I saw the yoga room I was ready drop into a down dog pose.  The room was built from honey-colored wood with a window at one end overlooking a garden waterfall.  Totally zen.  Next door was the most fab red leather Pilates Studio I’ve ever seen.

Pilates room in red door lifestyle spa

This being South Florida, a stop at the outdoor bar for a mojito was in order. My husband joined me and we moved inside to dine. On the way back to our room, I snapped this photo of the illuminated water.

Illuminated pool

The Suite

In our suite we enjoyed a kingsize bedroom, full kitchen and living room hiding the flat screen TV in a decorative armoire.  The lavish bathroom was about the size of most European hotel rooms.  Cinnamon colored marble and tile filled the space offering a private toilet and bidet, separate shower and tub, plus a spacious room-for-two sink area.  We slept well amid a bounty of pillows and fine Egyptian cotton sheets.

British colonial style bedroom

After a breakfast buffet including made-to-order eggs, we were off for Key West. The first night on the road, a relaxing interlude away from work and the busy world.  I recommend skipping the fast-paced Miami scene and choosing to stay in the serene Bonaventure.

*************

If you go:  The AAA-rated Four Diamond hotel is located 15 miles from the Fort Lauderdale International Airport off Interstate 75.  The Conference Center offers over 60,000 square feet of meeting place within the 23-acre certified Green Lodging property.  In addition to the spa, guests have access to first-rate tennis and championship golf facilities.

Bonaventure Resort & Spa

250 Racquet Club Road, Weston, Florida  33326

954-616-1234/ 800 327-8090

Website: http://www.bonaventureresortandspa.com/

How to Help Haiti

Flag of Haiti
Flag of Haiti

My sympathy goes out to everyone in earthquake-ridden Haiti who has suffered loss of family, friends and property.  The news and video remain heart-breaking.

The desire to help relief efforts by making donations seems to be swelling, but please be aware of scams out there.  The legitimate organizations using your money for aid are:
ORGANIZATIONS TAKING DONATIONS TO ASSIST IN HAITI
•    Action Against Hunger- http://actionagainsthunger.org
•    
ActionAid – http://actionaidusa.org
•    Air Serve International – www.airserv.org
•    Airline Ambassadors – www.airlineamb.org
•    American Red Cross – www.redcross.org/donate or text the word HAITI to 90999 for a $10 donation
•    AmeriCares – www.AmeriCares.org
•    
CARE – www.care.org/donatehaiti
•    Clinton Foundation – www.clintonfoundation.org or text the word HAITI to 20222 for a $10 donation*
•    Doctors Without Borders – doctorswithoutborders.org
•    Habitat for Humanity – www.habitat.org
•    Humane Society International – www.hsi.org
•    Mercy Corps: Haiti Earthquake Fund – www.mercycorps.org
•    Oxfam America – OxfamAmerica.org/Haiti
•    Partners in Health – www.pih.org
•    Save the Children – http://savethechildren.org
•    The Salvation Army – salvationarmyusa.org
•    UN World Food Programme – www.wfp.org
•    UNICEF – www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake
•    United Way International – www.liveunited.org

Red Cross Logo

Top Chef at The Players Club Sawgrass

Amidst cold January temperatures in Jacksonville, three chefs at The Players Club Sawgrass broke a sweat over a hottest contest in town.  TPC Executive Chef, Hector Gonzalez, laid down a challenge to his staff and they bite at the chance to compete for the title Top Chef.

Members and guests arrived for their first ever Club culinary competition. They savored vegetable and goat cheese ravioli with scallop mousse topped with stuffed calamari in a Pomodoro sauce, prepared by Tim Cacia. Tim’s flavorful recipe calls for braising two wine corks in the sauce, to keep the calamari from becoming tough.

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