The Best Resorts in the World: 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards

"For a good part of a century, Palm Beach has been a winter magnet for those attracted to a luxurious oceanfront getaway. And undoubtedly the most recognizable fixture within that pull is The Breakers, a 534-room beachside hotel that presents itself less as a resort and more like a palace—at least that’s what my children said on a recent stay. The majestic narrative is in part due to the grand architecture that emulates 15th-century Italian villas, inclusive of gilded and fresco ceilings hand-painted by Florentine artisans. But if you think The Breakers is stuck in the past, then just take in its annual $30 million reinvestment fund that has given way to contemporary additions like HMF, a vibey lounge named after the property’s founder, railroad and oil tycoon Henry Morrison Flagler, that serves sexy cocktails. The Breakers leans into its Florida feels with a waterside area that’s home to four sparking pools, a private beach, and enough palm trees to populate a rainforest. Guest rooms, marked by neutral shades that deliberately play second fiddle to the view of either turquoise blue ocean or verdant gardens, match the resort’s comfortable sophistication, with linens that feel as decadent as the legendary Sunday brunch." - CNT Editors