The Seagate Hotel & Spa

"Those who will consider only a hotel smack on the sand are likely to temper their convictions after a stay at the Seagate, set two blocks west of the ocean on bustling Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. True, you’ll have to walk five minutes (or hop on the complimentary trolley) before you can stick a toe in the surf, but that’s assuming you’ll want to leave the hotel. For what little the Seagate lacks in proximity to the beach, it more than makes up for in comfort and service. A marine decor dominates the public areas, with three massive aquariums filled with jellyfish and exotic eels on the ground floor, and sculptural light fixtures inspired by seashells and corals. The 156 rooms don’t win points for originality; their dark-wood-and-neutral palette recalls a furnished executive studio. But they’re comfortable and uncommonly large, with sitting areas, wet bars, breezy balconies, and bathrooms with tubs built for two. The staff is eager to please and the hotel’s beach club is the perfect spot for lunch between laps in the pool. Apart from the beach and a welcoming spa, daytime diversions can be found in the many shops along Atlantic Avenue, which heats up at night."