What to expect: In 1896, oil/railroad magnate Henry Flagler opened the Palm Beach Inn as his second winter-retreat hotel for the rich in what would become known as Palm Beach. Renamed the Breakers in 1901, the hotel burned twice, and then emerged in its current form in 1926, an ornate homage to the Italian Renaissance modeled after Villa Medici in Florence. Staff members at this luxury resort now number 2000. This is a nonsmoking property.

Amenity highlights: The “Ultimate Beachfront Experience” features private beach bungalows, cabanas, and the Ocean Grill restaurant. Swimming options at the resort include five oceanside pools and a 100-yard private beach. A family center includes an outdoor sports court, playground, and supervised clubhouse activities with movies and a game arcade (hourly charges for ages 5–7). A 20,000 square-foot spa is on-site as are retail shops, eight restaurants, and four bars.

Insider tip: From the fountain (patterned after one in Florence's Boboli Gardens) crowning a 200-yard driveway between double rows of Royal palm trees, to the 200-foot-long main lobby, with its high-arched Florentine Ceiling (replicating the Palazzo Davanzati's), the Breakers features numerous references to notable Italian Renaissance masterworks.

What to expect: This historic, 78-room hotel primarily attracts leisure travelers with its location two blocks from shopping and ocean beaches. Built in 1926 and most recently renovated in 2006, the hotel wraps around a courtyard with a fountain, gardens, and dining terraces.

Amenity highlights: The hotel is home to the Frédéric Fekkai Salon & Spa, which offers a variety of services (surcharge), including massage, body treatments, nail treatments, and hair care. A fitness center has cardio equipment and free weights, and guests can use an outdoor splash pool. The renown Café Boulud offers French-American cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the restaurant and through room service. Catering services are also available for events accommodating up to 150 guests.

Insider tip: Two blocks from the hotel is Palm Beach's famous Worth Avenue, an excellent location for people watching, with its trendy shops, restaurants, and art galleries. The hotel is located on a residential street, 2 blocks from the Atlantic Ocean and intracoastal harbor.

What to expect: With an enclosed central courtyard furnished with cafe chairs, a fountain, and lush plantings, the four-story, immaculately-restored Mediterranean Revival hotel contains 32 suites with full kitchens. Situated in elegant old Palm Beach just two blocks from the ocean, the hotel lies close to the shops and cafes of Royal Poinciana Way, and two miles from the high-end retail district of Worth Avenue.

Amenity highlights: Surrounded by tropical plantings, with the charming Bradley Park at its side, the building that houses the hotel is an amenity in itself, a circa-1924 Mediterranean Revival gem that has been lovingly restored and maintained for decades. Every suite in the hotel features a full kitchen; they also offer complimentary high-speed Internet access, and large screen TVs with DVD players.

Insider tip: The Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in nearby Wellington is one of the world's top polo grounds, hosting some of the sport's best players, so if you want to rub shoulders with the seriously monied set, go have a look. General admission is $6 to $15; box seats cost $10 to $40. Matches are held throughout the week, but the big names usually compete on Sunday at 3:30 PM from January to April. Call 561-793-1440 for tickets and schedule.