Acqualina Resort & Residences On The Beach — Hotel in Sunny Isles Beach

From the moment we arrived at Acqualina Resort & Spa in Sunny Isles, Florida, we knew we’d made the perfect choice for our 30+ years anniversary celebration. The warm welcome from Belman and Dorman, with their genuine smiles and enthusiasm, set the tone for an unforgettable stay. It’s clear that the staff here loves what they do, and it shines through in their warm tones and friendly demeanor.

Walking into the stunning lobby, we were immediately struck by the elegance and charm of the resort. As someone who typically avoids booking accommodations until arriving at a destination—due to outdated online photos or misinformation—I always ask key questions: When was the property built, and when were the rooms last updated? Acqualina exceeded all expectations, and its pristine condition spoke volumes.

At the front desk, we were greeted by Luigi, whose kindness and excitement made us feel truly special. To our delight, he surprised us with a complimentary upgrade to a breathtaking three-room suite, complete with a full kitchen and mesmerizing ocean views from both the living room and bedroom. A personalized note and chocolate-covered strawberries awaited us, adding a heartfelt touch to our arrival.

Each morning at 5 a.m., I would sit on the terrace, sipping coffee and watching the sunrise over the ocean—an absolutely magical experience. We enjoyed dining at two wonderful restaurants during our stay. Breakfast at Costa Grill was a highlight, with our waiter, Jamie, and Victor, who was very nice, making our mornings delightful. We also dined at Il Mulino New York, where our waiter, George, was incredibly nice and attentive, enhancing our experience with exceptional service. The resort’s beauty, paired with the outstanding service from every staff member we encountered, made our stay extraordinary. From Rosa, our wonderful concierge, to the outdoor supervisor (Richmond) and the hotel manager (Ute), everyone was gracious and genuinely invested in making our stay perfect.

Originally, we had planned to stay for just a few days, but after walkway into Acqualina, we quickly extended our stay to five days. On our checkout day, we had the pleasure of meeting the front desk manager, Mathew, who was very helpful and friendly, ensuring our departure was as seamless and warm as our arrival. The resort has become our new favorite destination, and I’m already reminding my husband daily that I’m ready to return!

Thank you to the entire Acqualina Resort & Spa family for an unforgettable experience. We can’t wait to return to this exceptional resort.

With gratitude,

Daniel & Faye...

WISH I COULD GIVE 10 STARS!

I don’t know where to start. The resort and staff are amazing.

Almost every single staff member learned our names and called us Mr. (last name) and Mrs. (last name). They wanted to associate a name with a face. They were all genuine, polite and kind, and went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable and happy. You could tell they love their jobs. I only wish I could remember more of their names.

When we arrived, Luis helped with our luggage, stored it until our room was ready, and then brought it to our room. At check-in, the staff was so helpful. As this was our first time to stay at Acqualina, we were given a tour of the hotel. A few policies were explained to insure that only hotel guests, residents, and member can use facilities such as pools, beach lounge chairs, and some restaurants, which we greatly appreciated.

The resort is lovely, organized, and well run. The staff that set up and take down lounge chairs, cushions, umbrellas, and towels were meticulous, both at pools and the beach. That in itself was a well-oiled machine.

The outdoor area for dining, Il Mulino for breakfast and Ke-uH for dinner, is beautiful. It’s gorgeous to see the beach, waves, and palm trees as you dine.

The view from Costa Grill is also spectacular. We loved the view of the ocean while having lunch, and also the food and frozen lemonade. Ion, who I believe is the manager, is so kind and caring about the customer’s experience.

William, Il Mulino bartender, was absolutely wonderful. He makes great drinks and is interested in the customer. If you stray from your regular drink, he knows and makes sure that you do want something different. When ordering wine, William took the time to ask questions and then make a suggestion including a taste. We had drinks in the bar every night. At William’s suggestion, we had dinner at Il Mulino and it was delicious. The staff is so attentive to detail. It was interesting to watch some of the food be prepared tableside, it was done so smoothly and somewhat aside from the table.

We had an oceanfront room that we loved. Sitting out on the balcony any time of day or night was spectacular. Watching the staff rake designs in the sand on the beach was incredible. Housekeeping staff was gracious and did a great job of cleaning the room during the day and turn-down service at night.

We can’t return...

Our experience with Jessica, the event coordinator at Acqualina Resort, was nothing short of a betrayal of trust. When we chose Acqualina as our wedding venue, we expected Jessica to recommend a wedding planner who met the resort’s high standards—someone with experience planning weddings at Acqualina and a proven track record of excellence. Instead, she recommended Naomi Zora Events, an absolute disaster of a planner who was completely incompetent and added immense stress to our wedding experience.

When we voiced our concerns about Naomi’s negligence and unprofessionalism before our wedding, Jessica dismissed them with the patronizing remark: “Choosing a wedding planner is like choosing a therapist.” Rather than addressing our legitimate concerns, she continuously defended Naomi—even when multiple people stepped up to help when Naomi was again nowhere to be found. Jessica’s response? “You’re making Naomi look bad.” Instead of ensuring our wedding day was flawless, she prioritized protecting an unqualified planner who was nowhere to be found when she was needed most.

Given Naomi’s complete failure to perform basic responsibilities, we can only assume she has a personal or financial connection to Jessica. Why else would Jessica so adamantly defend a planner who did absolutely nothing? It’s unacceptable for a luxury resort like Acqualina to put their clients in such a position, recommending vendors who clearly don’t meet any professional standard.

Jessica’s failure extended beyond this disastrous recommendation. Her communication was dismissive, and she lacked accountability. She should have intervened when it was clear Naomi wasn’t doing her job, but instead, she enabled the incompetence that tainted what should have been the best day of our lives.

If you’re planning a wedding at Acqualina, do NOT trust Jessica’s recommendations. They are not based on merit but on some hidden agenda. Had we known, we would have hired a real professional instead of wasting our money and...