Set along Florida’s Emerald Coast, Hotel Effie redefines what a beach hotel can be. Instead of relying on postcard clichés, it combines smart design, modern tech, and wellness-driven amenities that actually make you feel restored.

Guests can start the day with rooftop yoga, eat Gulf Coast flavors prepared with French cooking techniques at Ovide, or spend an afternoon at Spa Lilliana, where treatments draw on local botanicals. The rooftop pool and Ara Lounge deliver panoramic views of the Gulf Coast that feel earned, not engineered. It’s a stay designed with intention — proof that a good beach trip doesn’t have to mean switching your brain off.

Sitting on 28 acres of beachfront, this resort takes a practical approach to play. Between its five pools, private cabanas, and built-in access to St. Pete’s growing arts and dining scene, it’s designed for travelers who like options.

Fresh from a $60 million transformation, this 22-acre oceanfront resort fuses modern design with deep Hawaiian heritage. Snorkel alongside manta rays, attend immersive cultural tours, or experience a reimagined lūʻau that turns history into live storytelling.