Condé Nast–Confirmed: 12 Opal Properties Recognized in 2021’s Readers’ Choice Awards

The people have spoken. Twelve Opal Collection properties were awarded Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. So what’s all the fuss about?

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Thirty-four years ago, Condé Nast Traveler – the legendary luxury lifestyle travel magazine – put out its first travel survey. Back then, it was just a short paper ballot. Today, it’s an annual comprehensive online survey, known as the Readers’ Choice Awards, which allows people to vote on their favorite cities, hotels, islands, cruise lines, and more – we’re talking 30,000 listings.

So why does any of this matter?  Because the ones casting the votes are unbiased and honest travelers looking for the most out of their vacations. Which means (cue Sally Field’s Oscar 1984 acceptance speech) “you like, you really like” several Opal Collection properties. That’s because 12 Opals were awarded this year, affirming what we have always known: Our destinations go above and beyond to create unique experiences you won’t just find anywhere. Here’s how.

Category: “Top 20 Resorts in Florida”

And the awards go to….

#3. The Resort at Longboat Key Club [Longboat Key, FL]

A destination in itself, The Resort at Longboat Key Club is set on 410 acres on a secluded barrier island, providing a unique blend of privacy. While Sarasota proper is just a quick six-mile drive away, thanks to the property’s 45 holes of golf, full-service marina with 291 slips, five restaurants, and a fitness center, the chance of you ever feeling the need to leave this 223-room oasis is slim. Especially as the resort is about to complete a landmark top-to-bottom renovation that evokes an enviable yacht-sleek design vibe.

#7. Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa [Hutchinson Island, FL]

The 178 rooms of Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa are a fresh take on an old standard – the luxury beach getaway, where travelers can escape the hectic rush of modern life and settle into the laid-back coastal cool. The first new beach resort to be built on Hutchinson Island in nearly 20 years, the resort opened in the spring of 2017, featuring two oceanfront restaurants, two swimming pools, and a signature spa.

#17. Sandpearl Resort [Clearwater Beach, FL]

Beachfront fire-pits, a climate-controlled zero-entry pool, and easy access to “America’s Number One Beach.” These are just some of the perks when you stay at Sandpearl Resort. But one of the all-time favorite guest amenities is how, each evening, a staff member rings a “sunset bell” alerting guests that an awe-inspiring show is about to begin. Guests make their way to the western side of the resort, finding places along the private beach in secluded cabanas and hammocks to watch as the sun sets over the Gulf.

#19. Zota Beach Resort [Longboat Key, FL]

Longboat Key’s newest luxury beach resort is a chic study in casual beach cool. Modern architectural elements blend with richly grained wooden headboards found in the 187 guest rooms and suites. The resort’s secluded beach is prime ground for guests to soak up the sun and relax on the white sands.

Category: “Top 15 Hotels in Florida”

And the award goes to….

Sunrises are well-worth rising for when you’re a guest of Edgewater Beach Hotel.

#15. Edgewater Beach Hotel [Naples, FL]

Don’t expect a typical hotel room. The all-suite accommodations at this Naples boutique hotel gem offer residential-style comforts within elegantly appointed living rooms, bedrooms, full kitchens, and private porches. But if looking for something really lavish, book one of the two Premium Suites. Located in either corner of the resort, the 2,000-square-foot accommodations offer panoramic views from a balcony that runs the expanse of all the rooms. It’s like living in your own luxury apartment.

Category: “Top 15 Resorts in the Florida Keys”

And the awards go to….

Luxury, beachside accommodations in the form of your own private cottage? Sunset Key Cottages is the ultimate tropical escape.

#5. Sunset Key Cottages [Key West, FL]

Located on its own private Florida key just a seven-minute ferry ride away from Key West, this secluded cottage-studded resort marries a castaway vibe with opulent amenities. Hammocks hang between palm trees just steps from a luxurious spa and a restaurant that pays tribute to one of Key West’s most famous residents: Ernest Hemingway.

#9. Opal Key Resort Marina [Key West, FL]

Ideally located right on the waterfront of Old Town Key West within a working cruise ship port and just steps from the famous Mallory Square and one block from Duval Street is Opal Key Resort & Marina – a hub of relaxation and luxury in the middle of all of the excitement that Key West is famous for.

Category: “Top 30 Hotels in New England”

And the award goes to….

#19. Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina [Bar Harbor, ME]

Harborside isn’t just a name. This hotel’s premium accommodations, the Boathouse Suites, sit on the water of an operational marina and feature all the comforts of home as well as some luxurious details like rooftop patios and jacuzzies, gas fireplaces, and private decks – just feet from the water.

Category: “Top 30 Resorts in the Northeast”

And the awards go to….

#16. Lake Placid Lodge [Lake Placid, NY]

Individually designed so that no two are alike, the accommodations at this Arts and Crafts property in the heart of the Adirondacks are private, warm, and comfortable – as well as being a visual feast. In the Main Lodge, Lakeside Building, Cabins, and Overlook Rooms, stone fireplaces offer guests the chance to cozy up beside a roaring fire, while deep soaking tubs beckon from the bathrooms. And local art – in the form of sculpture, hand-carved furniture, and landscape paintings – are around every corner.

#19. The Sagamore Resort [Bolton Landing, NY]

This historic resort located on its own private 70-acre island in Bolton Landing, right on Lake George, has mastered the art on on-site dining with its eight restaurants. You heard that right, eight. The options range from La Bella Vita’s highbrow Italian fare to a New York-style steakhouse to a surf and turf restaurant that is set on stilts over the lake.

#25. Samoset Resort [Rockport, ME]

This family-friendly resort’s most notable claim to fame might just be their “Ultimate Backyard.” Located between the resort and the main road to property, the rolling lawn is packed with a plethora of active offerings, including a basketball court, a nine-hole disc golf course, multiple tennis courts, pickle ball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, badminton, and even a playground for the little ones.

Where to Stay Edgewater Beach Hotel | Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina | Lake Placid Lodge | Opal Sands Resort | The Resort at Longboat Key Club | The Sagamore Resort | Sandpearl Resort | Samoset Resort | Sunset Key Cottages  | Zota Beach Resort | Opal Key Resort & Marina