By the time you will be reading this, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day will over. With 2024 having started, it will be time to, hopefully, reenergize yourself for the fresh start the New Year brings.
A fantastic way to do that is to take a few days away and enjoy some beautiful sunsets and fine dining and you only need to take a short drive, to Clearwater Beach, to do it.
The JW Marriott Hotel Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa has just what it takes to provide a quick getaway and, with Valentine’s Day a little over a month away, will be offering romantic packages to help sweep someone off their feet.
The JW Marriott is part of Marriott International’s luxury portfolio of brands and consists of beautiful properties, and distinctive resort locations, around the world. Tampa Bay is fortunate to have not one, but two, JW Marriotts. One in downtown Tampa, and one on beautiful Clearwater Beach. No disrespect for its sister hotel on Water Street but the views on Clearwater Beach are not to be missed.
The JW Marriott Clearwater Beach is located along a private stretch of beach. Details of the resort have been curated to encourage guests to relax, and recharge, whether that’s a restorative spa treatment at the Spa by JW, a world-class dining experience, a day on the beach or watching the dolphins from the comfort of the secluded property.
Each of the resort’s 162 guestrooms, and 36 residences, have its own private balcony, which provides a feeling of a remote island getaway. In addition to three on-property restaurants and the JW Market and the JW Garden, the hotel is also home to a rooftop pool, featuring panoramic views, a full-service spa and more than 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event spaces.
DINING
One of the first dining and cocktail experiences you will probably have at the JW Marriott will be at the rooftop bar, located near the pool, The Deep End.
Located on the 11th floor of the JW Marriott Clearwater Beach, The Deep End offers Gulf views in a casual atmosphere, serving elevated cuisine. The chef-curated menu is Florida-focused and Latin-inspired, with a nod to Japanese flavors. With its panoramic views, The Deep End is the perfect spot to grab one of the showstopping sunsets that can be viewed, on most days.
For dinner, Latitude 28° is the signature dining option. Described as “unpretentiously cozy yet polished,” it’s not a large restaurant with a lot of hustle and bustle. It’s a high-dining experience with a more serene tone, which is exactly what you want if you’re trying to recharge your batteries.
The restaurant’s curated menu includes fresh Gulf Coast seafood and locally sourced ingredients, with a Mediterranean touch. A featured menu item, the Mediterranean Flatbread, is prepared with fresh, house-made dough, traditional halloumi cheese, sausage and fresh herbs and spices. For a signature cocktail try the Lady Lavant, which is a blend of anise with fresh Florida citrus, truly something fitting for a sunset meal overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
SPA by JW
It’s not a recharge trip, staycation or not, if you don’t indulge in spa services. This is a mountain I will die on.
The Spa by JW offers a holistic retreat where you can nourish your body, mind and soul. The spa offers a range of treatments including facials, massages and body wraps.
It’s is a splurge worth spending money on. The accommodations are top tier. A hot towel when you arrive, a relaxation center, which I promptly brought my phone into. Relaxing stresses me out, okay?
Inside the locker rooms you will find comfy robes, citrus-infused water, a steam room and very large, accommodating showers with everything you could want or need. I debated showering there instead of my room, before dinner.
I enjoyed a facial, which was so lovely that it will replace my current location in downtown St. Pete for future skincare needs.
While the JW Marriott Clearwater did run New Year’s Eve-centric events, the resort staff mentioned it was the first of several holiday-themed offerings this year. Their next exciting offering will be for the day of love and romance, Valentine’s Day.
For more information on upcoming offerings, visit: marriott.com. ♦
