Yet some guests prefer to arrive by helicopter, and this sophisticated resort (with its own helipad) accommodates their needs with the same ease as it does for guests who come by yacht, limousine, or personal car.
Turnberry Isle Miami's 300 acres are enhanced by red-tile roofs and beautiful bougainvillea. But it's the airy, high-ceilinged guest rooms that make me want to stay here again and again on visits south.
Mediterranean-style rooms all have private balconies overlooking a golf course or pool garden. Three telephones are furnished in each unit, and there's a marble bathtub with a whirlpool, a separate glass-walled shower, and fluffy bathrobes for two.
A Haven for Golfers
Turnberry Isle Miami has excellent golf facilities; its two courses were designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. With their gracefully contoured bunkers, sand traps, and water hazards, Turnberry Isle Resort & Club's PGA-rated 18-hole championship courses provide ample challenges. The South Course (7,003 yards, par 72) has an 18th-hole island green. The North Course extends 6,323 yards and is rated par 70.
Tennis at Turnberry Isle Miami
International Tennis Hall of Famer Fred Stolle heads up Tennis at Turnberry, where many famous players have trained. The resort's two tennis complexes hold 19 multi-surfaced courts lit for night play. Programs can be customized to suit individual needs, with packages geared to players ranging from beginners to tournament finalists.
Activities Under the Sun
Turnberry Isle Miami also boasts a yacht club and marina, a sunny beach club with cabanas facing the Atlantic Ocean, a variety of beach sports, and four swimming pools.
The 25,000 square foot Spa at Turnberry holds massage rooms, facial rooms, cosmetic stations, wet treatment rooms, and rooms with private balconies for outdoor services. Among the personal services provided are hairstyling, makeovers, manicures, and pedicures.
Taste of Turnberry
Of the nine restaurants and lounges at Turnberry Isle Miami, the Veranda is the gourmets' choice. Rated the “best gourmet dining experience in Miami” by the Zagat Survey, the menu combines South Florida’s tropical flavors with a blend of Cuban, Caribbean, and Latin American influences. And the ambiance -- white tablecloths, sparkling crystal, and views of Turnberry's promenade and pool gardens outside -- is made for romance.
Couples who want to make the most out of their visit should consider contacting the resort concierge in advance by emailing concierge@turnberryislemiami.com. The concierge can arrange spa appointments, hotel reservations, tickets to Miami and Fort Lauderdale events, and more.
Turnberry Isle Miami
19999 W Country Club Dr.
Aventura, FL 33180
866-599-6674
Official Hotel Website
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Note: Turnberry Isle Miami originally opened as an independent property focused on golf and luxury. Several years later it was welcomed into the Fairmont hotels family. Most recently, it has once again become an independent resort. You can read about the circumstances regarding the deflagging of the hotel on the Hotel Chatter site. Prospective visitors are advised to read crowd-sourced reviews online to determine whether it remains a peak experience for visitors.
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation and meals for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy .
