In a destination spoiled for choice of luxe lodgings, two names always rise to the top: The Breakers Palm Beach and The Boca Raton. Both are storied, both are spectacular, and both define Florida luxury in very different ways.
For travel advisors, the real question isn’t which one is better. It’s which one is better for whom.
Legacy vs. Reinvention
If The Breakers is the grande dame, The Boca Raton is the comeback queen.
Palm Beach is no stranger to facelifts, but few pull them off quite as gracefully as The Breakers, which reinvests at least $30 million a year to stay flawless. Henry Flagler’s 140-acre oceanfront masterpiece has dazzled guests since 1896 and remains one of the few large, independent luxury resorts in the United States still owned by its founding family. With 534 rooms, including 72 suites, plus the ultra-exclusive Flagler Club — a 21-room boutique hotel-within-a-hotel with private concierge service and its own rooftop lounge — it screams quiet luxury.
“With new projects unveiled every year, the property often sells itself. However, what truly sets us apart is our family-owned, employee-centric culture of care, our commitment to flawless operations, and the kind of long-term collaboration that turns transactions into enduring relationships,” says Ivy Wong, director of global travel partnerships at The Breakers. “That’s why a nine-word email from a long-time New York advisor resulted in a coveted festive booking confirmed in under seven minutes.”
(The Boca Raton )
Just a bit farther down the Atlantic coast, The Boca Raton is embracing its own second act — and going full Kris Jenner makeover: sleek, smooth and impossible to ignore. Its multi-year, $375+ million transformation culminated in early 2025 with the debut of the completely redesigned Beach Club, where all 210 rooms and suites now channel a fresh, coastal-modern aesthetic.
Layer in refreshed accommodations including a variety of new suite options across five hotels; dining concepts with Major Food Group; a 50,000-square-foot spa; expanded recreation from tennis and pickleball to a full waterpark; and the result is undeniably chic.
The Boca Raton feels, in many ways, like an entirely reimagined destination resort wrapped around Addison Mizner’s iconic Mediterranean Revival architecture.
“Entering our centennial, we’re making thoughtful updates that keep the experience current and guest-first,” notes Daniel Hostettler, The Boca Raton’s president and CEO while also citing plans for a revamped Monkey Bar and a golf course refresh in 2026.
(The Breakers Palm Beach)
Location & Lifestyle
The Breakers offers the quintessential Palm Beach address, within strolling distance of Royal Poinciana Plaza’s chic boutiques and restaurant scene, and just a stone’s throw from Worth Avenue — perfect for clients who want resort living with a side of retail therapy and glamorous people-watching.
The Boca Raton, by contrast, is its own 200-acre waterfront world, where guests move between pools, beach clubs, gyms, golf, and dining by complimentary boat or shuttle.
“You can bop around the property with so much at your disposal,” says Chelsea Gambino, a top booker for the resort. “It’s like multiple vacations in one.”
Recreation & Wellness
The Breakers’ brand-new $12 million Racquet Club is where old-school Palm Beach polish meets modern sport glam: 12 tennis courts in three surfaces, two pickleball courts and two courts for padel, the fast-growing, private-equity-approved pastime that only a handful of Florida resorts offer. It’s a flex, and they know it.
Golfers score bragging rights, too. The Breakers offers two championship courses — the historic Ocean Course, redesigned by Rees Jones, and Breakers West Country Club, crafted by Pete Dye and Jerry Pate — offering a choice between oceanside drama and a classic tree-lined challenge.
For wellness, The Breakers Spa offers a serene 20,000-square-foot indoor–outdoor retreat with 17 treatment rooms, private courtyards and ocean-inspired therapies.
The Boca Raton takes a more maximalist approach. Between 14 tennis courts, 12 pickleball courts, two gyms, an 18-hole golf course and a full waterpark with a lazy river, spiraling waterslides, and a FlowRider, the resort is engineered to entertain everyone.
Its showpiece is Spa Palmera, a Forbes Five-Star sanctuary modeled after Spain’s Alhambra, complete with carved mosaics, whirlpools, saunas, 44 treatment rooms and a lush garden courtyard.
And for guests looking for their TikTok or Insta glow up, The Boca Raton has just launched the Hedley Studios Driving Experience, where visitors test-drive scaled electric recreations of Ferraris, Aston Martins and Bugattis around a private 2.5-mile course.
(The Boca Raton )
Culinary Cred
The Boca Raton has become one of Florida’s most exciting dining destinations thanks to its partnership with Major Food Group, which launched on-site restaurants Principessa, Sadelle’s and Marisol. In January, the resort will host the Artisans of Wine & Food Festival, bringing together 100-plus Napa Valley vintners and Michelin-starred chefs.
The Breakers, meanwhile, caters to all tastes with nine restaurants, including HMF, Flagler Steakhouse, Seafood Bar and the family-friendly Italian Restaurant. The showstopper is The Circle, whose breakfast and Sunday brunch beneath a majestic 200-foot hand-painted ceiling are enduring Palm Beach rituals.
(The Breakers)
Advisors Speak: Who Books What
One thing every advisor agrees on: These two Palm Beach powerhouses don’t compete — they complement each other.
Many advisors point to The Boca Raton when clients crave options. Allison Kobasky, co-owner of Over the Moon Vacations, says the resort works beautifully for “travelers who want choice, ease, and a ton of built-in fun.”
She loves that clients can bounce between the Beach Club, the adults-only Yacht Club, bungalows for long stays and the waterpark. Multigenerational groups “really respond to the variety” she adds. “It keeps everyone happy without ever having to leave the resort.”
When clients want tradition, elegance and unmistakable Palm Beach glamour, advisors pivot to The Breakers.
(The Boca Raton)
Susan Whitson, owner of Susan Whitson Travel, sends milestone celebrations and heritage-loving families there because “the moment you walk into the lobby, you feel it — the history, the polish, the sense of occasion.”
She still talks about a New Year’s stay where the concierge filled a family’s suite with framed photos of their dogs, each with playful notes for the children.
Shelby Albo, luxury travel advisor at Embark Beyond, recommends the Flagler Club for her highest-end travelers: “It’s the best of both worlds — all the perks of The Breakers with a cocooned, elevated experience.”
She also points out that her clients love the included valet and no resort fees, standout perks in a market where those charges add up fast.
When you boil it down, advisor Chelsea Gambino nails the distinction in one sentence: “The Boca Raton is the new kid on the block — polished, approachable, and full of energy — while The Breakers remains the quintessential Palm Beach icon with historic architecture, oceanfront grandeur, and a dressier, classic tone.”
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