Delray Sands Resort

When I had to take a trip to Southeast Florida with my mom recently for three nights, we ended up choosing to stay here as we needed to be in Southeast Palm Beach County and we needed a hotel that was pet friendly, as we were traveling with our two small dogs. While we had wanted to stay at the Embassy Suites in Deerfield Beach (
), as I have had very positive experiences staying there and feel you get a lot for the money, they were not pet friendly, which ruled them out. With that in mind, I checked out other hotels that were pet friendly, such as the Wyndham in Deerfield Beach, the Waterstone-​a Doubletree Resort in Boca, the Residence Inn by Marriott in Delray Beach, and the Delray Sands. After checking rates and reviews at all of the properties, we settled on the Delray Sands, which was priced at $ 250/​night for a King Room with a pool view, which was not bad for this time of year as most three to four star hotels in South Florida are about $ 200-​$ 300/​night during the season. Plus, they had a reasonable pet fee of $ 100 for three nights for both dogs ($ 25 each night after) and their resort fee at $ 25/​night, while a necessary evil these days, included valet parking (this resort does not have self parking), chairs and umbrellas for the beach, wifi, and two bottles of water each day. We had high hopes, as this hotel was nice when it was the former Holiday Inn that occupied the space and we love the Highland Beach neighborhood in which it is located, as it is serene yet convenient to nearby Boca Raton and Delray Beach. When we arrived and pulled up in our rented Ford Escape, we found that the valet service was excellent, as Luis, the gentleman who assisted us, was very friendly, helpful, and excellent at his job, as he handled the car well and the other gentleman, John, was also very friendly and handled our luggage with care as he unloaded. Once we entered the small but cheerful lobby, it went downhill from there as Rebecca and Ana, the ladies who were at the check-​in desks when we arrived at about 3:00PM, were not the most welcoming. We found this to be the case as they came off a bit snippy when my mom was a bit disappointed that check-​in would not be until 4:00PM, which she was unaware of as she has not had a chance to travel for awhile. While I explained to mom that this was true as many hotels I have stayed at do have a policy of 4:00PM check-​ins, I feel like Rebecca and Ana were not as warm as they could have been about this. Also, they nearly did not honor our request for a room on a higher floor, as they told us that they had a comparable room on the first floor, but when mom did not want that, they kind of tried to dissuade her, as they acted as if they were doing us a favor and just wanted to fill the room. Thankfully, they honored our request and about half an hour after we arrived, our room, which was Room 330, was ready! Despite the negative check-​in experience, we thought that the room looked good at first, despite its small size, as it appeared modern and had a nice bathroom, with a luxurious stand-​up shower. While the room was comfortable for the three nights we stayed and served its purpose, once we evaluated further, we found that the room disappointed, as my mom thought that it seemed dirty in areas, as the carpet looked tired and there were what appeared to be a couple of foundation cracks in the ceiling, and the bed was kind of saggy compared to other hotels we have stayed at in the past. While it could not have made up for the room’s fundamental flaws, we at least had a nice view, which was almost like an upgrade in itself as we had a significant view of the crystal clear Atlantic Ocean! Despite the facts that our check-​in experience and room were disappointing, this hotel was not all bad. I enjoyed the hotel’s laid-​back vibe, which fit perfectly with location on the beach and the very relaxing pool area, which had water at the perfect temperature making for an awesome swim the couple of times I used it. Also, Highland Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida. In addition, while I did not eat there and just got a coffee one morning, which was very good, I thought that Latitudes, the hotel’s restaurant looked very elegant with killer ocean views and had very friendly staff, like Nick, the host who helped me get coffee in the morning. One day, I will stop in when I have the chance to eat there. Also, despite our lousy check-​in experience, there were still many excellent staff whom we encountered, like all of the maids who were friendly and helpful, Holly, a lady at the check-​in desk who had a very upbeat disposition and helped my mom check out, and all of the valets. While I liked the hotel’s location, vibe, and most of the staff, I am not sure if I would stay here again as the room could have been a lot better. However, the pet friendliness was good. I will see, so I hope it’s better.

Cool ambiance, decent food and wonderful ocean front setting, however the mandatory valet parking ($ 4) is a big drawback!

Rooms are newly remodeled, clean, spacious and cozy. I stayed in a room that overlooked the parking lot — which was fine because it was close to the gym and easy access to the pool and beach area (where I was most of my stay.) I also liked the onsite restaurant, I never had to leave the property. Front desk and housekeeping staff were very nice and attentive. When comparing the «others» — there is no comparison. You don’t have to cross busy streets or shuttle to the beach like the nearby hotels — Delray Sands is truly an oceanfront resort.

The hotel is in a great location with a great view and a nice pool. Located right on the beach, DelRay Sands is in a PERFECT location. The only problem is, to me it felt like a mediocre motel placed exactly where I wanted to be.
I’ve stayed here before and didn’t love it, but my Grandmother is Handicapped and she said it was easy for her to stay here. I called months in advanced, booked 4 or 5 rooms, (I have a big family), and asked that one of them have a walk in shower, again for my handicapped grandma.
To get to the point, my grandma’s room did not have a walk in shower which they assured me they would have for her, my room smelled like mildew and had wet carpet, despite being a suite, and the other rooms didn’t face the good view (meaning they faced a wall and a parking lot), and they were just rooms like would be expected at a less than luxury hotel besides the beds and TV.
Overall,
Good tv
Good beds
Good view
Good location
Bad organizing
Bad smell/​cleanliness in one room
Bad accommodation to handicapped people originally
Bad rooms overall.
I might go back but probably not if I could go somewhere else.
Last point,
The restaurant Latitude is exceptional for breakfast or a snack at the pool.

Great experience. Very friendly and experienced staff and above all excellent service. Clean and comfortable rooms. Valet parking service was very good and fast and their service was great. Was here with my family and we will be back. Highly recommended to everybody. Pleasure Island.

Beautiful renovated and modern hotel. We had an oceanfront, secluded and beautifully immaculate room. Ordered room service for dinner. Some of the best grouper I have ever had. Breakfast in restaurant was great too. Spent the day on the beach with drinks served right to your chairs. You can’t beat the prices for such a beautiful yet quaint place. Service was friendly and professional. If you like the conveniences and luxuries of a resort but do not care for the crowfs, this is your place. Will be back many more times!

I really like this hotel. It’s small but updated and it’s right on the beach. Parking is valet only but you get your car quickly. Guests are allowed two beach chairs on the beach and umbrellas are $ 10. You are not allowed to bring your own umbrella, cooler or glass onto the beach. The beach is nice & quiet. Really nice. You can order food and drinks from your beach chair. It’s wonderful! There isn’t a lot of seaweed on the beach either.
The hotel has a nice pool and a hot tub/​pool. Beach towels and lounge chair towels are provided with the towel keys, which you get when you check in. Umbrellas by the pool are free but first come, first served.
Each room has a small refrigerator and a Keurig coffee maker with 6 K cups and two small packets of crème and sugar. Very nice if you’d like to drink your coffee on the balcony as you watch the sunrise. Internet access is also included in the resort fee. Will definitely be back!

We came here for a wedding on the beach and stayed 2 nights. The hotel hosted a phenomenal wedding! The remodeled rooms are very nice and clean. The bed was very comfortable and all aspects of the room was above average. I would give the room 5 stars. Outside of the wedding and reception that followed, the hotel staff seemed somewhat lacking in their service and hospitality which is the reason for the 3 star rating. There were no smiling faces in the whole resort. In the restaurant in our first morning, we waited close to an hour for our breakfast which was really good when it finally arrived. It was difficult to get drinks from the bar as the staff seemed too busy to be helpful. The beach was nice and well kept and the service at the beach was a bit better than the other service at the resort. The restaurant redeemed itself the last morning we were there as the service improved dramatically. The other negative was the pool and jacuzzi. Being a holiday weekend, the bathing load was unusually high so the water in both was very cloudy from sand, sunscreen and other nastiness. There was a distinct urine smell in the jacuzzi so it was unusable. Despite the issues, overall the experience was enjoyable. We will likely stay here again.

Here for a birthday celebration ! Fun place. Great outdoor bar lounge area for
Drinks
Before dinner. Nice blue décor. Excellent attentive staff. Make reservation on weekends.

Great Ocean Front Hotel. I stayed there in April 2015 and had an ocean front room on the top floor. Incredible view and that beach is amazing. The hotel is lovely — my room was beautiful (loved the décor colors) and they have an empty fridge for you to use. Really nice to have in Florida. Service was great and though I didn’t dine or drink at the bar and restaurant, others were and looked like they were enjoying it. Great service from the Valet (fast and friendly) and Front Desk. A couple of days after check out, I realized I had left my sandals in my room — Manager was able to locate them and mail them back to me. I greatly appreciated. I will be back to this hotel next time I am in Florida

Absolutely fantastic… we’re coming here with 20 people both family and friends for 8 years, back from the Holiday Inn days… food…the staff… the facilities… fantastic. The old staff was like family so we were taken aback when many were not retained. The new group plus those invited back didn’t lose a step…

This review is only on the restaurant:
View: 5 stars
Food: 4 stars
Décor: 5 stars
Formerly the holiday Inn, the food is much better & the new, beachy décor is elegant.
Tips:
* $ 4 valet
* Dinner menu begins at 5:00pm

Stayed here for 4 nights during the height of Winter Break vacation for the Northern states. I had stayed here in the past when this was a Holiday Inn and was very surprised with what they have done to the property. You’d never know that this used to be a Holiday Inn property.
Delray Beach is in between West Palm and Boca … about 30 minutes from Fort Lauderdale and only a 10 minute drive from Delray Beach and the famous night life. It is a good place for people who want to escape the craziness of Boca and Fort Lauderdale but are looking for nearby nightlife and a beautiful beach. Delray is rarely crowded and you can walk down the beaches undisturbed. If people watching is your thing, you might be uncomfortable here.
The thing I HATE most about this resort is the valet parking. They have PLENTY of spaces available … including a HUGE side lot which was never even 50% full during our stay on one of the busiest weeks of the year for Florida resorts. There is no need to have valet here. None.
The resort fee is also a bit of a bummer. $ 25 a day for wifi and a newspaper, basically. It really is a bit gauche to charge a quarter of a hundred dollars PER DAY for the resort fee as there aren’t many services offered beyond the annoying valet service.
The restaurant here is great … there is a bar area and tables both inside and outside overlooking the water. I did not eat there but many locals who live in Delray and Boca come here to eat (especially for the weekend brunch) so I am guessing it is legit. We skipped the restaurant here and headed to the restaurants and bars on the strip in Delray instead. (Boston’s is great for pubby type food … the Italian place next door is fantastic and for nightlife there are cheap 2 for 1 booze bars or high end lounges like Salt)
The rooms here are very soothing and classy with a lot of aqua blue and white colors. The bathrooms feature marble showers with big glass doors and modern sinks. The bath products are Gilchrist and Sommes and smell faintly of liccorice, which was nice. The bed was among the most comfortable I have slept in. Clearly the bedding is expensive as the sheets and comforter and pillows were light and airy. The bed is soft but not too soft.
Service is good here … it doesn’t feel pretentious but is not as relaxed as it probably was when it was a Holiday Inn. You’d never know that if you hadn’t stayed when it was branded that way. This feels like a 4 star resort. Maybe a bit overpriced for what you get … if I had a choice I’d stay at Eau De Palm Beach or Waldorff Astoria Beach Club/​Boca Raton Resort for around the same price. If you like someplace a little less crowded and more laid back … this is your spot.
The beautiful beach is right on the resort and it is not as narrow as some of the other beaches nearby. They have a pool and two hot tubs although I have to say, more design/​landscaping is needed around the pool areas because other than the restaurant, the pools feel like a Holiday Inn still.
Overall, I’d recommend this place to someone looking to get away and relax at a classy place without being over the top like nearby Breakers in Palm Beach.

My husband and I came here a few years ago for an anniversary party and decided to return with my adult family for Christmas this year. What a beautiful and intimate hotel. The rooms are spacious and cheerful, the beach and pool area pristine and the menu of the newly opened restaurant is fresh, original and tasty. Both indoor and outdoor seating right on the lovely ocean. The staff are super friendly and helpful. The new renovation is updated in a tasteful modern style. It is a little slice of heaven and we all plan to come back again.

Great place went with family. The staff in all areas were great from valet to the beach staff everyone was friendly and great. The food in the Resturant we ate breakfast only on grounds and it was good every day. They are under renovations in some parts and the new rooms are very nice I can’t say bad thing about this place I would love to stay again.

I used to come here when it was a Holiday Inn. I was last here last year (2013). Since then, they have re-​decorated the rooms. They are much nicer than they used to be. They are more modern, and the bathrooms are very nice with a walk-​in shower/​glass door/​modern Kohler sink/​faucet.
They are obviously still in the process of renovations. The hallways still haven’t been updated. The restaurant serves a good breakfast, but it is also still waiting to be renovated.
The hotel people seem more professional & are very hospitable. They only have valet now, but it’s free.
The reason I come here is because it is located right on the beach. I would come more often, but it’s not the bargain it used to be, especially with the $ 25 daily resort fee & hotel taxes. what would be a $ 135 a night fee ends up being almost $ 180 a night & that’s with a «Florida Resident Rate» :(

The Delray Sands. Formerly known as the Holiday Inn for about FOREVER so I can understand how the name change is throwing everybody off. I like to go there on Tuesday evenings and hang outside near the beach. The place is cool with you doing that as long as you are there to eat or drink. Also, you can no longer park for free across the street. You have to valet park. For the summer time they have a deal where you pay $ 99 a night on the weekends. The location is in Highland Beach and the beach behind this hotel is spectacular.
I would definitely check it out.