By Kim Ashton
If you haven't experienced a Hyatt resort, get ready to feel pampered. The second we pulled up at the Coconut Point Hyatt Regency Resort in Bonita Springs, Florida, bellhops and valets are eager to tell us what to do and how to get anything we needed for our family vacation. The resort is situated on the gulf coast, half-way between Miami and Tampa and is a great family getaway.
As we entered the resort, we were warmly welcomed with the manicured grounds and the gorgeous decor. The inlaid marble floors throughout the lobby were stunning! After a quick unpacking in our room, our family suited up and headed down to the pool. Which one you ask? That's right. The number of pools at this resort alone is astounding. The specialties include an adult-only, a wonderfully enormous kids pool, a generous sized spa, and at least one other. It was actually hard to keep track. There's a great snack shack with a bar and plenty of seating.
Besides the beautiful and lush grounds, the amenities also included a 5,000-square-foot heated lagoon pool with a 140-foot corkscrew slide and waterfall. Our room was nicely decorated, spacious with a bar, small refrigerator , and safe.
We ventured out to the marina for a pleasant boat ride to their private island, Big Hickory. During the 15-minute ride, we enjoyed watching the dolphins play in the boat's wake. Once we arrived on the island, we were pleasantly greeted by more Hyatt staff (four to be exact) who walked around the beach answering our questions. It was such an added bonus to feel at ease on the island to know there were people who could assist us with whatever we needed. Plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas were lined up along the beach, as the children played in the very calm surf. Searching for shells and enjoying the view, we ventured up to their giant deck with a very large screened in porch to enjoy our pre-packed lunches. At this time, there is no cafe or store on the island so I highly recommend packing coolers.
An added bonus to staying at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa is that you can use their sister resort, the Hyatt Coconut Plantation, a Hyatt Vacation Club Resort. We had a relaxing ride on their courtesy trolley bus that took us to the Coconut Plantation. Here we enjoyed cabana-style hammock lounging in private huts and spent hours in their large lazy river. The children also enjoyed two of their beach entry pools with rock waterfalls and fountains. On this property there was a tot lot as well for the kids to climb around and play in the sand. It was a letdown to have to leave this beautiful sanctuary. We had heard from friends before how wonderful it was here; there is so much to offer. The resort has so many on-site family-friendly activities that it becomes hard to choose your course of action. Here's a list: golf, tennis, biking, kayaking and hiking, a climbing wall and a spa.
When we visited, some entertaining activities included, rubber ducky races, hermit crab races, noodle racing and more and a fire pit (to enjoy delicious smores at night). Remember your bug spray because the resort is close to the water.
There is also an on-site Camp Coconut for the children which offers day camps, crafts and more!
If that is not enough, the local outdoor shopping mall located right down the street was phenomenal! There are so many restaurants to chose from and shopping galore! If you live in Florida, this is a perfect destination for a local trip. If you are not a Floridian, you are going to feel right at home at the Hyatt Coconut Point!
For more information, visit :
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa
5001 Coconut Road
Bonita Springs, Florida, USA 34134
Tel: +1 239 444 1234
Fax: +1 239 390 4344
Hyatt Coconut Plantation, A Hyatt Vacation Club Resort
11800 Coconut Plantation Drive
Bonita Springs, Florida, USA 34134
Tel: +1 239 494 6977
Fax: +1 239 947 7301