Thank you so much to The Shores Resort and Spa for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions are my own.
How often do you get to sneak away and play “tourist” in your own town? If you’re anything like me, being home means saving money for your next trip. We rarely splurge on the local attractions that come with a price tag, much less an overnight stay at a hotel. So when we received the opportunity to stay at The Shores Resort and Spa in Daytona Beach, I was giddy with excitement. After all, this is a place I’ve suggested to friends and family for years. I have literally always wondered what it would be like to stay here and not just grab a cocktail at happy hour. It turned out to be 24 blissful hours for us. If you’re looking for a place to stay in Daytona Beach with ocean views, awesome hospitality, and comfortable rooms, then The Shores will certainly be at the top of your list.
Where to Stay in Daytona Beach // The Shores Resort and Spa
There’s an abundance of options when looking for a place to stay in Daytona Beach. The oceanfront side of the city truly has accommodations for every style and every budget. A1A is lined with dozens and dozens of motels, hotels, boutique hotels, chain resorts, contemporary condos, and million dollar homes. I feel like The Shores Resort and Spa is that sweet spot of “upscale, not uptight”. You can find yourself in flip flops and a bikini with a mai tai in your hand or you can get all dolled up for a romantic dinner date. Both are totally normal here. The rich mahogany accents through the lobby feel grand and bold, but the soft accents of ocean blues and greens feel comfortable and relaxing. It’s the perfect mix of luxury meets laid back.
The turquoise pool is surrounded by cabanas, umbrellas, and lounge chairs. You can rent a cabana for a day or even book one of their cabana rooms. Your terrace would lead right out to the pool and you’d have your own private cabana complete with stylish seating and a television. Just imagine yourself going from the ocean to the pool, and then straight to your room. So dreamy.
The Terrace Room
We snagged a corner room on the sixth floor with stunning views of the ocean. Large and upgraded (totally different than the photos they currently have on their website for their rooms), the room wrapped us up in stylish coastal vibes. Two sets of sliding glass doors took us out to the grand terrace featuring two lounge chairs, a couch, and a cocktail table with chairs. Our views expanded from the Atlantic Ocean to the Halifax River, boasting the best of Daytona Beach. The room, bathroom, and terrace were all so spacious. We even had a large walk-in closet with a comfy robe waiting for me.
I think one of my favorite details in the room was an old photograph of Ridgewood Avenue, a popular street in the heart of Daytona, dated back to the early 1900’s. The Shores Resort and Spa delicately framed old photographs, ranging from races on the beach to the Halifax River throughout the years, throughout the entire resort. It was a sweet nod to the rich and exciting history of my hometown. It reminds me of all the charming characteristics that beach towns have in Florida. Beyond the white sandy beaches, we have old oak trees, beautiful animals, impressive architecture, and more.
But really, it’s all about these ocean views. Watching the sun rise over the ocean is one of my favorite things in the entire world. I woke up bright and early, made myself a cup of coffee, and watched the world come awake from the privacy of our terrace. It was heavenly.
The Indulge Spa
We were spoiled to a couples massage right after we checked into the resort. It was 50 minutes of pure luxury. I told Marc that I would probably chat his ear off since we were in the same room together, but my masseuse had me so relaxed that I didn’t even want to speak. It was one of the best massages of my life. On top of that, he handed me a glass of champagne afterward instead of the typical water. That’s totally the way to my heart.
The Indulge Spa has a service for everyone. They even offer day packages like a “Mom & Me” package or a “Tropical Escape” package that’s completed with a margarita in hand. It’s the kind of spa you’d want for a girls day, a romantic date, or just a solid self-care day.
Sip & Savor Dinner
We were lucky enough to be invited to the monthly Sip & Savor dinner at The Shores Resort and Spa. This monthly themed dinner is hosted on the top floor of The Shores in an intimate room with floor to ceiling windows showing off the ocean and the river. We were greeted by a live two-piece band, smiling servers, and a breathtaking sunset.
The theme for May was Pacific Northwest featuring wines from King Estate. Each dish that came out had a wine to perfectly compliment it. The King Estate rep and head chef both took time to describe the pairing and point out special characteristics. Every dish that came out, we would claim it’s our “favorite” and then the next dish would come out and that would be our new favorite. 😂 It was that good!
We both agreed that it’s exactly the kind of monthly meal and entertainment that our little beach town needs. As I mentioned before, we rarely go out when we’re in town, but the Sip and Savor dinner is a reason for a date night. We already can’t wait to go to more of these dinners. Check out the schedule for the rest of the year:
- June 19 – Florida Spirits Dinner – Manifest Distilling
- July 17- Italian Wine Dinner – Santa Margherita Wines – Italy
- August 16 (Friday) – South American Wine Dinner – South America
- September 18 – California Wine Dinner – Wines of Lake County – Napa, California
- October 23 – Florida Craft Beers Dinner
- November 20 – Wine Dinner – Cakebread Cellars – Napa, California
- December 18 – Champagne Reception and Indulge Spa Experience
- Tickets for the Sip & Savor Dinner Series at The Shores Resort & Spa can be purchased online here. The price is posted as $75.00++ per person and I would say it’s well worth it.
Restaurant & Bars
The onsite restaurant, Azure, serves up breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in-room dining. The interior of the restaurant is elegant, offering a true “fine dining” feeling by the sea. You can also choose to sit outside overlooking the resort’s pool and the ocean. The menu is inspired by the ocean and we had the pleasure of speaking with the chef at the Sip and Savor dinner and at our breakfast the next morning.
I got the crab cake benedict and it was probably the best of my entire life. While our particular morning seemed to take a bit longer, it was well worth the wait.
The Oceanview Lounge is located in the lobby of The Shores. With hand-crafted cocktails, daily happy hours, and a passionate bartender, we loved sipping on skinny margaritas and watching Niko play behind the bar.
The Tiki Bar is located outside near the firepits. It has an ocean view and vacay vibes.
RELATED: 5 PLACES FOR DRINKS WITH A VIEW IN DAYTONA BEACH
So, if you’re looking to feel spoiled on your trip, The Shores Resort and Spa is absolutely one of the best places to stay in Daytona Beach. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be able to embrace the vacay vibes no matter how quick your trip may be.
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