The Breakers Palm Beach Review: Is It Worth It for Families?

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The Breakers is such a magnificent resort. You come down a long, tree-lined drive, the huge Italian Renaissance building rises up in front of you, and it is jaw-dropping. It is iconic, historic, and spectacular.

It is also expensive, formal, and a real splurge. So the question I get is the same one I asked myself: is it worth it with kids?

My answer: yes, if you go at the right time and you plan to enjoy the resort. Here is everything you need to know.

A Little History (This Place Is an American Icon)

The Breakers is not just a luxury hotel — it is a piece of American history. Henry Flagler, the oil and railroad magnate who essentially built modern Florida, opened the first hotel on this site in 1896. Guests kept asking for rooms "over by the breakers," where the waves crashed against the shore, and the name stuck.

The building burned down twice — once in 1903 and again in 1925. After the second fire, Flagler's heirs rebuilt it in concrete in under a year, modeling the Italian Renaissance design after grand villas in Rome and bringing in Florentine artists to hand-paint the ceilings. The current building opened in December 1926. The same architectural firm went on to design the Waldorf Astoria in New York.

The Breakers is still owned by the descendants of Flagler's family, which makes it one of the only historic grande-dame resorts in America still in the hands of its original family. When you walk through the 200-foot lobby under those hand-painted, gold-leaf ceilings and Venetian chandeliers, you are walking through more than a century of history.

Is The Breakers Worth It?

Yes — for families who want a full-service iconic beach resort and plan to use the pools, beach, and amenities all day. For golfers and tennis players. For multigenerational trips and special-occasion stays. For anyone who wants to experience a true grande-dame resort with white-glove service.

At this resort you are paying a premium for the grounds, the pools, the private beach, and the service. If you use all of that, the value is there — the same way it is at a great resort in Hawaii. We pay this much for a hotel in Hawaii and feel like we get our money's worth because we are at the resort all day. The Breakers is the same.

Where it does not make sense: bad weather. We have been there in stormy weather, and you really do not go out to the pools or the beach at all. The rooms are small to just sit in all day. At The Breakers, the outdoors is a big part of the experience. If you are going in the off-season to save money, watch the weather carefully and book when you know it will be nice.

My take: with good weather and a plan to use the amenities, this is worth it for a memorable family trip. I would put it in the same category as a Hawaii beach resort or a historic grande-dame hotel like the Hotel del Coronado or the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island — an iconic American resort experience, not just a place to sleep.

A nice surprise on the value front: The Breakers charges NO resort fee, and overnight valet parking is complimentary for hotel guests. I love this. So many resorts tack on a $50+ daily resort fee and $40+ parking — The Breakers includes both. It takes some of the sting out of the room rate.

Arrival and Check-In

The arrival is unforgettable. You come down the long, tree-lined entrance drive and the hotel reveals itself at the end — it is really beautiful. You pull up, the team helps you out of the car, and the valet takes it from there.

When we check in, they give the kids cute little stuffed animals — and do the same thing again at checkout when the valet brings the car around. My kids are always thrilled. It is the kind of small thing that makes kids feel special at a very grown-up hotel.

One note: the main lobby is gorgeous but quite formal. The first time we came, we arrived straight from several days at Disney World with our loud and crazy kids, and we felt totally underdressed. The staff never made us feel that way, and everyone was lovely — but it is a formal atmosphere.

The Room

Ocean Front Double Room. Photo Credit: Expedia

The rooms are beautiful — every little detail is done well, down to the monogrammed touches and lovely linens. The robes are perfectly nice (not a buy-it-and-take-it-home situation, but good). The bathroom is small but lovely, with fancy charm in every detail and the most intense, wonderful shower water pressure.

The rooms are small. Given the price, that surprises a lot of guests, and it surprised me. Standard rooms run around 300 square feet and fit two people comfortably. It is part of why bad weather is a dealbreaker here — you do not want to be stuck in a small room all day. The flip side: in good weather you will be out at the pool and beach most of the day, and the room is just for sleeping.

Tip: there are water bottles in the room, replaced daily, and the staff hands out cold water bottles everywhere — the valet stand, the pool, the golf course. Pack a refillable water bottle too if that matters to you.

The chocolates (a real highlight)

When you arrive, there is a box of chocolates in the room. My spouse and kids loved them so much that we now order them for every holiday. At nightly turndown, they leave fun chocolate bars on the beds — different each night, with combos like cereal mixed into the chocolate. Some are delicious, some are extremely sweet, but my kids love the tradition. It is a small, charming touch that makes the stay feel special.

The Pools and Beach Club

The Beach Club is the heart of a family stay here. There are four oceanfront pools:

• The Active Pool — zero-entry, perfect for little kids

• The Main Pool — the big, social pool

• The South Pool — infinity-edge, near the private bungalows

• The Adult Pool — a tranquil 25-meter pool

There are also several hot tubs scattered around, which my kids love. You can rent a poolside bungalow for the day, and if you plan to spend all day at the Beach Club, that is a great idea — they come with a butler, a TV, a fridge, and a shaded spot to hang. With our small group we have never had a problem getting chairs, but if you have a big group with lots of kids, a bungalow is a great way to keep everyone contained.

The vibe at the pool depends heavily on when you go. On weekdays in the shoulder season, the pools can be nearly empty — just a few kids and some adults lounging, quiet and a little formal. On weekends, over holidays, and all summer, it transforms into a lively family scene with kids everywhere and a much more relaxed feel. So if you want a buzzy family atmosphere, aim for summer, holidays, or weekends. If you want quiet, midweek in the shoulder season is perfect.

Changing rooms tip

You are not supposed to wander through the formal lobby in a wet swimsuit, and you almost have to pass through the lobby to get from your room to the pool. The pool area has lovely changing rooms. I find it a pain to change kids at the pool, so we just head straight to our rooms — but we are probably the only ones who do. It is not casual like Hawaii or many other beachfront hotels.

The Private Beach

The Breakers has a half-mile of private beach. They set out chairs for you, have floaties available, and a lifeguard on watch. The ocean along the seawall is rough with big crashing waves — beautiful to look at as you walk the grounds — but if you walk down a bit, there is a protected little beach area where you can get in and swim. We have had it nearly to ourselves.

Tip for shell lovers: down by the beach, past some big erosion-control rocks and blocks, the seashells are incredible. My kids fill buckets — big spiral conch-type shells, lots of them broken but plenty intact. We have hunted shells at many beaches, and my kids say the shells here are their favorite. They build little seashell-decorated sandcastles and have the best time.

Dining

The Breakers has around 10 restaurants, from casual to formal. A few worth knowing:

• The Circle — the grand breakfast room with stunning frescoed ceilings and ocean views. A wow experience and a must for at least one breakfast.

• Seafood Bar — casual, with a 30-foot aquarium bar and ocean views. A good family option.

• The Italian Restaurant — tucked into the Family Entertainment Center, this is the most kid-friendly sit-down spot. Parents can eat while kids play nearby.

• HMF — the chic lobby social club and cocktail lounge named for Henry Morrison Flagler. More of an adults date-night scene in the evening.

• Flagler Steakhouse — at the golf clubhouse.

• Beach Club restaurant — oceanfront, with dinner service added in early 2026 after a major redesign. Mediterranean coastal.

• Henry's Palm Beach — a more casual restaurant just off-property in the Via Flagler shopping plaza. Charge your meal to your room key for a discount.

My number one caveat: the food is shockingly expensive, and most of it is not casual beach food. Room service runs something like $30 for a cup of chicken noodle soup before gratuity and delivery, and a family of four can easily spend a few hundred dollars a day on food without trying. The restaurants are not swimsuit-and-flip-flops places — you dress for dinner (lunch is a bit more casual). After my kids have spent all day at the pool and beach, the last thing they want is a semi-formal dinner.

Instead, we often drive into the Palm Beach area for a more casual dinner — pizza places, Cheesecake Factory, easy spots for the kids. If your kids are not going to appreciate fine dining, plan to eat off-property for at least some meals, or lean on the Italian Restaurant and Seafood Bar on-site. If you are traveling with just adults, the dining scene here is a real highlight and you will feel differently about it — HMF in particular is a wonderful date-night spot.

Family Amenities and Activities

The Breakers has some wonderful family amenities. There is a lot for kids beyond the pools:

• A playground, a bit hidden away from everything else — a nice reprieve where kids can be loud and crazy for a while

• The Family Entertainment Center — indoor and outdoor space with an arcade, nine-hole mini golf, a basketball court, a toddler room, and a playground

• Free daily kids' activities — staff set up things like making colored sand bottles right out by the pool, no charge, kids can just hop up and do them. Usually one activity a day, and more in summer

• Seasonal kids' programming — art classes, lessons, and more during busy family seasons

• Bike rentals to ride around the whole resort

• Two 18-hole golf courses (with a shuttle to the clubhouse), plus tennis, pickleball, and padel on newly renovated racquet facilities

• A little beach shop at the pool with sand toys and swim gear — reasonably priced (sand toys were $15-20, not the outrageous markup you might expect)

• Watersports and a small private beach with a lifeguard

My kids especially love ordering food at the pool — they get a pineapple smoothie served inside a pineapple shell and think it is the most magical thing ever.

Kids activities set up at the pool. This was free of charge.

Kids club and babysitting

There are kids' activities throughout the week, but the supervised programming varies by season (it really intensifies in summer). If you are planning to golf, play tennis, or have an adults' evening out, call ahead and check in with the concierge to see what they can arrange — whether that is babysitting or specific all-day kids' programming. Do not assume a full drop-off kids' club is running on your dates; confirm it directly so you can plan around your tee times or dinner reservations.

Location

The Breakers sits on a 140-acre oceanfront property on the island of Palm Beach. You cross a bridge to get into the main Palm Beach area for shopping and restaurants — Worth Avenue is right there, and there is easy shopping (including a Target) within 10-15 minutes.

Palm Beach International (PBI) is the closest airport, only about 15 minutes away, and it has been adding nonstop routes, though it still has fewer direct flights than the bigger airports depending on where you are coming from. Fort Lauderdale is about 45 minutes and Miami about an hour and 15 minutes — both easy options with more direct flights.

Two fun outings nearby: you are about 30 minutes from Lion Country Safari, a drive-through safari park where you see animals up close from your car — strange and so fun, and my kids loved it. And right across the bridge, the Flagler Museum (Henry Flagler's former Whitehall estate) is a great one-hour outing if you want to learn the history behind the resort.

A note on feeling 'stuck' there

Because the resort is so self-contained and valet-forward, you do feel a little stuck once you settle in. Getting the car from the valet and heading out is a bit of a process, so you tend to stay put. That is wonderful if your plan is to never leave — but we do leave once a day, usually for a casual dinner.

How to Book and Save

The Breakers is expensive, but there are ways to bring the cost down and add value.

Go in the off-season — but watch the weather

Off-season rates (late spring through summer) can be dramatically lower than peak winter season, sometimes close to half. This is the single biggest lever. But the value of this resort is heavily tied to good weather — a rainy stay in a small room is not worth the price. The off-season also overlaps hurricane season in Florida, so build in flexibility and watch the forecast before you commit.

Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts

The Breakers is an Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts property. If you have the Amex Platinum or Business Platinum, booking through FHR typically gets you daily breakfast for two, a $100 property credit, room upgrade when available, noon check-in, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, and sometimes a complimentary fourth or sixth night on longer stays. You can also use the Business Platinum's semi-annual FHR credit to offset the cost, and Platinum cardholders earn 5x points on prepaid bookings through Amex Travel.

Capital One Premier Collection and Chase The Edit

If you have the Capital One Venture X, check the Capital One Premier Collection for The Breakers — it offers similar perks (breakfast for two, a $100 experience credit, upgrades when available). If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, check whether The Breakers is in The Edit by Chase Travel collection, which carries comparable benefits plus up to $500 in annual Edit credits. The Edit list rotates, so verify the property is currently included before you count on it.

Virtuoso travel agent

The Breakers is a Virtuoso property. Booking through a Virtuoso travel agent typically adds a room upgrade when available, a daily breakfast credit, a property credit, and early check-in / late checkout — usually at the same rate as booking direct.

Stay near the airport your first night

If you are flying in from the west coast and arriving late, consider staying at an inexpensive hotel near the airport your first night, then arriving at The Breakers first thing in the morning. That way you start your stay rested and ready to enjoy the resort from your first full day, instead of paying resort prices for a few hours of sleep.

Final Thoughts

We love The Breakers. It is spectacularly beautiful, the service is white-glove from arrival to departure, and it has a glamorous, iconic feel that most beach resorts — as wonderful as they are — just do not have. It is a different kind of beach vacation: more formal, more historic, more dress-for-dinner. But the staff makes everyone, feel welcome.

If you are going to plant yourself at the resort and use the pools, the beach, and the amenities all day, you will get your value — the same way you would at a comparable Hawaii resort. Three nights and four days would leave you feeling amazing, though plenty of people go for a full week in summer. We would happily go back anytime.

Just remember the two rules: go when the weather is good, and plan to use the resort. Do that, and it is a magical, memorable family trip.

Who Should Stay Here

Best for: Families who want a full-service iconic beach resort and plan to use the pools, beach, and amenities all day. Golfers and tennis players. Anyone celebrating something special. Multigenerational trips.

Skip if: You are going when the weather is iffy, you want a casual flip-flops-to-dinner beach vibe, or you want a base camp for exploring rather than a resort to settle into.

Price level: $$$ — $650–$1,000+/night in season, lower off-season. No resort fee and complimentary valet parking.

My verdict: Worth it with good weather and a plan to use the resort. An iconic American resort stay on par with Hawaii or a historic grande-dame hotel.

Also Consider Nearby

If The Breakers is not quite the right fit, a few other Palm Beach area options:

• Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach — smaller and quieter, with the same oceanfront setting, a Forbes Five-Star spa, and signature Four Seasons service. A great pick if you want less resort and more retreat. Also an Amex FHR property.

• Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa — a bit south in Manalapan, with a strong kids' club and a more relaxed luxury vibe. The one to book if the spa is a priority.

• The Colony Hotel — smaller, iconic, pink-and-charming, right near Worth Avenue. Less of a full resort, more of a boutique stay.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Breakers Palm Beach cost per night?

In-season rates typically run $650 to $1,000+ per night, with suites much higher. Off-season (late spring through summer) rates can drop substantially, sometimes close to half. There is no resort fee, and overnight valet parking is complimentary for hotel guests.

Is The Breakers good for families with kids?

Yes. There are four oceanfront pools (including a zero-entry pool for little ones), a half-mile private beach, a Family Entertainment Center with an arcade and mini golf, a playground, free daily kids' activities, bike rentals, and watersports. The vibe is more formal than a typical beach resort, but the staff is warm with kids.

Does The Breakers have a kids club?

There are kids' activities throughout the week, and supervised programming intensifies in summer. The drop-off kids' club offerings have changed over the years, so call the concierge ahead of your stay to confirm what is running on your dates and to arrange babysitting or all-day programming if you plan to golf, play tennis, or have an adults' evening.

Is there a resort fee or parking fee?

No resort fee. Overnight valet parking is complimentary for hotel guests, and there is also complimentary self-parking. Day visitors pay for parking, but overnight guests do not.

When is the best time to visit The Breakers?

Winter and spring have the best weather but the highest prices and biggest crowds. Summer is hot and humid but much cheaper, quieter, and has the liveliest family vibe. Whenever you go, watch the weather — the resort's value is tied to using the pools and beach, and a rainy stay in a small room is not worth the price.

How far is The Breakers from the airport?

Palm Beach International (PBI) is about 15 minutes away and keeps adding nonstop routes. Fort Lauderdale is about 45 minutes and Miami about an hour and 15 minutes, both with more direct flight options.

What is the dress code at The Breakers?

The resort is fairly formal. You should not wander through the lobby in swimwear, and the restaurants (especially at dinner) require you to dress up — no swimwear, and often a collared shirt or jacket for men at the nicer spots. Lunch is a bit more casual. Pack at least one dinner-appropriate outfit per person.

Can I book The Breakers with credit card travel programs?

Yes. The Breakers is an Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts property and a Virtuoso property, both of which add perks like breakfast, a property credit, and upgrades. Capital One Venture X holders should check the Premier Collection, and Chase Sapphire Reserve holders should check whether it is currently in The Edit by Chase Travel.

Are the rooms big at The Breakers?

No — the rooms are beautiful but on the smaller side (standard rooms are around 300 square feet), which surprises many guests given the price. Suites offer more space. Because the rooms are small, this is a resort best enjoyed when you will be outside at the pool and beach most of the day.

Is the food expensive at The Breakers?

Yes, quite. Room service and the on-site restaurants are premium-priced, and most are not casual — a family of four can easily spend a few hundred dollars a day on food. Families with young kids often drive into the Palm Beach area for casual meals, or stick to the more kid-friendly on-site options like the Italian Restaurant and Seafood Bar.

Why is The Breakers so famous?

The Breakers was founded by Henry Flagler in 1896 and the current Italian Renaissance building dates to 1926. It is one of the only historic grande-dame resorts in America still owned by its founding family, and its hand-painted ceilings, Venetian chandeliers, and 140 oceanfront acres make it a National Historic Landmark-caliber icon of American luxury travel.

The Breakers Palm Beach Review: Is This Iconic Resort Worth It for Families?

A Little History (This Place Is an American Icon)

Is The Breakers Worth It?

Arrival and Check-In