Living in Tampa Bay, I think we sometimes lose track of how many awesome spots we have right in our backyard! Even if it's an hour drive to Orlando, or a 3-4 hour drive south.
Every year, AAA reveals their new list of hotels & restaurants that they deem Four and Five Diamonds, and there are A LOT of Florida locations on this year's list! Some even right here in Tampa Bay!! (See who made the list below)
Here are the some of the Five-Diamond Hotels in Florida:
- The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
- The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
- Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
- The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
- Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach
- The Breakers, Palm Beach
- Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
Here are some of the Four-Diamond Hotels in Florida (Tampa Bay locations in bold):
- Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate
- Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa
- Opal Sands Resort
- Sandpearl Resort
- Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach
- Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- InterContinental Miami
- W South Beach
- Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando
- The Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando
- The Don CeSar
- The Vinoy, Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club
- The Westin Sarasota
- Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection
- Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
- Le Meridien Tampa
- Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
- Tampa Marriott Water Street
- The Westin Tampa Bay
Here are the Five-Diamond Restaurants in Florida:
- Salt (in The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island)
- Victoria & Albert's (in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa)
Here are some of the Four-Diamond Restaurants in Florida (Tampa Bay locations in bold):
- Caretta On The Gulf (Clearwater Beach)
- The Venetian Chop House (Lake Buena Vista)
- Alter Restaurant & Bar (Miami)
- Mr Chow (Miami Beach)
- Christini's Ristorante Italiano (Orlando)
- Maritana Grille (St Pete Beach)
- Michael's On East (Sarasota)
- Armani's (Tampa)
(Photo: Getty Images)