I was flying up from Rio to Acqualina Resort & Spa. I didn’t want to stay in Miami and I didn’t want to drive up to Palm Beach either. I love Miami. Have you ever heard of a Brazilian who didn’t? When we got rich that’s where we all headed. That was in the beginning but now we’re moving up the coast. A friend at home was telling me how much she liked the Acqualina Resort & Spa. I was getting over a breakup and just needed time by myself at a place that was quiet, sophisticated and offered all the services. I texted my agent Heather at Classic Travel in New York. She knew the hotel very well and texted right back “Muito Bom”. I laughed to myself as I think that’s about the only Portuguese she knows. She does have the Carioca accent down though. “They have amazing services and the beach is divine” she continued “and the bartender makes the best Caipirinha north of Rio. A Caipirinha is to a Carioca what a Martini is to a New Yorker.
Heather continued, “Hey, they have a 4th night free program right now and we can include our Virtuoso amenities and the best part is it’s just 30 minutes from Miami International Airport.” She booked it for me, although I could have booked it myself on classictravel.com. Either way we both get confirmations so my super-agent Heather is always in the loop. Classic Travel Service always follows up on bookings made on their site. I love it. When I got to the hotel they even upgraded me.
Aqualina’s Espa Spa could not be better and especially after a 9 hour flight. The 20,000 square foot beach view gym was so great to work out in, followed by a massage and then the afternoon at the adult pool. I was in heaven, the chaise lounges were so comfortable; I was oblivious to everything around me except the mesmerizing sound of waves gently lapping on the beach. All of a sudden out of the corner of my eye I became completely distracted. Coming out of the pool was a woman in a white one-piece bathing suit. She had the most perfect body, long black hair and incredible green eyes. I thought for a second that I was back in Rio. In fact, I thought she resembled someone I had seen back home. I was thinking of how I could approach her but all at once she was gone. I was a little disappointed but more annoyed at myself for being so easily distracted. This was supposed to be meditative long weekend trip. Well, I didn’t say I was dead!
I know this sounds a bit nuts but I went back to Acqualina’s fantastic health club. I wanted to get my mind off of that “woman in white”. An hour on the elliptical plugged into the right music helped me get into the moment. It’s always great to work out in new surroundings and Acqualina created the perfect ambiance. I drank about a gallon of water and then worked out with weights another 30 minutes. Then I went to my incredible room with views of that beautiful stretch of white sand beach. I’m amazed to think that Acqualina is only two and half hours from New York. New Yorker’s really do have it all!
The next three days were almost perfect. Every day I worked out for 3 hours, went to the beach and pool, didn’t drink and was in bed by 9 P.M. If that sounds boring, it’s not my usual life. Then the last night I decided to have a couple of drinks at the bar. The music wasn’t Brazilian but the Caipirinha was as good as any I’ve had in Rio. Heather was right! I say almost perfect because as I was leaving to go back to my room when I saw the woman in white getting into a white Mercedes convertible. She was dressed in a form fitting white dress. She was even more beautiful then I remembered. Now I was frustrated and she was gone.
The staff at Acqualina is so professional. Everyone is friendly and so accommodating. The concierge told me exactly where to go to get some new American jeans that you just can’t get in Rio. However when, I mentioned the “Woman in White,” no one seemed to know what I was talking about. Well, anyway, if they did they sure weren’t going to tell me anything. It’s obvious the staff at Acqualina respects the privacy of their guests so I just dropped it. I was going back to Rio that night. It was better this way. The front desk was able to give me a late check out, another great Virtuoso amenity, as my flight was not until the evening. At 6 P.M. as the luggage was being put into the taxi, the woman in white walked by me and smiled making eye contact. That was is it!!!! That’s all that happened but it was enough. Now, I realized I was over my breakup and ready to move on. Sometimes, it takes a couple of experiences to realize life goes on. The “woman in white” sure made me forget and so did Acqualina. Now, that’s why I plan on returning to one of the best U.S. beach hotels I’ve ever been to.