Atlantic Beach's One Ocean Resort Hotel & Spa: Area's Newest Oceanfront Resort Offers Unmatched Luxury

Housed in a $24 million, down-to-the-cinder blocks renovation of the former Sea Turtle Inn, One Ocean is arguably the area’s most sumptuous of vacation sites. In keeping with its edge of the Atlantic Ocean locale, planners developed a marine themed respite, from the spectacular sea-inspired sculptures that greet visitors in the main lobby, down to the blue – not red – message lights on guestroom telephones.

“Virtually every aspect conveys an ocean feel,” says One Ocean Spokesperson Bonnie Phillips Upright, adding that the luxury resort is the first in Remington Hotels new signature Gallery Collection.

Each of resort’s 193 guestrooms offers floor-to-ceiling views of the Atlantic Ocean, mood lighting, custom-designed One Ocean mattresses and personalized refreshment cabinets offering snacks and drinks at no additional charge (excluding alcoholic beverages). Reservationists ask guests about their snack and beverage preferences, which will remain in a database for return visitors' future stays. And a docent teams help with help with every request from scheduled tee-times to warm cookies and milk delivered just before young traveler’s bedtime, even private plane arrangments.

Luxury meets technology in heat-activated sensors that tell docents and cleaning service personnel whether guests are in their rooms so as not to disturb them. Each room also features iPod docking stations (blue, of course) and free high speed Internet access.

Special touches like these earned One Ocean the American Society of Interior Design’s Legacy Award for room design even before the resort opened – an unprecedented honor. And for a truly unique touch, guests can ask for the John Grisham suite, named in honor of the famed novelist whose books often mention area locales (especially nearby Pete’s Bar, a decades-old institution). Grisham and his young son spent many a spring baseball season in Atlantic Beach.

The 2.1 million, five-star spa is the area’s only oceanfront spa, offering views of the Atlantic from several of its treatment rooms. Spa staff use marine-based Phytomer skincare products and treatment rooms are named for the lifecycles of the sea turtle. Speaking of, the popular sea shell massage features warm, smooth, oiled seashells that glide over and soothe tight muscles and proceeds benefit the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of endangered marine turtles in Duval County.

Guests often cap the night with dinner at the Azuréa restaurant offering contemporary coastal cuisine with the flavors of Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas. Its lounge and oceanfront deck are popular nightspots for both visitors and locals and are frequented by Jacksonville Jaguars and PGA Tour players.

Despite its ultra-chic atmosphere, One Ocean is kid- and pet-friendly as well. Little travelers will have a ball at the Sea Turtle Kids Club, which offers outdoor movie nights, bedtime stories, water sports, art and photography classes and sandcastle building lessons from a professional sandcastle artist (yes – it’s a real job, apparently). And four-legged travel companions enjoy veterinarian-approved Haute Pet Cuisine - just another subtly over-the-top amenity that makes One Ocean a top choice.

The copyright of the article Atlantic Beach's One Ocean Resort Hotel & Spa in Florida Travel is owned by Devan Stuart. Permission to republish Atlantic Beach's One Ocean Resort Hotel & Spa in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Jul 6, 2009 6:07 AM

Guest :

I stayed there in June 2009 with some girlfriends. After arriving at the hotel after a night on the town we walked through the lobby and into the elevator. After literally taking one step off of the elevator we were yelled at “I told you for the last time to be quiet…this is it.” To which I responded “excuse me, we just arrived here for the night and so you haven’t told me anything.” She said “well consider this your first and final warning, get to your room and be quiet.” I went down stairs to ask to speak to the manager about this incident and to my surprise the manager was the one who accosted me only minutes before. Only this time she was accompanied by a body guard looking fellow, who before I said a word told me that I needed to calm down. First, I explained that a body wasn’t necessary and that I didn’t need to calm down. I told her that the way we were treated was uncalled for and asked for an apology. I got no apology but was simply told that we were mistaken for some guests who were being loud all night.
They did an excellent job renovating the hotel but the way I was treated was something that I have never experienced and for that I will never go back.