by Marian Jane Sanders

oted for its oceanfront mansions and fine shopping, Palm Beach, Florida, is an affluent community of about 10,000 residents, including such diverse personalities as Donald Trump, Rod Stewart, and Rush Limbaugh. In winter, when temperatures hover in the mid-70s, the town attracts even the not so rich and famous, and the population swells to about 30,000.

Hotel rates during that time range from expensive to very expensive. But if you visit during the off-season, they can drop by as much as 50 percent. What would be a staggeringly high rate, barely affordable to middle-class people, can instead be a mild splurge. When we stayed at the legendary Colony Hotel last October, we paid $225 for a room that was $375 in December. That same room will cost $169 this May, and only $149 June through September.

In winter … temperatures hover in the mid-70s.

Lower hotel rates aren’t the only reason to visit Palm Beach off-season. With fewer visitors, it’s much easier to make reservations for dinner or find a secluded picnic spot on the beach.

We chose the Colony because of its long-standing reputation as a luxury boutique hotel; opened in 1947, it was home to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor from 1959 to 1961, and over the years has attracted a long list of celebrity guests, including Bill Clinton. Recently, the hotel completed a $12 million renewal. The exterior is rather grand-looking in classic British colonial style. The interior features British West Indies décor with pale yellow walls and imported mahogany furniture.

During our two-day stay last October, the weather was still too hot to exert ourselves much, but this was fine with us. We had come mainly to rest, relax, and enjoy “the good life.”

We began our visit with a light lunch, served poolside and beautifully presented with orchids garnishing the plates. After lunch, we lingered on the terrace, surrounded by lush foliage and urns spilling over with purple and magenta hibiscus. Sunbathers stretched out on chaise longues and dipped in the one-of-a-kind, Florida-shaped pool; we stayed cool under an awning and ceiling fans. At the end of the day, we settled in at the far end of the terrace, an intimate area with rattan loveseats, oversize chairs, and small cocktail tables.

For dinner, we traded flip-flops for sandals, shorts for pants, and set out for dinner at the Brazilian Court, a boutique hotel in the Spanish-European style. Most of the rooms overlook a courtyard with vivid floral arrangements and an historic cherub fountain — a romantic backdrop for many weddings. Since it opened in 1926, this charming and elegant hotel has also seen its share of movie stars and socialites.

We dined at the hotel’s Café Boulud, named after world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud (twice named “best chef in the South” by the James Beard Foundation). The menu emphasizes classic French food, but includes American and world cuisines as well. The ambience is warm, the food superb. We would have returned for another meal but, alas, we had just one evening in Palm Beach.

After dinner, we returned to our room at the Colony. First we sampled the top-quality amenities from L’Occitane. Then we indulged in the soothing Moulton Brown “heavenly ginger” bubble bath. Not much later, sleep came easily, as we drifted off in the welcome comfort of Egyptian linens, feather pillows, and a fluffy duvet. All night, the hotel was perfectly silent, no doubt another “perk” of a visit to Palm Beach off-season.

The Colony Hotel: 800/521-5525; www.thecolonypalmbeach.com.
The Brazilian Court: 800/552-0335; www.thebraziliancourt.com.

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