A Day of Outrageous Luxury in St. Pete/Clearwater

Why kid ourselves? Living (or vacationing) in the lap of luxury is everything it’s cracked up to be. It took just one day of living extravagantly to inspire me to work harder (and play the lottery). Here’s how I spent a day enjoying the high life in St. Pete/Clearwater. Now you can, too.

Yoga at Sunrise

I decide that relaxation is essential to getting the most out of my day of luxury. I start at sunrise, stretching and meditating on the white sands of Clearwater Beach.

The refined, environmentally sensitive Sandpearl Resort offers both private and group beach yoga classes. Afterwards, you can freshen up at its top-rated spa. The high-end salon will manicure your nails, coif your hair and make you feel as spoiled as Paris Hilton.

A Decadent Sunday Brunch

Primped for luxury, I head to downtown St. Petersburg.

Here, private yachts and sailboats bob at dock and the Mediterranean Revival-style, 1920s-era Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club decorates the bayfront. Nothing tops the historic resort’s Sunday brunch in buffet decadence. Indulge with chef-prepared omelets, caviar, steak, fresh king crab legs and bottomless glasses of fresh-squeezed-OJ mimosas. Plus, the white-coated waiters are mind-readers, bringing you anything you desire … before you can even think to ask.

A Cruise on a Luxury Yacht

After my Sunday morning feast, a 52-foot luxury yacht arrives to pick me up at the adjoining marina for a leisurely cruise.

If you cruise too, you may find it a rush knowing you’ll have something in common with such VIPs as Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Coach Don Shula and rock band Sister Hazel. All have explored area waters on Executive Adventures' floating palace, the King’s Ransom. Lounge on the deck and watch dolphins surface in the bay, or hang out in the posh stateroom and watch a game on the big-screen TV. The crew is always at your beck and call.

Over-the-Top Accommodations

Back onshore, it’s time to check into – gasp! – my luxury penthouse at the Loews Don CeSar Hotel.

The private elevator stops at a two-bedroom suite that has hosted the likes of Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Madonna and Prince. It’s tempting to stay inside, where every surface is a treat to the touch – luxury linens, a kid-skin leather-wrapped stair banister railing and silk cushions – but, just the same, I walk out onto the large rooftop patio overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Call ahead to schedule a patio massage so you can relax to the sound of the surf and the gentle sea breeze. If a perfect moment can be made even more so, a personal butler will be happy to deliver a piña colada to you as the sun melts into the Gulf.

A Memorable Dinner

It’s dinnertime and my chariot – err, limo – awaits to carry me to one of the area’s most lauded and romantic restaurants.

Only a short ride up the beach, Food Fetishes Fine Dining’s cozy eight-table ambiance couldn’t feel more special. Even better, the restaurant consistently wins Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence and has been touted in Gourmet magazine as well.

Perfect Endings

With the moon roof open to a starry sky, my limo takes the long way back to the Don CeSar, circling Pass-a-Grille Beach and offering unobstructed, moonlit views of the Intracoastal Waterway and Gulf of Mexico. Just inside the door to my suite, rose petals create a pink path to the Jacuzzi tub, where a bottle of Dom Pérignon awaits. I toast to a day well-lived!

More Luxurious Ideas

Dining on caviar at a decadent brunch and cruising on a 52-foot yacht isn’t a shabby way to spend a Sunday, but there’s more rich living to be enjoyed in the area. Consider these options:

• For truly swanky overnight accommodations, book the presidential suite at either the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club or the brand-new Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa. Or reserve the corner Gulf-front suite at the Sandpearl Resort, where you can also enjoy a beachside cabana massage.
• Dine at the popular Cafe Ponte in Clearwater or the Salt Rock Grill in Indian Shores. Or, for a more private dining experience, stay in and let the Don CeSar’s Maritana Grille serve a gourmet meal on your penthouse balcony. You might also consider booking the entire Black Pearl restaurant in Dunedin.
• Take to the skies on a hot-air balloon ride with Largo-based Crystal Magic Balloon Company.
• Check out the designer boutiques at International Plaza in Tampa, or pick up a bejeweled token of affection at Evander Preston Contemporary Jewelry Design gallery in St. Pete Beach.
• Discover your own private island on a sailing cruise with Windsong Sailing Charters or watch the sun set on a cruise with Kai Lani Catamaran.