ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: After driving through the arts and entertainment district of Delray Beach, I was expecting the lively and vibrant energy to follow me to my doorstep at Crane’s Beach House that evening. I was pleasantly surprised when the spirited rumble of a night downtown halted right at the front gate. As I walked the pathway to the front office for check-in, I was welcomed by a quiet rustle of the greenery and flowers that guided my walk, strung with lights and colorful, tropical décor. At check-in I was provided with a complimentary parking pass; although I would only be there for one night, I much appreciated this unexpected perk. I received my room information, including a pass code that would open my door. Keyless entry was a nice touch.

GUEST QUARTERS: A few hours before I checked in, I received a text message that Crane’s Beach House had an opening, and I was upgraded to its luxury villa. Needless to say, I was eager to see what awaited behind the doors of Villa No. 7; the door, by the way, was sealed with a “sanitized and sealed” sticker, and I later found the same sticker sealing the refrigerator door and toilet as well. My villa, equipped with a fully stocked stainless steel kitchen, featured a chic living room that flowed right into a king-sized bedroom with a spa-inspired bathroom and a rock-floor shower. My favorite part of the room was the back patio I enjoyed after settling in and unpacking. I looked forward to using the gas firepit right off my personal patio but was disappointed to find it was not working; it was far past the office hours of the front desk, and nobody was there to assist me.

After a quiet evening swim, I enjoyed winding down with the bedroom television with HD cable and premium movie channels, settling in for a comfortable and roomy sleep on the king mattress.

SERVICE/AMENITIES: Breakfast delivery was available for guests who requested it at least 12 hours in advance; and since my stay was brief, I opted out. Most hotels, however, have discontinued breakfast service due to COVID-19, so I appreciated the property’s efforts. My room was stocked with three Tommy Bahama beach chairs, which I used to watch the sunrise, as well as two yoga mats. I enjoyed a cup of coffee from the room’s Keurig before my departure and took along a custom Crane’s Beach House water bottle left for me as a gift.

TOP TAKEAWAYS

The beach house is half a block away from Delray Beach, so getting up to watch the sunrise is a breeze.

The hotel offered options for contactless check-in and keyless entry to ensure guests’ comfort and safety.

Although the villas are attached to one another, I felt a great sense of privacy and personalization.

CRANE’S BEACH HOUSE BOUTIQUE HOTEL & LUXURY VILLAS
82 Gleason St.
Delray Beach, FL 33483
tel 561 278 1700
cranesbeachhouse.com