The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, Curio Collection by Hilton

There's no mistaking it: this luxury resort is big. It's also on a shortlist of the top iconic hotels in South Florida. The Diplomat opened in 1957 and then served as a mecca for entertainment in the 1960s and 1970s, hosting guests like Liza Minelli and the Rat Pack. However, nothing gold can stay, and in the 1990s, the hotel was completely leveled and rebuilt. In 2002, it reopened as the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa, adding the spa and golf course. In 2014, it was bought and rebranded as the Diplomat Beach Resort before receiving a few modern upgrades and being added to the Hilton's Curio Collection. Its aim is to be self-contained and viewed as a destination in its own right. Guests should expect large, open spaces, and a lobby with a unique design -- featuring sand pits, tons of natural light, and realistic-looking plastic palm trees -- that creates an indoor/outdoor feel. The exceptional conference facilities and one-stop shop features bring in a lot of groups and business travelers, as well as families on vacation. 

The Diplomat Beach Resort has a beachfront location off Ocean Avenue/Highway A1A in Hollywood Beach. The immediate area is full of hotels, shopping, restaurants, and tourist attractions, and is fairly walkable. The famous Broadwalk is just a seven-minute drive away, while Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Fort Lauderdale Beach are a 20-minute and  30-minute drive north, respectively. 

The Diplomat's 1000 rooms are separated between the North and South tower buildings. Sophisticated decor follows a mostly neutral color scheme, with streamlined wood furniture, ocean-inspired pops of blue in chairs, vintage beach photos, and patterned carpet. All rooms have Bluetooth music players, HDTVs with Chromecast, and great bathrooms with showers and separate tubs. Some rooms feature retro SMEG mini-fridges. Rooms come stocked with wine openers and C.O. Bigelow bath products, and robes are available on request. Standard Double or King City View rooms almost always come with furnished balconies and have shuttered peek-a-boo windows into the bathrooms. However, the tubs in these rooms are tiny. Standard Ocean View rooms boast great views of the Atlantic. Other standard room views include the Intracoastal Waterway and partial ocean views. Upgrades to the Corner Suites add more space, separate dining rooms and living rooms, and furnished, wraparound balconies with stunning ocean views. Diplomat Suites vary in layout and have upgraded features like Keurig coffee machines, extra half baths, and whirlpool tubs. 

All beaches in Miami are designated public, though guests can expect pink beach chairs and umbrellas, as well as beach concierge service on the sands. The covered, padded daybeds with shady pullover shells cost extra. The vibe here is relaxed with some light music wafting in from the pool area. Expect soft sand and the possibility of seaweed. Guests have direct beach access behind the hotel. 

The Top Deck Infinity Pool is the smaller of the hotel's two pools, but it offers great ocean views and a location closest to the Hotel Bar. However, there aren't many sun loungers here, although Tina Turk-designed cabanas are available for an extra fee. On the flip side, the Lagoon Pool, located one level down, is lined with contemporary sunbeds. This pool is big and boasts modern sheet waterfalls, a connecting bridge, and the easiest access to the Playa Bar and beach. Guests can also rent any of the 36 cabanas, which include shuttered doors, mini-fridges stocked with water, TVs, fans, and chair and sofa seating. 

Food lovers are spoiled for choice at the Diplomat: from casual bites like the house-made pastries and ice cream at Candy and Cones, to more upscale restaurants like Diplomat Prime, the resort's classic-contemporary take on a steakhouse. Standout spots include Michael Schulson's Japanese-inspired Nokku, where guests can dine in a velvety sushi lounge, make reservations for a 10-course tasting menu, or slip into the attached speakeasy for cocktails, bites, live music, and private karaoke rooms. There are also two Geoffrey Zakarian spots, Counterpoint (a coffee cafe) and Point Royal (part oyster bar, part buffet, part fine-dining restaurant). Other food options can be found out on the marina. 

The Diplomat is packed full of features, including a unique marina area called Diplomat Landing located across the street on the water. Here, guests will find food and drink venues, from a beer and wine garden to burgers and barbecue. An arcade with free games, third-party slip rentals, and manatees in the water are also found here. The Diplomat Spa exudes luxury and style with lots of marble, high-end Malin + Goetz products, a Vichy shower, and 10 treatment rooms. Guests can use the locker room steam room and saunas for free, but will need to book a treatment or salon service for access to the co-ed relaxation area and its chromogenic waterfall. There's also a 24-hour, dual-level gym accessible via guest room keycards. Expect laminate floors, AC, and a quiet atmosphere devoid of music. A good selection of LifeFitness equipment and group exercise classes (fee outside of one free class for one person per room per day) are enough for moderate-level workouts. This hotel is popular for conferences and with business travelers, and even has an entirely separate wing devoted to the cause. There is over 200,000 square feet of event space, including an area for private event registration and satellite check-in. Most of the restaurants have their own bars, and guests can grab drinks from the Hotel Bar in the lobby atrium, take a seat under the indoor palms, or head outside on the terrace. The Dip 'n' Slide Kids Club has a small water park area with a modern look, bouncy house, and extra fees. Activities are geared towards children ages 4 to 12, and kids must be signed in and out. Some hotel services are integrated in the Hilton Honors app and available to Hilton Honors members, like pre-arrival room selection, concierge messaging, digital keys, and check-in. The resort fee covers beach chairs (umbrellas cost extra), free range balls at the golf course, bottled water, and W-Fi. Guests can also access free non-motorized water sports like paddleboarding or kayaking, and one fitness class per room per day for just one person. Self and valet parking are both pricey. This is a no-pet hotel, and guests are required to wear wristbands. During our visit, the golf and tennis courts were under repair from hurricane damage, so check beforehand o their status if you plan on using those facilities.