Castillo Real An Ascend Hotel Collection Member

This bright yellow, four-story hotel makes a favorable first impression, exuding a tropical Mediterranean vibe, with a tile roof and lots of stately palms surrounding it. The classy ambiance continues inside, with a small but interesting lobby that features a soaring, three-story atrium, marble floors, and gold plaster-like walls. Leather-top, circular benches with red upholstery rest below a chandelier and next to a large fountain. Intricately carved wooden columns flank a wood-paneled wall adorned with decorative tile. The rooftop patio is a peaceful place to enjoy expansive views of the quaint seaside community any time of day, and it’s especially pleasant at sunset or early in the morning. Castillo Real is generally a quiet hotel that attracts beachgoers, including families and couples on getaway weekends. The pool stays busy when the weather is conducive for a swim.    

Ascend is located on the beach side of the A1A Beach Blvd., in a quiet and mostly residential neighborhood of townhouses and vacation condos. While not directly on the beach, it’s only a two-minute walk to the waterfront. A few restaurants and shops also are just a couple of minutes away on foot. The University of St. Augustine is about a 10-minute drive, while the St. Augustine Amphitheater is seven minutes by car. Historic downtown St. Augustine and its many dining and shopping options is approximately a 15-minute drive. The hotel is one hour's drive from Daytona Beach International Airport, and about 75 minutes by car from Jacksonville International Airport. 

The decor in these bright and attractive rooms has some interesting visual elements, such as striking Impressionist art and bed throws in vibrant shades of red, orange, gold, and lavender. They mix nicely with butterscotch leather-padded headboards and drapes in matching colors, as well as with the patterned carpet in brownish-gray hues. The wood furniture is of high quality and varies from dark and light finishes, and includes armoires, desks, and dressers with marble tops. 

About half of the guest rooms and suites feature in-room whirlpools on marble platforms. Many also have balconies with partial or full ocean views, while other rooms have “island” or pool views. Units are well-equipped, with microwaves, Keurig coffeemakers, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, and DVD players. Robes, magnifying mirrors, and free Wi-Fi also are standard. Granite vanities are placed outside the bathrooms, which have marble walk-in showers. The new Serta pillow-top mattresses installed in 2016 have drawn good reviews from guests for their comfort. 

This property has a solid lineup of features for a comfortable stay. The hotel has an independently operated, fine-dining restaurant (La Cocina) that's open for breakfast (fee), lunch, and dinner. La Cocina offers a diverse international menu with a Latin flair, with dishes such as Caribbean pork chops, fresh seafood, steaks, and creative appetizers like Spanish octopus. It also has an impressive wine list.

Another highlight is the large patio with covered tables, loungers, and towering palms surrounding the outdoor pool, which has a fountain in the middle and an adjacent whirlpool. The fitness center has plenty of space, but only free weights and three pieces of cardio equipment. A steam room and sauna are next to the workout equipment, however. 

The lobby contains a business center with a computer with a printer, and free coffee and daily newspapers can also be found in the lobby. On-site parking and Wi-Fi throughout are free as well. Valet dry cleaning and laundry are among the concierge services, and a guest laundry room is on-site, too.