Four Seasons Surfside Experience

Would you turn down an all-expense paid vacation to one of the most luxurious hotels in Miami? Well, I did. When I first learned of this potential opportunity, it was October 2020 and my husband was just about to begin radiation treatment for prostate cancer. The treatments were scheduled five times a week for 7 weeks which meant that he would be unable to travel. Although, once John found out that I had passed on the opportunity, he immediately made me call back and accept. Sharing how it all began as well as my Four Seasons Surfside Miami Review…

A production company had reached out asking if I would be interested in working together (with my husband) on an upcoming project for a luxury hospitality brand. My first instinct was that it sounded too good to be true. However, after scheduling a call with their producer, I learned that they were filming content for the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club, in Surfside Miami, Florida . I asked if they would consider having my daughter and granddaughters travel with me in lieu of my husband, and they agreed! They wanted to showcase real families at the hotel. All travel expenses, including flights, accommodations and meals were covered in exchange for our participation in the campaign.

Once we agreed, everything happened rather quickly. Within three days of our initial introduction a complete itinerary and call sheet were sent over. As you probably know, I have never been a part of anything like this. Every detail was clearly outlined, including the request that our nails be painted in a neutral color.

Of course, October 2020 was still a time when travel was not encouraged. Covid cases were on the rise. However, my daughter and I weighed the risk-reward of this potential experience and decided it was something we couldn’t pass up. My daughter Brittany hadn’t traveled since that March. She had been home with two children under the age of 6. And, like many parents, she was managing virtual learning days with her Kindergartner. This trip was a much needed break for her. As for myself, I had two thoughts. First, I don’t know if I would have ever planned a vacation with just my daughter and two of my granddaughters. And secondly, I don’t think that I would have been able to afford a vacation like this. We were elated to be living out this dream vacation.

Four Seasons Surfside Miami

Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club, Seaside Florida

I can’t begin to describe how beautiful the Seaside Hotel and its accommodations are. Immediately walking into the hotel you are greeted by the delicious clean smell of the hotel lobby reminiscent of the nearby ocean. The decor is crisp, chic and modern. Our hotel room had floor length windows overlooking the ocean with remote controlled curtains (that my grandchildren were in awe of). Each morning, I had to ask myself if it was real because it felt like a fantasy. Not to mention, the weather in late fall in Florida is fantastic. The service at the hotel was spectacular, especially down by the pool. Because the hotel was not filled to capacity, we were able to enjoy a poolside lounge each day and the girls enjoyed having the pool to themselves.

Just to give you a glimpse of the Surf Club Hotel, this legendary landmark first opened its doors New Year’s Eve in 1930. It quickly became a famous destination for the rich and famous. Earnest Hemingway, Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor were among the famous that were part of the once historic and once private Surf Club.  Although the hotel was newly renovated in 2017, and now operates as the Four Seasons , there is still a feeling of nostalgia mixed in with a modern elegance. 

As for production, work started as soon as we arrived. We were first directed to a room reserved for wardrobe and all four of us girls were able to try on selections for the upcoming agenda. The days ahead called for scenes at the pool, beach, lounge, rooftop restaurants and hotel suites.

The next morning, I started just before sunrise. My first acting debut was walking a dog on the beach. Being a part of a film set was such a unique and fun experience. The amount of crew members and planning was top notch. Other than my unruly hair and the temperamental bulldog that freaked when a drone flew overhead, they managed to get the shot they needed after a few takes.

Later that same morning, my daughter and I were called to film a Yoga Paddle Board Class. Can you imagine? Obviously this was nerve wracking because neither of us had ever done a class like that! Not only was I nervous about holding my balance on the water, but I was also nervous because I was wearing borrowed clothes and had a whole film crew supervising me! Brittany was a superstar and did an amazing job. However, I was unable to avoid getting wet.

The next day filming was scheduled at the Four Seasons Residences. The scene included a five course wine dinner. Since my husband did not attend the shoot, they had to find an alternate to fill in. A hotel security guard was recruited to film with me that evening. We both laughed at how we had yet to tell our real life spouses about the experience. In fact, I even waited later to see if the segment was added before I even mentioned it to my husband. 

The Review is in…

In all, we filmed content each day over the five days we stayed at the hotel. Although, once we saw the finished product, this entire video came together in just over 2 minutes. If you look closely, you will catch us briefly.

Although our acting career may still be a work in progress, I was so thankful that this blog I started allowed of three generations to experience the vacation of a lifetime. 

And now 18 months later, I wanted to add an update on my husband. He is doing great, and we are both looking forward to future travels. Cheers!