Trump National Doral Golf Resort

You know what, Trump National Doral Golf Resort is honestly one of those places that completely surprised me when I stayed there last spring. I mean, I knew it was going to be nice – it’s a 5-star property after all – but I wasn’t expecting the sheer scale of this place once you drive through those gates in Doral. The resort sits on this massive 800-acre spread right off NW 87th Avenue, and honestly, you feel like you’re entering a completely different world from the moment you leave the hustle of Miami behind.

The check-in process was smooth (they actually remembered my name throughout the stay, which was a nice touch), and I have to say the staff genuinely seemed happy to be there. My room overlooked the Blue Monster course – that’s their championship golf course that hosts the PGA Tour – and waking up to those perfectly manicured fairways with the Miami skyline in the distance was pretty spectacular. The rooms themselves are spacious with this modern-meets-classic vibe, and the beds are ridiculously comfortable. I loved that they had a proper work area too, since I was mixing business with pleasure on this trip. The only minor thing I noticed was that you could occasionally hear the hum of NW 36th Street traffic early in the morning, but honestly, it wasn’t bothersome at all.

What really got me was the variety of everything here – there are four championship golf courses (the Blue Monster being the crown jewel), but even if you’re not into golf like my partner, there’s the spa (which has this amazing eucalyptus steam room that I’m still thinking about), multiple pools, and tennis courts. The hotel restaurant scene is solid too – I particularly loved BLT Prime for dinner, though it’s definitely on the pricier side. Parking is complimentary, which is refreshing in South Florida, and they have both self-park and valet options. The resort shuttle service around the property is a lifesaver because walking from your room to some of the amenities can be quite a trek – this place is huge! I spent one afternoon just wandering around discovering different pools and restaurants I hadn’t noticed before. The location is pretty perfect if you want that resort bubble experience but still have easy access to Miami International Airport (about 10 minutes) or downtown Miami (maybe 20-25 minutes depending on traffic). Well, I’d definitely go back – it’s one of those places where you can easily spend several days without ever feeling like you need to leave the property.