Trump National Doral - Miami
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No matter who you are or where you live, you have heard the name Trump. And, when embarking or disembarking a cruise in Miami or Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), you have the opportunity to spend a few days at a five-star resort bearing the name of the 45th President of the United States.
The beautiful main lobby is drenched in marble and evokes a feeling of quality and class. The property has been in existence for 55 years, and was operated by Marriott for a period of time. The Trump Organization purchased Doral in 2012 and immediately began a massive renovation that took 18 months to complete. Virtually nothing was left untouched. As a child, Mr. Trump spent time at this hotel with his father, so he took a very personal interest in the project.
This prestigious 800-acre property boasts a completely renovated clubhouse, 643 plush guestrooms and suites, new signature restaurants, four enhanced championship golf courses, plus all-new recreational amenities. The newly redesigned Trump Spa & Suites (there are 48 Spa Suites) invites guests to luxuriate in the splendor of it all. Mr. Trump, Ivanka and Eric Trump were all very involved in the renovation, leaving no detail to chance. This property is on par with any we have experienced anywhere in the world. Yes, it is that nice.
Golf
Trump Doral may be best known for it's four championship golf courses, most notably, the Blue Monster, which has hosted a PGA tour event every year since 1962. So, for those of you who love the game of golf, you will have a lot of options without ever leaving the property!
Golden Palm Hole 11
Spa
For those who prefer a spa getaway, the 48,000 square-foot Trump Spa and Suites includes a spa facility with 28 treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, private locker rooms with Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and salon. My personal spa experience further confirmed that this is one of the nicest spas in the world.
Trump Spa and Suites
Tennis
Of course, Trump Doral offers tennis, too.
Pre-/Post-Cruise packages
For cruise guests, Trump National Doral offers a special pre-/post-cruise package that includes all of the following:
Deluxe Accommodations (King or Double Queen Bedding)
Daily breakfast for two at BLT Prime
Transportation to and from the Port of Miami
Luggage storage (up to two pieces per person)
Early check-in and late check-out (based on availability)
Self Parking
For details, check out the attached PDF
Trump® Pets - You can bring your dog (under 50 lbs) and Trump will greet them with a special toy, a doggie bed and even a special menu.
In-room dining menu offering irresistible gourmet treats
Water bowl and fresh bottled water
Toys promising hours of entertainment
Map of the city highlighting fun outdoor dog-friendly parks
Trump® Kids
Children's room service menu
Special treatments and pricing at our luxury spas
Children's menu and pricing at our signature restaurants
Personal Attaché™ service
Map of the city with ‘must see' spots
Nanny services (rates apply)
Use of the swimming pool
Swim lessons (rates apply)
Cribs with plush linens
Bed rails
Rollaway bed
Board games
Children's books
In-suite children's movie channel (rates apply)
REVIEW
Our visit to Trump Doral was both a pre-cruise and post-cruise stay. We disembarked Holland America's Koningsdam in Ft. Lauderdale on a Sunday and flew to Barbados to embark Windstar Star Pride on Wednesday. That gave us three days to explore all that the Trump property has to offer. We took the ship's bus transfer to the Miami airport from Ft. Lauderdale. Trump Doral is approximately seven miles from Miami International, so we decided to use Uber to get from the airport to the resort. Our Uber driver showed up in less than two minutes and within 12 minutes, we were pulling up to the security guard station at Trump Doral. As a point of reference, the Uber ride cost only $15.75 whereas a taxi would have been more than $40.
We arranged for an early check-in and arrived at about 10am. We were greeted in the driveway by a bellman who took our luggage and directed us to the reception desk for check-in. Check-in was quick and efficient. A look around the lobby reveals many photos of "The Donald" hosting various celebrities and golfing greats at the resort. Next to the reception desk is a large acrylic urn filled with Trump Virgin Mojito Water, a delicious and refreshing drink for guests to enjoy. We were fortunate enough to confiscate the recipe and we will be making this at home.
After we checked in, a bellman, Luis, offered to drive us to our suite in the Bobby Jones Villa (all rooms and suites are in villas named for famous golfers). Golf carts are used to shuttle guests around the property, even though the walk to our villa was not that long.
Bobby Jones Villa
Luis took our luggage to our suite (Premier Two-Bedroom Suite #1122) and we had our first look at the large accommodations consisting of a large living room, separate dining room, small kitchenette and a beautiful bedroom. There are two bathrooms, both with marble showers and one has a bathtub. There are two 55" flat screen, HD televisions.
Dining
There are multiple dining options available at the resort, but on our first night at the property we had reservations at a local restaurant just a mile away. One benefit guests at Trump Doral enjoy is complimentary transportation within a five-mile radius.
On our first morning, we enjoyed the breakfast buffet at BLT Prime, Trump Doral's on-site restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The atmosphere at BLT Prime is casual during the day and there is seating indoors and covered patio seating outdoors. The buffet was extensive with a nice variety of items to suit every taste. An eggs made-to-order station is staffed with a chef to prepare fresh egg dishes. The chicken sausage was very nice and the bacon was some of the best I have had in years.
On another day, we chose to have lunch at BLT Prime. We selected a large, comfortable booth with a nice view of the Blue Monster golf course.
Soon after we were seated, our waiter arrived with BLT's signature warm and crusty popovers. The popovers are served with butter and sea salt and are addictive. As you can see from the photo below, I could not even wait to take a picture before attacking one of the popovers.
BLT Prime signature popovers
The lunch menu at BLT Prime is quite extensive. A variety of salads, appetizers, steaks, entrees and sides should satisfy any taste. A word to the wise: appetizers are large enough for two people to share. We learned the hard way by ordering two appetizers, a Tuna Tartare and Roasted Beets. The Tuna Tartare was a large mound of fresh Ahi tuna chunks sitting atop avocado, floating in a soy lime dressing. Delicious. For a main course, I ordered the Black Angus Beef Short Rib Burger and Rickee ordered the Beer Battered Black Grouper sandwich. Both sandwiches were served on toasted Brioche buns along with a huge portion of crispy French fries. Both entrees were delicious.
For dinner one evening, we visited Champions Bar and Grill. Champions is open each day from 11am to 11pm and is the property's sports-themed bar and restaurant. There are flat screen TVs lining the walls with sports playing on each. The menu offers American cuisine and cocktails. Guests can choose from an array of appetizers such as the Jumbo “Red Tiger” Shrimp, "Chicken Lollipops," and Artisan Meats and Cheese Board. Two of the specialty entrees include the “Big Boy” burger with sirloin pulled pork con mojo, aged gruyere and mushrooms, and the “St. Louis Ribs” with spiced rub, house barbeque pork, cheddar grits and a vinegar slaw.
Champions Bar & Grill
Pool
For sun-lovers, the Royal Palm pool features two pool areas, one for families, and another "Relaxation Pool" reserved for adults.
Royal Palm Pool
When we visited the pool, we were greeted by a smiling attendant who covered two loungers with terrycloth covers. Two fresh towels were also provided. Soon, Alan, another attendant, arrived with two cups of delicious and refreshing watermelon water and a menu for the pool restaurant, the Palm Grill.
We spent an entire afternoon just relaxing at the pool. Alan stopped by frequently to see if we needed anything and was very personable.
After spending three days at Trump Doral, we have come to the conclusion that this would be the place we would most like to return to for a pre-/post-cruise stay in the Miami area. We have reviewed many hotels and resorts in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, and no place even comes close to Trump National Doral.
For more information, check their website here.
