Fresh ocean air and opulence greeted us as we made our trek across the bridge into Palm Beach. We'd planned this trip for months. Dyana, Ronaa and I had managed to escape our hectic, busy lives for a long overdue sister-celebrating weekend. We were headed to The Breakers in Palm Beach for as much fun and sun as we could squeeze into three days and two nights.

From the moment we arrived at this palatial, five-star, all-inclusive resort and spa, we were treated like royalty. The architecture sweeps you back to the Renaissance, with a lobby that boasts ornate, high ceilings, reminiscent of the Sistine Chapel.

Here we were - mothers, wives, caretakers and entrepreneurs - hard-working "sistas" with never-ending workloads, and the staff wouldn't allow us to park the car, carry luggage to our room, or even turn down our own beds. Everyone, from the concierge to our housekeeper, greeted us by name and offered top-notch service.

The staff's attention to detail was nothing short of superb. It slipped my mind that I had mentioned our special weekend when we made reservations. They didn't forget. We walked into a room - decorated in stunning Renaissance elegance - to find a detailed miniature of The Breakers hotel, made of pure, luscious dark chocolate. Landscaped with chocolate palm trees, this diet-buster sat on a sandy beach made of cinnamon sugar. There were also hazelnut truffles and strawberries dressed in tuxedos of white and dark chocolate.

We almost fainted; we didn't know what to do with ourselves. We had been rendered duty-free, and given a mound of chocolate to gnaw on. Laughing, I exclaimed, "Take us now, Lord, for Heaven hath befallen us!"
We giggled like high school girls as we trolled the hotel's private beach, sipping fruity cocktails, reminiscing and splashing in the crystal blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

We had a few hours to kill before dinner, so with chocolate still smeared on our faces, we slipped on our swimsuits, grabbed a chocolate palm tree and headed toward the ocean. We giggled like high school girls as we trolled the hotel's private beach, sipping fruity cocktails, reminiscing and splashing in the crystal blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

For dinner, we went to Echo, a world-renowned restaurant and hot spot that serves exquisite dishes from China, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand - all with a classy, elegant flair in an Art Deco setting reflecting the lavishness of its surroundings.

On our quest for spirited libations, our server April suggested we try "Champassion" - a luscious creation of champagne with a splash of cointreau, passion fruit juice and a touch of strawberry purée. After one sip, we decided we hadn't enough "passion" in our lives, and ordered a few more.

What we thought would simply be dinner and drinks instead made for a full night of lasting memories. Our euphoria - and probably our giggling - caught the attention of David Thall, Echo's general manager, who gave us the red-carpet treatment. My girlfriends - not big sushi eaters - weren't sure what to order, so we gave Thall total control, and let him order for us.

He didn't disappoint. The Dragonfly, Hurricane and Palm Beach rolls made sushi lovers out of them that night, and after dining on a variety of delicious dishes like Mongolian Beef Tenderloin and Szechuan Lobster, we topped off our night with chocolate fondue - and a little more "passion."

Saturday, we lost ourselves in tranquility at The Breakers' all-inclusive Spa. Swathed in lush robes and spa slippers, we experienced the ultimate in luxury and pampering with manicures, pedicures, facials and oceanside massages. We enjoyed mango-kiwi water and fresh fruit between treatments, and the giggling continued while we cleansed our pores in the sauna.

Stress-free, rejuvenated and refreshed, we opted for a health-conscious lunch. To keep our hearts healthy, we ate dark chocolate and drank red wine. To head off osteoporosis, we dined on imported cheeses. To stay physically fit, we paced the hotel's shops and strolled along Worth Avenue - reminiscent of Rodeo Drive - and did a little shopping.

On our final day, we enjoyed one last hurrah at the hotel's Sunday Brunch in The Circle restaurant. We dined like queens on breakfast items, cold shellfish, caviar, prime rib and delectable desserts.

We came home from our weekend away with a healthy glow and a renewed zest. My girlfriends and I felt we had maximized every moment at The Breakers, and hadn't missed a thing. We felt relaxed and reinvigorated, but most importantly, we felt reconnected.