The 212-room boutique retreat overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and my room offered views of the pool and the beach beyond. With 300-count linens, a 42” flat screen plasma television complete with DVD/CD player and an oversized bathroom, the room was everything one could have asked for.

Private poolside cabanas ring the large heated pool and there’s a tiki bar with nearby Jacuzzi that does a great happy hour and also serves lunch and a casual dinner menu.  At night, guests gather ‘round the fire pit to relax in the Adirondack chairs while toasting marshmallows for their s’mores. Altogether, the pool area was gorgeous and always lively. Steps at the back of the pool deck lead directly down to the wide, white sand beach.

I headed up to Indulge, the new spa at The Shores Resort that features Balinese spa treatments and Thai body rituals. My hot stone massage was just the thing after my drive to Daytona and the spa, though small, was staffed by professionals. There are no saunas or steam rooms as in other resort spas, but there is a fitness center offering state-of-the-art exercise equipment including complete training circuit and free weights.

One night during my stay I dined at the resorts’ Azure Restaurant, the only beachfront fine dining restaurant in Daytona Beach and a AAA Four-Diamond award winner. Service was first class, while the venue, with its large windows overlooking the beach, was just gorgeous. Outdoor dining is also available. With twenty years as executive chef, Lonny Huots’ menu is diverse and imaginative. I opted for the lobster trio appetizer – creamy lobster risotto, lobster bisque and a crisp baby lobster tail. All three were delicious; the bisque fabulous. The chef’s special of the day was a pair of quails over a bed of black truffle gnocchi, which was both decadent and delicious. Didn’t leave room for dessert, so can’t comment there, but the list looked intriguing. With its impressive chandeliers, wood accents and superb menu, Azure is an elegant choice for dinner, even if you’re not staying on the property.

The nearby Azure Bar, also with fresh ocean-air patio seating, offers both plasma TVs and live entertainment of covers from Jimmy Buffet to the Rolling Stones. Azure hosts themed specials such as Retro Wednesdays, featuring a special menu, creative cocktails and the melodies of Linda Cole; monthly wine dinners, including a five-course dinner with wine pairing; and an Annual Wine Festival, an exclusive full-day event of wine education and sampling held at The Shores Resort & Spa.

Though decidedly upscale, the Shores Resort & Spa is also the perfect choice for a family getaway.  With the pool and beach literally steps away from the Resort, kids will be kept busy with aquatic pursuits during the day. For a day on the beach, guests can order a picnic lunch and select the contents of their picnic basket in advance. At night, families can gather round the large, in-room flat screen television and watch movies from the complementary DVD library.

For those of us who like the finer things in life, the Shores Resort and Spa is definitely the top choice for Daytona lodging.