23 Mar Staycation, Vacation: Where to Stay in the Sun

Now that you’ve secured your passes for five days of sunshine and music by the sea, it’s time to think about where you’re going to stay for your favorite festival.

While SunFest may be a short drive for many South Floridians, I can attest that after dancing for hours (and maybe a little drinking) there is nothing better than collapsing on a clean, close bed. Whether you live in paradise year round, or are traveling for this fantastic fest, The Hyatt Place in Downtown West Palm Beach is the best place to stay and sleep.

The beautiful Hyatt Place is a proud sponsor of SunFest, and is closest hotel to the festival gates (and just three miles from Palm Beach International Airport). Each year the hotel also has exclusive offers for festival attendees. Explore the hotel’s bundle deals, which include two one- or two-day general admission tickets; delicious, hot deluxe breakfast; Wi-Fi; and convenient shuttle service to and from the gates. (You can walk, but sometimes it’s nice to feel like a queen.)

Rooms don’t last long, so now is the best time to book. To learn more and select the package best for you, check out SunFest’s lodging options.

If you plan on driving each day, this is also a friendly reminder to snag your parking passes at one of the many locations in downtown West Palm. These lots and garages will sell out, and there is nothing quite worse than missing your favorite band because you couldn’t find parking in time.

On the note of transportation, did you know West Palm has a free, adorable trolley system to help you navigate the area? The Downtown Development Authority maintains the service, which has three lines.

The Green Line can take you from the Tri-Rail Station to the festival, while the Orange Line pauses at multiple arts and entertainment locations, including the Hyatt. Why is this useful? During the week, SunFest’s gates don’t open until 5 p.m., giving you the day to explore and savor South Florida. Grab your favorite sandals and shades, and hop on a trolley to experience some of our backyard gems.

On the Orange Line, take time to see the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. The gardens include permanent and visiting exhibitions, guided tours, and educational programs. In addition to beautiful art, the museum offers a glimpse at rare palms, native plants, and even some colorful caterpillars. 

On that same citrus-colored line, visitors can also explore The Norton Museum of Art, which is known world-wide for its permanent collections of Contemporary, European, and Chinese art, as well as photography. Escape the heat and wander masterpieces by Monet, Picasso, O’Keefee, Pollock, and Gauguin. 

Rather wear art than look at it? The trolley’s Blue Line can take you to the Palm Beach Outlets, which offers more than 100 stores to help satisfy your shopping tastes. Treat yourself to new styles from Banana Republic Factory Store, Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, J. Crew Factory, White House | Black Market, and more. 

CityPlace and Clematis Avenue can also offer a little retail therapy, and both are in walking distance of SunFest’s gates. CityPlace alone offers more than 80 stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues. 

And lastly, you can always soak up some sun on any of Florida’s gorgeous beaches or golf courses. Just don’t forget your towel and sunscreen! Dancing to Death Cab for Cutie with a sunburn is no fun.

Check out all that Palm Beach has to offer at www.palmbeachfl.com. I’ll see you by the stage!