Florida - MIA South Beach Hotel

Heading out to MIA in a few months time with Mrs Stueys for a long weekend without the kids:D. Normally we've stayed at the Delano but I quite fancy giving somewhere else a try.

Brief is to be on South Beach and same kind of spec as Delano. I'm tempted by the Hilton (have some points to spend) but it doesn't look great on the website.

Any suggestions or ideas appreciated.

Stayed at the Crowne Plaza on South Beach, called the Z Hotel South Beach.

Fairly nice, bit of a boutique hotel, not a big hotel, but nice enough.

Back entrance takes you straight onto Ocean Drive, opposite Starbucks and a 30 second walk to the beach. They have their own sun loungers on the beach it that interests you.

Cheap too.

The Hilton is indeed rather average. The Conrad is quite nice though. It's over in the Financial District but it doesn't take long to get to South Beach from there. In addition, the Conrad is on the people mover so you can get around places quite easily.

We got a good deal at the Ritz on South Beach a few years ago. We only stayed for 3 nights before driving up to Orlando. It is expensive to eat breakfast and dinner there but it was a very nice hotel, very nice staff, nice pool etc.

There is a local shop right on the corner to the right of the front entrance of the Hotel which was handy for stocking up on juice, water, cereal, fruit etc. There are plenty of retaurants nearby too. ( if it floats your boat just up from the Ritz is a McDonalds....... which I confess I gave in to on the 2nd day.:o )

It's in a great location right on South Beach and very easy to explore the local area and we particularly enjoyed nearby Art Deco buildings etc. Id def recommend it and would go back in a heartbeat.

Pete

We got a good deal at the Ritz on South Beach a few years ago.

^We stayed here a couple of years back, only for a few days, on the way home from BGI.

^We stayed here a couple of years back, only for a few days, on the way home from BGI.

I'm pretty sure I got the deal on ba.com/hotels too in one of their offers which from time to time when promotions are running are actually quite good value.

I am particularly fond of the Winterhaven on the juction of 14th and Ocean drive. Not in the same league as the Delano et all, but since its total refit, it is rather charming.

We stayed there by accident in 1994 for a few nights at the end of a Florida Fly/Drive holiday and liked the location. We went back in 1997 for a week. In 1999 I went for work to South Beach and found it had been totally gutted and for sale. In 2010 we went back for 4 nights at the end of another fly drive and got one of the premier ocean view rooms with a 35% discount via expedia. Lovely room, fantastic view. Love how you can walk straight onto Ocean Drive or a short walk to Lincoln Ave. There is no pool, but they do have a sun deck on the top floor. Snacks and refreshments are available free of charge after breakfast and there is cocktail bar open in the evening.

The one thing I'd be wary of is the time of year you are going - "in a few months". It will be "Spring Break" soon and the atmosphere changes a bit, particularly depending on what state/uni is on spring break. The first time I went it was like something out of teen movie! Last time wasn't quite the same, but they were just kids after some fun. We had a few groups in our hotel, but they were well behaved (well, compared to other teens/twenty I've seen on hols!). Reception said that mostly they congregate between 5th and 10th street, but they had been spreading further "north" the past few years.

Enjoy!!

Stayed at the Crowne Plaza on South Beach, called the Z Hotel South Beach.

Fairly nice, bit of a boutique hotel, not a big hotel, but nice enough.

Back entrance takes you straight onto Ocean Drive, opposite Starbucks and a 30 second walk to the beach. They have their own sun loungers on the beach it that interests you.

Cheap too.

+1 for the Z Ocean CP. Cheap, great location and they have great rooftop suites that have a private terrace, hot tub etc. No view as such, but only seconds from their private beach area, so no real need for one.

Let's move this over to the Florida forum

Prospero
Moderator: BAEC forum

Thanks all, some good ideas there for me to take a look at.