7 years ago I was exploring Miami, I met my best buddy, Jake, at this awesome joint called Joe's Stone Crab. We were both drooling over the mouthwatering seafood. From that moment on, we hit it off. We roamed around South Beach, soaking up the sun and riding the waves the rest of the trip. Checking out the epic graffiti at Wynwood Walls and getting lost in the beauty of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens were definite highlights and I�ll never forget them. To this day we make it a point to catch up once a year. Hope you enjoyed your trip.

This seems like the most depressing trip for the large amount of money you paid. Can't imagine why you're regaling us with it!

Actually compared to your previous dinners in the Carribean, these prices look decidedly budget!

Indeed. Nevertheless it was still quite a lot compared to other parts of the world.

That's the way I am.

??

OK, I wanted to see if everything was paying attention too. It's a 737-800, of course.

After arrival, we first went to the rental car. We had booked with Sixt.
The rental car center is a bit away, you can reach it quite easily with the MIA Mover. Nevertheless, it is of course only limited fun with 5 suitcases to cover the distance. Self-blame if you can not limit yourself when packing.
I had previously tried to select a car via the app, but it did not work reasonably. So to the counter. I had booked a BMW X7 or similar, I was offered a Mercedes GLS or BMW X7. Since I drove BMW myself for a long time, I decided with for the X7 40i.
After that, the agent tried to talk me into a few more insurances. I only had a car with insurance without deductible and my Amex has additional insurance - so I urgently need additional insurance to close the huge protection gap. This time in a helping way: "Even if the rental only lasts 3 days, I strongly recommend to take out the additional insurance. What this has to do with the duration of an insurance to be paid per day is not clear to me, but good. My reference it is but already a fully comprehensive insurance without deductible and my Amex also have an insurance was countered with it, they did not cover tires and glass. Well, online it was different, but the agents just have to sell. His mood did not rise when I told him that I want it exactly as booked.
The car itself was then fine for the booked category. The X7 was quite new, the equipment (considering the category) rather simple. I did not even know that there are still normal cruise control in the X7, I actually only know distance cruise control. I learned it when the car drove at full speed towards the car in front of me.
The X7 is otherwise just (at least for German standards) large. Even though the new 7 Series is a lot longer (nevertheless at least with rear axle steering more agile), you can safely call the X7 a tank. For me, not only sluggish, impractical and much too high (you climb in and out), somehow also unattractive to drive. I personally like more contact with the road, but the suitcases fit without problems, if you put the rear seats forward (which I had initially forgotten, why on the outward journey a suitcase moved to the back seat - more on this later). Nevertheless a fine car and I like the BMW driving concept. By the way, it was the first time I could not change a German car rented abroad to German language. Not really a problem, but still strange.





I just wanted a big SUV, and that's what I got. Next time, however, I'll go for a sedan again. Cost the car for 3 days with toll pass 435.64 $.

Why bother going to the rental place with the suitcases? I picked up the car in port, but on leaving I was in a similar situation, I just brought the travelling party to the departure curb, unloaded the baggage and then we met in like 20 minutes at the checkin counters. Pretty sure the same can be done at arrival, just wait nearby the pick up area while you come around with the car.

Yes, but GF would not have been happy waiting there alone with all the stuff. If you are also not familiar with the local conditions, where exactly to go and where to stop, it can be a nightmare. Then rather push suitcase.

Since the Four Seasons Surf Club opened, I found it interesting. The Surf Club is a legendary club that has now been expanded with a modern hotel building.
What has always been striking about the FS Surf Club was its prices. In my day it started at $2000 on up, proper suites were beyond the pale. Now it would all be significantly cheaper, an Oceanfront Room is available in June for under $2000, during my stay it was $4000.
I decided to go budget (at least by Miami standards) and booked 3 nights in the Bay View Room with an advance payment rate. At 600 sqf it should be enough, with taxes it was a total of �7992. There was then also the resort fee with 40 � per night.
When we arrived at the hotel in the evening, the first impression was positive. There was enough staff at the door, everything went quickly.
The public areas of the hotel are really nice. The front area is dominated by light marble, the actual lobby consists of the historic building.












At the check-in two surprises were waiting for us. First, the employee was German. We were briefly shown the public areas, because we were still hungry (no wonder after the American Airlines gourmet food) they reserved us another table in the Italian restaurant. The more pleasant surprise was that we were upgraded to an Ocean View Studio Suite. After all, an upgrade of 4 categories, which is very generous. Price-wise, it also made up about $2000 per night, which is already not negligible.

Let's move on to the room. The hallway was pleasant.

As you can see from the floor plan, the floors are not particularly large. The rooms do not differ much either. The studio is characterized mainly by its location. The bathroom has a window and the balcony goes around the corner. Without question, certainly a bit more spacious than the Oceanfront rooms, but the difference is within limits.

The room was then manageably large, but flooded with light and from my point of view very nicely furnished. I can imagine that the rooms located in the middle can't keep up here.








The balcony now did not have such a greater utility value than the smaller ones. In any case, it was not particularly private. There were also no lounge chairs, which was honestly better at the St. Regis. It was nice to look out to the sea as well as the Bay.







The bathroom was also nice, unfortunately I didn't take any photos with the curtains open. Since there were apartments directly opposite, the curtains were almost always closed anyway, because the windows are not mirrored. I have no desire to be observed in the bathroom, so the window is once again only of limited value.





Also the sunsets were nice, the sunrise we have not actively experienced.



A nice room, but priced a bit above the suite at the St. Regis. If I take the room as a whole, I liked the decor in the Four Seasons better, the St. Regis was of course just better in terms of size. But there are still the "soft factors" like service, but more on that later.

The gym was relatively standard. I would say adequate.

Of course, I also tried the pool. There are 3 pools in the hotel area, one is adult-only. From above it looks quite "square" as seen in the previous photos. The outdoor areas were initially only partially in operation.

I went to the adult pool and the first unpleasant surprise awaited me. I went to the staff hut, where no one cared about me. So had to take a towel myself. Any pad for the lounger or even a water was not there, at least not for me. This was pathetic and compared to the otherwise good service at the Four Seasons, a real letdown. The pool itself I found only moderately interesting, for that you really do not have to come here.



The family pool.

Of course, there is also a beach. Here the service was much better, there was help with the deck chair and water. The beach itself is just a sandy strip, you really don't have to travel to Miami for that.