Miami Hotel Reviews - 2

Newly Renovated Resorts

The Palms Hotel & Spa

Of all the hotels I toured earlier this month, The Palms Hotel & Spa (formerly The Palms South Beach) is the one that nearly made me forget I was in Miami and not a more exotic destination. The vibe here is more relaxed than the other hotels and resorts along the beach, and there is a decidedly southern or colonial feel to the property, with its large veranda for lounging or afternoon naps, a gazebo for weddings, bamboo ceiling fans methodically circulating the air and plenty of lovely birds roaming the property. The resort also is popular with guests who have kids, and the resort offer family specials.

The Palms is in the midst of a major renovation and rebranding, but is doing it in stages, so there is minimal disturbance for current guests. The pool area has already been redone and landscaped with lush tropical foliage; all its 243 guestrooms are being upgraded with lovely new plush soft goods and shower-only bathrooms; a new lounge and restaurant (Essensia) will open in April to accompany; and a big new add will be an Aveda Spa by April. It will be Aveda’s first luxury beach resort spa in the United States. I didn’t get a chance to stay here, only visit, but I definitely look forward to staying next time, when the spa is operational.

The Palms Hotel & Spa, 3025 Collins Ave., tel. 305-534-0505, www.thepalmshotel.com. Rates start at $159 in the summer season, $179 in the peak winter season.

 

• The Palms Hotel mixes SoBe chic with southern grace at its luxurious beachfront location.

Room: Courtesy of the Palms; Pool: D.M. Airoldi

Eden Roc

Once the Miami Beach destination, the Eden Roc, a Renaissance hotel, has recently been reborn after nearly $200 million in renovations. The hotel’s exterior and lobby terrazzo floor, deco columns and dropped ceiling were given a facelift, to preserve Morris Lapidus’ original architectural features, while most of the rest of the famed hotel was essentially gutted and replaced with modern interiors and amenities.

The original tower reopened last fall, but the newly built second tower, adding 282 rooms to the resort (for a total of 632), opened in late-January. Each of the new rooms has a balcony with a colorful lounge chair, and even though they were a little too close together (you could step over the railing onto your neighbor’s space), they all face the ocean, which is nice. The large bathrooms include a spa shower, and an opening to the main room for those who want ocean views while bathing. Rooms feature Renaissance Smart Desks, iHome systems, high-speed and Wi-Fi Internet access.

 

• The Eden Roc Hotel recently underwent major renovations.

Courtesy of Eden Roc

The beautiful lobby bar provides plenty of comfortable, spacious seating for socializing late into the night. The hotel’s Gia restaurant and wine bar offers up tasty Italian food, and there’s a new Starbucks in the lobby. The property draws a slightly older and mellower crowd than the properties further south, which is good for families. There are multiple pools for the kids to play in, and the hotel offers beachside service. There are plans to have the boardwalk lowered in front of the hotel, to provide easier access to the beach.

Eden Roc, 4525 Collins Ave., tel. 305-674-5555, www.boldnewedenroc.com. Rates start at $299 per night. Overnight parking is $30. The Spa of Eden Roc, with 17 treatment rooms, is scheduled to open by the end of 2009. In the meantime, the hotel has set aside four spa suites for services.

Budget Options

Circa 39

For guests on a tighter budget, The Palms owners also operate a funky value hotel about 10 blocks north on the west side of Collins, Circa 39. There’s a moderate pool and sundeck, and a lovely courtyard. I managed to find online rates for February stays at the modern, 100-room property starting at $54 per night.

 

• The art deco exterior of the Alden Hotel in Miami.

Donna M. Airoldi

Circa 39, 3900 Collins Ave., tel. 877-8-CIRCA39, www.circa39.com. Rates usually start at about $79 per night.

Condo Rentals

Condo rentals are a popular option for bargain hunters who prefer a more private stay, and Miami Beach has plenty of units on the market. I checked out the Alden, at 2925 Indian Creek Dr., which rents clean and convenient studios, deluxe studios (about 2.5 times larger) and one-bedrooms, starting at $100 during the low season to $150 during special events, with a minimum two-night stay. Rentals by the week are even a better deal, at $650 for studios, $700 for the deluxe units, and $900 for the one-bedroom. There’s a small pool in the back, and the beach is a mere block and a half away.

Condo Hotels Miami, tel. 305-328-8578, www.condohotels-miami.com.