stever

Can't find ANY info on Fodors about this hotel - that's kind of scary in itself. We usually stay at the Royal Palm in South Beach and pay $279 a night or more (gulp)... BUT, we have some Sheraton pts saved up and we thought we'd save $1200+ and stay at this Sheraton Biscayne Bay instead and just drive to the beach when we want to check out South Beach. Don't know if this link works, but here it is:
http://reservations.conventioncenter...10212747O.html

This is what Frommer's says about it:
"This downtown hotel's waterfront location is its greatest asset. Nestled between Brickell Park and Biscayne Bay, the Sheraton is set back from the main road and surrounded by a pleasant bayfront walkway. Since a recent $14 million renovation, this Sheraton is especially recommendable. Its identical rooms are well furnished and comfortable. The hotel is popular with business travelers, but a fine choice for those who don't mind driving a few minutes to Miami's more populated areas."

We're basically just in Miami so I can see my sister who lives in South Miami. Her 5 and 7 year old will come up for the day and play in our pool there, and we can take day trips around Miami with them. Right before this we have 4 nights in Bonita Springs (Naples area), hopefully at the Hyatt if we can get it cheap on Priceline.com.

On Trip Advisor there are some really good and really bad reviews -the bad ones are mostly service related. Anyone from Fodor's stay there RECENTLY, or at all? We thought we'd save ALOT of money using the dirt cheap Sheraton Points - only 3000 pts for weedends and 4000 pts for weekday!(compared to 10,000 points per night for the Bal Harbour Sheraton). We wouldn't be able to use THAT many points to stay at Bal Harbour as we need most of our points for Hawaii next year at the Moana Surfrider (40000 points = 5 free nights!).

We figured if we bit the dust and stayed at this Sheraton Biscayne Bay instead of forking out the cold, hard to come by cash to stay on South Beach we'd basically save enough to stay FREE for 3 nights at the Four Season's Maui next year ($425 a night for 3 nights!). It's the type of logic which works for us.

Yes? No?

Thanks in advance,
Steve R
Maryland

Larry1

Can't help you too much except to point out that your title is misleading- the Sheraton you are talking about is not called the "Sheraton Key Biscayne", but rather the Shearaton Biscayne Bay as you say in your message body. Anyway, I've been to meetings at this Hotel and it seemed nice, typical "downtown" type hotel.

stever

Whoops - thanks Larry1. Maybe that's why I haven't found anything about it here! I need to get more sleep at night, my research/spelling skills are slipping (

Glad to hear you found it to be at least "nice" ... Anyone else?

Steve R
Maryland

GoTravel

It is more of a business hotel than a resort hotel because it is downtown.

I wouldn't have any problems staying there.

Have you looked at other Starwood Resorts in the area? I can't believe that is the only one.

Patrick

I think you've given plenty of self-justification for staying there. It is, as already made clear, a large business hotel -- not a resort, so of course it is much less pointwise than the Bal Harbor location or others. Considering what you're looking for it sounds great -- and I bet you'll have the pool more to yourselves than at the usual resort hotels. The surrounding area is very dead, particularly at night, but I don't think that sounds like an issue to you.

kcapuani

Hi stever -

I am in the same situation as you - trying to decide which Starwood property to use points on in the Miami area. I looked into the Sheraton Biscayne Bay and was told by other fodorites that it is in the downtown business area. I am leaning towards the Sheraton Bal Harbour (only staying one night so I won't be blowing too many points). There is a Four Points on South Beach but I would rather stay at a full service property. I would say book the Sheraton Biscayne Bay. As a Starwood member, you'll be sure to get a nicer room and you can't beat the low amount of redemption points!

miguelgcuadra

Also Sheraton Biscayne Bay is only a 10 minutes drive from Key Biscayne, very nice , high end residential area. Beach is right there. Hotel is very nice, 10 minutes drive to either Key Biscayne or South Beach. Yes it is more business oriented and lots of very nice restaurants around, on weekends area is quiet but safe... lots of expensives high rises around...Go for it

stever

Thanks folks! You guys/gals are fast and efficient - extraordinary.

Yeah - I guess we'll just book the Biscayne bay locale and drive to where we want to go when it's beach time. The Four Points Sheraton on South Beach got REALLY bad reviews on trip advisor. I've never seen such awful reviews for a Sheraton. I wouldn't stay there and it also would eat up twice the points - 7000 a night for a total of 28000 pts vs 14000 pts for Biscayne Bay Sheraton.

That the area is dead at night doesn't bother us. Saving this much money will push us to really do it up for nice dinners in South Beach - maybe try that new Miami Mandarin Oriental restaurant that's so hot...

Ah - life is sweet. With Southwest airlines deal of $179 p/p RT from Baltimore to Ft Lauderdale, we're saving tons more money. It's usually $250 or more RT each to fly into Miami from BWI on the other airlines.

The internet and this website have saved us SO much money over the years. What can I say... I'm feeling the love

Steve R
Maryland

GoTravel

Steve, there is no Sheraton 4 Points in South Beach. The Four Points is about two miles from South Beach in Mid Beach.

When you go to the beach in Miami, make sure you are in a designated public parking place. Parking can be a hassle and they tow everyone. In some parts of Miami Beach, you must have a decal to park on the street.