Nickity

My travel agent has recommended the following hotels for our trip to Miami Beach the first week of March. We want to be on the beach, have a nice pool preferably with a pool bar and be where we can walk to eat, shop and have a few drinks. My daughter who is going with me is a vegetarian. So does anyone have any comments on the following Carlton South Beach, Nash Hotel, The Chesterfield and The Palms South Beach. From their websites I am leaning towards the The Palms but some of the sites don't really show locations and ammenities very well.

1JAR

Just came back from a business trip to the Canyon Ranch and Spa in Miami Beach. I can guarentee your dtr will be pleased w/vegetarain options. And the hotel is on THE BEACH with a very nice pool. Of course world reknown spa. Rooms were suites with seperate full kitchen & living room and seperate bedroom and spa like bathroom.2 people could easily stay in one room..
Across the street is a grocery store..a cab drive tho to other bars..
It is expensive but maybe you can get one of their specials...

wyatt92

The Chesterfield is a great location, on Collins Ave across the street from a great stretch of beach with chair and umbrella rentals. Easy walk to all attractions. It does have a pretty loud and lively bar scene so it won't be quiet.

Don't know anything about the Carlton, the location is very good, although I don't like the immediate stretch of beach as much, but it's close to everything else.

Again, not familiar with the Nash. Good location, looks pretty basic though? Might be a more budget, party place.

The Palms is the nicest of your choices, and right on the beach. However, the location is the least convenient. It's a long walk to the Art Deco and Lincoln Rd areas, probably more like a cab ride.

MiamiBeachMomma

I am only familiar with the Palms. wyatt92 is correct, it is not in walking distance to South Beach's sites.
The restaurant there is wonderful. I think your veggie daughter would be happy to eat there. The chef focuses on local products. I also think this is the most upscale out of all the other properties.
You would need to take a cab to get to Ocean Drive, but you could walk to the Gansevoort and the new W. Also in walking distance is Collins Park- which has the Bass Museum of Art and the Ballet. Check http://collinspark.us/ which has a down loadable map of the restaurants ans shops in the area.

MiamiBeachMomma

BTW, the other 3 properties are not on the ocean. They are on Collins Avenue, which is a block from the Ocean. I would classify these properties as city hotels. Some folks prefer to be near all the action - this would suit those needs.

mclaurie

Sounds like you haven't discovered the joys of maps.google.com You can not only map these hotels together but you can actually walk yourself up and down the streets where they're located. Oyster.com is another good site for pros/cons and photos. The Palms is not considered "south beach" but mid beach. http://www.oyster.com/miami/hotels/palms-hotel-and-spa/

Nickity

Thank you all for your useful advice. MiamiBeach Momma, I downloaded the Collins Park brochure and it looks like we will be there for Winter Party Weekend. What does that entail? Will we have trouble finding hotel rooms?

MiamiBeachMomma

Nickity -

"Winter Party is a week-long series of events benefiting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community nationally and locally." (quote from their website)

Basically it lots of parties on south beach. Which is the same as every weekend in the winter, there is always a convention or festival going on.

http://www.winterparty.com/entertainment/index.php

I am not sure if there would be a problem getting a hotel room. The Doubletree Surfcomber Hotel is the official host hotel for the Festival.