Roney Palace South Beach
 

Has anyone here been to this place. I'm considering it for a long weekend in November. It looks pretty nice from their website but I've never heard of it and so I'm a little apprehensive. Any first time experience as far as rooms, facilities, location would be much appreciated.

Take a look at some of the reviews in BFT. I don't know if it's just Priceline reservations that are having the problems, but people have been pretty unhappy with their stay and there were some scathing revies.

I checked the raves section here on the reviews were pretty mixed. I can get a very good air/hotel deal, so I am not expecting the Ritz Carlton but also don't want to waste my time if it's a really bad place.

You're north of the main action in South Beach at the Roney Palace-- in fact, I'd classify it as barely in South Beach. Do you want to be in the middle of The Action, within walking distance of clubs, good restaurants, etc.? How much are you willing to spend? There are better-located choices, but it will depend on your price point.

hey rjw, I just answered your post regarding Vegas (you can ignore my last paragraph!). I don't really have to be right in the middle of the action but would like to be within walking distance (a mile or less). How far would you say the hotel is from the main area of South Beach?

I've never been to South Beach and would like to go but don't want to spend an arm and a leg (for some of the prices I've seen , I could go to Puerto Rico, which I would prefer if cost is the same). This isn't a major trip for me - just a long weekend so when I saw four nights with air and room for $460/person, my interest was piqued.

That being said, I still want the property to be nice - room, grounds, pool. I know that the balconies are closed - that's why the good rate. I can accept that if I'm comfortable with the rest of the property. Thanks.

Closed balconies are not the reason for the great rate-- it's the location. There's basically almost nothing of interest around there, but Lincoln Road (which does have some great restaurants and a couple of clubs) is less than a mile away. For the record, cabs are cheap in my experience.

The immediate surroundings are pretty downmarket as I recall, but the public areas in the hotel are pretty nice. Hotel prices drop like lead as soon as you head above 20th Street, so you are paying what the market will bear in that area (and this is a nicer hotel in that somewhat neglected part of the District). You can do worse, but I'd still look at other properties, even if it meant spending more. Are other hotels offered for this type of air-room package?

Hi the Roney Palace in inserted in what was a huge, huge apartmente hotel complex on the ocean a little North of South Beach. It was remodeled and part of it is a hotel and part of it were remodeled condos .
The place is big so it doesn 't have the feeling of South Beach well known for small quaint hotels. But I would presume that the rooms of the hotel should be nice down, and are clean and pleasant. Probably there are better places to stay but it should be ok. In the complex there is a good gym, and I believe they have a restaurant and can send food up to your room etc.

sorry I meant that the rooms of the hotel should be nicely done....

thanks for the replies guys. there are lots of other hotels offered - it's just an air/hotel vacation offered by the airlines. The problem is that the prices jump considerably - by a couple of hundred per person. We really don't want to stay in one of the smaller art deco hotels - unless it is a really good one (anyone that looked good was priced pretty high, as expected). My first choice is the Loews (that should give you an idea of what I like) but it's running about $800 each.

I think I'll do some more research and see what else I can find. Thanks again.

Then go to the Roney I am sure the rooms will be fine. I agree with you to stay in one of the small hotels in South Beach it has to be one of the good ones. The Roney will have a pleasant, newly done, decoration adn a good feeling about it. You can walked a few blocks and you shall be at the Loews. The Loews is at 16 street and Collins and the Roney should be around 21 st more or less so they are only a few blocks apart.
It make sense that the Roney being a large hotel can afford to sell some rooms at discounted prices.

Tom, you should be warned however that in South Beach it is opposite the rule here in Manhattan per streets and avenues. Here the Avenues are longer than the streets, in South Beach are longer than the Avenues. Which means it will take you longer to walk one block from 17th Street to 18th Street than it will to walk one block from Collins Ave to Washington Ave. Something to consider when picking a hotel.

Instead of a package deal, why don't you look into booking separately? I managed this last year and got a cheaper deal that way. Check on quikbook.com, hotelkingdom.com, hotels.com or the hotel website itself and check the internet for flight specials. You may be able to stay within your budget doing it that way and getting a hotel you like instead of guessing.