South Beach Hotel $200
Apr 30th, 2003 | 06:56 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,379
Likes: 0
When will you be going? In the low season (basically, June through November, though it varies), rates are somewhat lower. It also helps if you mean DIRECTLY on the beach or maybe across the street. Also, do you want ocean views (which can be hard to come by)? And most importantly: How hard is that $200/night limit? For your honeymoon, I'd be willing to go a bit higher. My suggestion is: Deal directly with the hotels initially. Call, sweet-talk them, see if they can get you some kind of honeymooners' special upgrade or something. If you don't get anywhere, go to the best travel agent you know.
The tall hotels on Collins would be the first properties I'd call, if I'd never been to South Beach and really wanted the whole "special honeymoon" scene. The National would be my first choice, and just might fit your budget right out of the gate. Charming, good service, true Deco property, with a beautiful pool and beachfront access. The Sagamore would be number two. More expensive, but quickly building a reputation as a ultra-deluxe luxury hotel. The Loews is another possibility, although it's less charming than the first two (it's a larger property where most of the rooms are in a new tower). The Delano is vastly overpriced for what you get, but it's still a hedonistic getaway for the self-absorbed and self-important of NYC and LA (although less and less with every year). The Royal Palm Crowne Plaza might fit your budget, and it's a perfectly fine property; the rooms are not particularly wonderful (all in the new towers, all very Post-Modern in style but a little generic) and the whole hotel's a "family destination" for mid-budget travelers from the Northeast. They're also known for loud fashion shows and hip-hop parties, so public areas can stay pumping till the wee hours of the night.
On Ocean, the only good hotel with true beach access is the Savoy, and I hear it's wonderful, but it might break your budget. But there are a couple of very nice hotels on Ocean where the beach is just across the street. The Tides is pricey, but every room is sumptuously furnished and has ocean views. The Cardozo is a true boutique hotel with a sensual vibe; word is the Honeymoon Suite is a little slice of Deco heaven. No pool, however. The Park Central will bring you back to the Miami of the late 30s; smallish rooms, but very comfy, and the hotel itself is lovely. Pool area is tiny, but hey, it's a pool, and there's that beach across Ocean.
The tall hotels on Collins would be the first properties I'd call, if I'd never been to South Beach and really wanted the whole "special honeymoon" scene. The National would be my first choice, and just might fit your budget right out of the gate. Charming, good service, true Deco property, with a beautiful pool and beachfront access. The Sagamore would be number two. More expensive, but quickly building a reputation as a ultra-deluxe luxury hotel. The Loews is another possibility, although it's less charming than the first two (it's a larger property where most of the rooms are in a new tower). The Delano is vastly overpriced for what you get, but it's still a hedonistic getaway for the self-absorbed and self-important of NYC and LA (although less and less with every year). The Royal Palm Crowne Plaza might fit your budget, and it's a perfectly fine property; the rooms are not particularly wonderful (all in the new towers, all very Post-Modern in style but a little generic) and the whole hotel's a "family destination" for mid-budget travelers from the Northeast. They're also known for loud fashion shows and hip-hop parties, so public areas can stay pumping till the wee hours of the night.
On Ocean, the only good hotel with true beach access is the Savoy, and I hear it's wonderful, but it might break your budget. But there are a couple of very nice hotels on Ocean where the beach is just across the street. The Tides is pricey, but every room is sumptuously furnished and has ocean views. The Cardozo is a true boutique hotel with a sensual vibe; word is the Honeymoon Suite is a little slice of Deco heaven. No pool, however. The Park Central will bring you back to the Miami of the late 30s; smallish rooms, but very comfy, and the hotel itself is lovely. Pool area is tiny, but hey, it's a pool, and there's that beach across Ocean.
Apr 30th, 2003 | 07:05 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
The Delano's rates fall every year. When it first opened, you couldn't get in for under $450 a night in off season. Now I've seen it as low at $199. I agree with rjw's assessment of the Delano (even though I've stayed there).
The Tides is also nice. My sis lives in South Beach and we've also stayed at the South Seas a couple of times. Right beside the Delano, oceanfront and off season for under $100. I think the best deal I got for non-oceanfront was $77 back in November.
The Tides is also nice. My sis lives in South Beach and we've also stayed at the South Seas a couple of times. Right beside the Delano, oceanfront and off season for under $100. I think the best deal I got for non-oceanfront was $77 back in November.
