We are going to Miami at the end of March. Can you give some suggestions on hotels. We are looking at the Lowes(are afvorite so far), Delano Palms and Roney Palace. Roney Palace looks great but I haven't heard a lot about it. We really want a nice hotel and GREAT pool. Any suggestions? Thanks so much!

If I'm not mistaken, you can get the Loews on Hotwire for significant savings. It would be the oceanfront resort. BetterBidding.com has the exact amenities to look for.

Roney Palace is a little north of South Beach.

The Delano is gorgeous! If you don't stay there you must stop by the pool bar for mojitos one afternoon. The lobby of the Delano (sushi restaurant, bar, and another restaurant) is a must. See and be seen.

The sister hotel of the Delano, the Shore Club is also very cool.

The Delano and Loews are next door to each other right at Lincoln Road mall. Another hotel you may want to check out would be the Crown Plaza. It is beautiful.

The Palms is also further north than south beach and has more of a Key West Hemmingwayesque feel to it.

Of your picks, the Delano and Loews are far superior.

If you're looking for a great pool, I'd pick the Delano over Loews. The Delano pool is awesome, with cabanas alongside. The Loews pool area is really nice, but it's smaller and can get packed. Both hotels are great, they just have different atmospheres - Delano is hip & trendy, while Loews feels like an upscale convention hotel. I've also heard good things about Roney, but I'm not sure if they're done with renovation/construction yet.

hey barbbc3 - what about "the hotel"

Haven't been personally, but heard it was good. It's not on the beach, but it's more central to the "action" on South Beach and has a rooftop pool.

Let's hear about one on the beach without a pool. The sun is my enemy, being so fair skinned but I love watching the beach action.

I didn't like the Loews when I stayed there a couple years ago. It's hard to pinpoint why but it just didn't feel like a special place, like the Delano. The rooms were very basic and the service wasn't spectacular. I guess its just that nothing about it really impressed me. Gee, I hope this vague post helps!

Beanbag: The beach is so wide in this area that you can't really see the action unless you're sitting out on the beach. The best action is actually on Ocean Drive. The Cordova hotel - or the Tides if you prefer more upscale - are across the street from the beach and right on Ocean Drive. You step outside the door and have tons of outdoor cafes to choose from (including the Cordova Cafe). You can have a drink under a patio umbrella and watch the "wildlife" walk by!

I just got back from south beach at the end of august...what a trip...it was great...roney's palace was great..we had a kitchen and a living room by being upgraded..they are very nice there....we went for 2 weeks and it cost us $1200 for our flight from toronto and our hotel for 2 weeks...thats a deal..hope this helps

Just got back from a week @ Loes. Had a great time. Visited the Delano, like everyone suggested, that place is amazing. I will definately stay there next time. Before seeing it in person, it was hard to believe that it could be worth an extra 200 dollars over Loes, but it is. Have fun. Wish I could go back now

Barb: I think you're talking about the Cardozo-- which is my personal favorite in South Beach. Cozy, sexy vibe, wonderful staff, sweet little lobby bar (great bartenders!), great restaurant, people-watching on the veranda.... No pool, but the ocean's across the street.

The Loews is specifically geared to be a big hotel catering to corporate types, so its 800 rooms will be impersonal but impeccable. The Delano is all High Concept Design and Snooty Attitude. Its restaurant is spotty, but you can't beat the people-watching in the lobby, bar and gorgeous pool. Its "Use By" date is getting really close, so you may find more Snoot and Hot Bling-Bling at another Schrager property up Collins, the Shore Club. I haven't been there yet, so I can't comment.

The Roney Palace is nice and all, but it's just north of South Beach, not really in the District.

The National would be my choice in that elevated price range.

The Shore Club does make the Delano look worn but the lobby at the Delano is a little more impressive.

I will say I had excellent and very nice service at the Delano and didn't notice any snootiness. Then again, it could have been all the mojitos.

Interesting opinions here. I would definitely stay at Lowes versus any of DBerk24's possibles. Its pool looked very popular and was well situated near the beach. The lobby and the atrium were VERY pretty. Very well maintained. It's corporate, yes, so you don't have the "Art Deco Charm", but lemme tell ya, those old art deco buildings look great. But they come with some trappings: thin walls, old air ventilation...etc etc.

The Delano pool wasn't such a big deal. When I saw it I thought, "Oh, this looked nice ONCE, but now it's been through some ROUGH parties...the grass is patchy...those drapes are getting ragged...the pillows ragged too. Lots of cracked cement. Poor maintenance. It probably looked great on opening night, but when we saw that pool on our trip, it looked TIRED. The Lowe's pool wasn't any of that. It was well maintained and didn't have any snobbery like the chin up Delano.

The Tides is a good place that's pretty much on the beach, has great views, and the pool is very much an after thought. So that might fit the bill if you aren't into sunning too much.

But my personal favorite still is The National.

Darvy, I was at the Delano a couple of weeks ago and didn't see any of what you are describing. Possibly they've fixed the cracks and replaces the curtains? Did they have the rear add on area to the bar when you where there? The big beds?

Oops! You're right rjw, i meant the Cardoso. Don't know where i got Cordova! Sorry beanbag...

We are planning on staying in a King Premium room at the Loews Miami Beach this coming January for 4 nights. I'll give you a straight review when we get back!