If you want to stay right on the ocean in Bal Harbour at a fraction of the price of neighboring resorts, this hotel is a solid value. It oozes a cute, vintage Miami charm, but you must manage your expectations—the property is older and needs some TLC.
Arrival was confusing. There was no clear self-parking or staff outside (valet/bellhop). The lobby was empty, but a staff member came out from a back room to the cute, dark-wood paneled counter. They told us we could park anywhere—no valet mentioned. Check-in was standard, but we weren't given any orientation. Aside from the Wi-Fi password, it would’ve been nice to know restaurant hours or gym locations as first-time guests.
The room was quiet, comfortable, and featured a huge walk-in closet, great AC, and plenty of hot water. However, I’m very particular about cleanliness. The baseboards between the nightstand and bed were extremely dusty, and the shower grout needed a good scrubbing. The medicine cabinet mirror was also corroding around the edges.
The location is amazing. Having coffee overlooking the Atlantic was incredibly relaxing. The beach experience was great, with chairs set up and ready for us. The hotel kindly gave us a late checkout, too. While ocean air makes maintenance tough, some areas showed blatant disrepair, especially the poolside cabana roofs.
It has great bones and a nostalgic aesthetic, but needs some deep cleaning and maintenance. Still, for the price and location, I'm satisfied.
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