seattlesue

My husband and I are making our first trip to Miami in January. We would like to stay close to the beach in a hotel with a pool for lounging during the day with a good book. We would like to be close to the "South Beach" action, but would like a quiet hotel off the beaten path. We'd like to spend around $125 per night and I have found two places that fit our needs. The Days Inn South Beach on Collins and the Best Western. Any comments on these hotels would be appreciated.

rjw_lgb_ca

Avoid the Best Western on Washington. It's a true dump. The Days Inn is at the northern edge of South Beach and isn't much better than the BW. Your $125 nightly budget is very, very hard to come by in the middle of High Season in South Beach, to be honest, and your requirement of a pool really eliminates you. Anything at that price point will be a total dive. Unless you try your luck at Priceline. Or, look farther north in Miami Beach and accept not staying in South Beach proper.

seattlesue

Thanks for your response. We aren't looking for a fancy hotel. We just want something clean and quiet. We enjoy walking on the beach, but sitting in the sand is not our thing which is why we'd like a pool area to sit outside and read. I've found lots of small hotels without a pool in our price-range but they don't seem to have any outside areas: they include the Penguin, the President, and Beach Plaza.

Tandoori_Girl

If you're going in January then you won't be going to the beach but to stroll. Why don't you stay in Coral Gables then head into South Beach for the day to have lunch and see the Art Deco hotels? There are some reasonable hotels in Coral Gables.

miguelgcuadra

Follow the advise to go up north beach, along collins avenue. in my opinion is a better area. you can always take the bus that run along collins and enjoy south beach, think such bus run till late at night.
like some other posters said, this time of year, i doubt that you will find a hotel for that price in south beach.

mamadadapaige

We had similar criteria when we travelled to Miami last year and ended up at the Sheraton Bal Harbour which isn't officially in South Beach but very close by. I am not sure if you will get $125 per night, but you might get pretty close to that, especially if you can get a corporate rate through your work or use AAA or something.

This resort is on the beach and also has a fabulous swimming pool. Our room had a balcony, a huge bathroom and walk in closet plus a decent sized bedroom. The restaurants at the hotel are pricey, however, just across the street are the Shops at Bal Harbour which is a very upscale outdoor mall. There were many excellent restaurants - we dined there several times and then strolled through the mall (which was closed after dinner) and enjoyed all of the water fountains and koi ponds, etc.

South Beach was about 10 to 15 minutes by car and we were able to find a spot on the street by a parking meter the couple of times we went down there. We stayed on the strip a couple of years ago and didn't feel the need to do it again so being a little further afield was fine with us.

The Loews Hotel on South Beach has a great swimming pool but I doubt you will be able to get in there for $125 per night.

Good luck!!

Laurie

Try the Clay Hotel located on South Beach.

GoTravel

While Bal Harbour is only about 7 or 8 miles from South Beach, Collins Avenue and A1A are very conjested and heavily traveled. Could take 25 minutes at a busy time of day.

Further up the beach may be a better choice for you. Let me call my mom, as my parents stay in a place on the beach in Bal Harbour that I think is cheaper than the Beach House and Sheraton but is still nice.

GoTravel

I can't reach her at the moment but I think it's either the Bay Harbour Inn (www.bayharbourinn.com) or the Coronado Hotel Bal Harbour. Both are cheaper than the Sheraton unless you go with Hotwire.

Actually, Hotwire.com may be a better choice for you.

Howard

I think there are a few decent hotels in south beach that would be in your price range. One with a (very small) pool is the Aqua hotel - on Collins Avenue very close to the Loews. Another, and one that I am staying in myself in January is the Kent Hotel, also on Collins and about 12th Street. It has no pool, but there is a nice sitting area on the side of the hotel.

I have not had a problem with noise at either place. To me, it is much nicer to be in south beach, as opposed to being a car or bus ride away.