I can’t believe I just discovered Bal Harbour! At only 20 minutes from downtown Miami, it is simply a dream place and such an overall ‘In Good Taste’ location with great hotels, fantastic beaches, gourmet restaurants and amazing shopping.
The other great news is that the city is not only safe but perfectly family-friendly with hotels that range from very, very expensive to expensive and from moderate to very affordable. There are four hotels in Bal Harbour and each of them offers something special.
At One Bal Harbour, Resort and Spa, when you book one of their amazing suite, you get the connecting room for 50% off. And since there are two suites per floor, it means you get the entire floor for you and your family. Perfect for a family of eight. And the kids get a special welcoming package including stuffed animals, storybooks and a VIP card that gives them access to special treats, like free ice cream, Yummy!
The swimming pool is amazing and so is their beautiful spa that offers a full range of services to pamper you from head to toes. And if you are traveling with your furry companion, they even have a special pet program, inspired by the work of Lulu Flynn, celeb pup party thrower and dog author—“The Ultimate Dog Party.”
Just across the road, Quarzo is a gorgeous boutique hotel with very large rooms that all have fully-equipped kitchens and are big enough to host a family of four. They even have a coin laundry room, which is fabulous when travelling with kids. Their location in front of the canal is spectacular and on top of the swimming pool, they have the same access to the beach that Hotel One has.
If you are looking for landmark, you will find it and more at the legendary Sea View Hotel. The rooms are all newly renovated and have spectacular views, either on the ocean—or on Neiman Marcus and the Bal Harbour Shops—which is none the less spectacular ;) The hotel has an Olympic-size swimming pool, surrounded with the original '60s Key West-style cabanas, which you can rent for the day or the week. They have a fabulous kids club and a famous old-style coffee shop where people line up for breakfast, afternoon, fare and old fashioned treats like chocolate milk shakes. They have great rates and discount packages available all year round.
The new St.Regis Hotel is luxury at its peak!! Here, you are being welcomed with a glass of champagne and escorted to your room by your own private butler. They have smart elevators that take you directly to your floor at the swipe of your room key. The rooms are fabulous and so is their state-of-the-art Remède Spa, connecting to a dream pool area. You can rent one of their Royal Cabana for the day, fully equipped—and with a bottle of champagne on ice! Luxury, luxury, luxury! And the hotel restaurant is absolutely one of the best in Florida, with an amazing menu from renowned Chef Jean-Geoge.
I just can't wait to tell you all about it in my next post!
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