Help Selecting Hotel!!

I%26#39;ll be in South Beach the last week of February with my wife for a quick romantic (and partying!) getaway and was hoping to get some opinions on hotels. My short list is:

Regent South Beach

Sagamore

The Strand

Hotel Victor

Certainty of an overall good experience (room quality, service, location) is more important than $$%26#39;s. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance...

Help Selecting Hotel!!

The Sagamore is right on the beach with great service. Otherwise

all of these hotels are top notch. IMO the clincher would be which

one gives you an Oceanfront room with balcony to make

sure you get an overall great experience. Also,the two Bentley

hotels are close in caliber and get good reviews on this

sight. All of these hotels will provide you with very upscale

suites. The Victor seems to get a few negative comments

on this sight.

Help Selecting Hotel!!

Blue%26gt;

Hmmmm...

You are on the right track -

The Regent is BRAND NEW and very very upscale. It is small in stature (a low rise) and faces the beach - but does not have it%26#39;s ';feet'; in the sand - it%26#39;s across the street (Ocean Drive). The cache of this hotel is a single focus upon luxury you will not find at your other choices. First , Table 8 - Govind Armstrong%26#39;s sister restaurant to the LA hot spot. Second, a small centrally placed pool is the focal point of the property as each room faces the ';cruise ship style'; pool deck. While the actual swimming space is little and not more than 4.5 feet deep, there are actually windows in the bottom of the pool which open onto the lobby below. The effect is pretty cool - not entirely practical - but that was not the intention. Do not tan at this pool deck in last year%26#39;s suit.

The level of service and attention to detail at the Regent are unmatched. The premise of the property is to provide furnished luxury condos (for private and public use) with elegant interiors, flat panel TVs, fully appointed kitchen and bath areas. A full service concierge staff sees to your every wish. While the spa is not yet complete, 5 star spa service is available in your suite or on the roof level. These top floor rooms have direct roof garden access and there are jacuzzis up there as well.

The square footage dedicated to balconies makes the idea of a room with a view a top priority... That said, an East facing room or a pool side view are much much better than what could be called a ';city view'; in the brochure. The low level of the property means the west side view is the deli on Collins. I am sorry to be the ONLY person who will say this out loud, but for all the $$$ it costs to stay at the Regent, you do NOT want to watch a guy slice corned beef on your holiday.

Still with me?

The Sagamore is very trendy right now because Food TV star chef Michelle Bernstein helped to put together the tapas style menu in the lobby lounge. Hit ';Social'; on a Friday or Saturday night (make a reservation) and have a few drinks and small plates to start the evening. Nibble and graze. Dine elsewhere. The town foodies are Dining at Evolution at the Ritz Carlton - David Bouley%26#39;s newest door. Other top rated restaurants are Talula on 21st Street and Prime 112 at the southern tip of Ocean Drive. The lobsters are huge and the food top level Prime - that%26#39;s why you need advance reservations and a 360 degree swiveled head to take in the celebs and Miami Heat stars. The Sagamore is indeed the only hotel on your list right on the sand. The Delano and the Ritz Carlton are perhaps better regarded ocean front hotels if you are not fussy about cost... The Delano still books the most celebrities. The Ritz is more ';genteel.';

The Strand is your best option if the (and partying!) part of your post is the priority. Tenth and Ocean is party central. The pool bar at the Clevelander is a party 24/7 - well, until 5 am weekends... There are bikini contests and live entertainment (think Spring Break for all ages). The Strand is a GREAT suite style hotel with a rooftop pool deck which gives you a bird%26#39;s eye view of the beach and the action below. Some of the southern and street facing rooms - which have the BEST views - might require earplugs if the sound of partying might keep you awake... Stay on the other side of the property for a better experience.

Speaking of awake - The Victor is a party. A really lovely sexy swanky house party. Hit Vix and see the jelly fish tank. Check out the DJ spinning by the pool. Expect you might run into people from the music business. Try the spa - it%26#39;s great... If you want to dip into the scene on South Beach and don%26#39;t mind the party crowd, The Victor might be your best bet. Do look at the Victor Website - it%26#39;s gorgeous and gives you an idea about the level of design they have integrated into the property...

Have a Great Trip!

AG

Thank so much SoBeAddict and AdvisorGirl (what a terrific summary)! Sounds like I can%26#39;t go wrong with this list. And I greatly appreciate the food recs too!

I%26#39;ve done a lot of Ritz Carltons around the world...your description of %26#39;genteel%26#39; is right on the money. We prefer a more boutique (or eclectic) experience this time, but we do like to be pampered. And while we also like to party, romance will take priority this time, so I%26#39;m leaning towards the Regent or Sagamore. It%26#39;s been about 12 years since we were last in Miami Beach, so we%26#39;re looking forward to getting re-acquainted.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond. I%26#39;ll let you know what we decide and then provide feedback when we get back.