Greetings fellow Jetsetters! It's certainly been awhile but what can I say other than c'est la vie. Life sometimes gets in the way but it's time to get this thing started again. I've got lots to share with you though and hope to provide you with some inspiration for your next vacation. So with that... Miami Beach. South Beach. SoBe. That crazy, crazy place in South Florida that attracts energetic, party-types and bachelorette parties alike. In other words not me. I'm more of a Key West kinda gal. But SoBe happens to be home to the amazing 5-star hotel known as the 1 Hotel South Beach that a friend told me about after she experienced it on her last trip to SoBe. It sounded so dreamy I had to experience it for myself even if that meant going to Miami. With its prime location right on the beach and its 4 pools I had to choose from I didn't even really care if I ever left my lounge chair and ventured outside the resort. (Note: I ended up venturing off resort and surprisingly had a great time while maintaining a low profile, more on that later).
The main lounge at the 1 Hotel South Beach, a gorgeous place to relax
Love the plant life and wood details throughout the hotel
Such coziness in this area off the lobby bar
Before I go on you're probably wondering why anyone would ever go to Miami Beach in the summer, during hurricane season, and after announcement that Zika spread. Technically it was the end of the summer but regardless, there are a couple of reasons. For one, it's the off season so it's not as crowded, meaning you can pretty easily score reservations to that hotspot restaurant you've been dying to try but could never get a table at. Second, and my primary driving factor, you can afford a room at the luxurious 5-star resorts that would otherwise wipe your savings squeaky clean during peak season. In fact, many hotels do summer promotions and we were able to get our 4th night free. We even received a free upgrade to a suite because the hotel was not at capacity. Something that is hard to come by during prime time February and March!
Let us not forget we are in Florida with this lobby art…
Okay, so more about the hotel. The 1 Hotel opened in March of 2015 making it one of the newer kids to the block. It underwent a great deal of renovations to transform it from the Gansevoort into the rustic-chic, gray and white, beautifully-decorated, delightfully-smelling sanctuary it now is. The hotel prides itself on being eco-friendly which means most if not all reclaimed wood you see throughout the gorgeous interior is recycled, the mattresses are made from organic hemp and the sheets organic cotton, the room keys are wood rather than plastic, and a digital device is the chosen medium to deliver hotel information in your room instead of paper. They even claim to use non-toxic, natural cleaning products throughout the hotel. There's an onsite restaurant by celeb chef Tom Colicchio and there's even an organic juice bar in the lobby. I mean, what more could a girl ask for?
Delish fresh juice bar at the 1 Hotel South Beach
Fresh locally-sourced fruit stand in the lobby each morning
When we arrived to the hotel we were a little confused to see all of the lights were turned off and the lobby and lounge were lit by dozens upon dozens of Pottery Barn-esque lanterns. But we quickly learned upon check in that once every month on the night of a full moon the hotel shuts off the lights to conserve energy. They host a full moon party with specialty cocktails on the rooftop, you know, after they lead a yoga and meditation sesh. Pretty unique. I could go on and on about this property but needless to say we were very impressed and quite comfortable during our stay. I'm still dreaming of those Keetsa mattresses...
Sweet dreams are made of these organic hemp mattresses
The standard king room comes with a very large sitting area
Spacious bathroom with lots of white marble and salvaged wood
Deep soaking tub and glass-enclosed shower
So if you're looking to have a fabulous stay in SoBe without putting (as big as) a dent in your wallet, strongly consider the off-season. Weather will always be a little risky at this time of year but sometimes it's worth the risk for the rewards (did I mention the weather was perfect and the bugs were not biting?) Also, stay tuned for my next post which will be about how to enjoy Miami Beach even if you don't like to party all the time.
FUN FACT #1: I actually asked to be downgraded from my suite to the king room I paid for. While normally I embrace free upgrades, this one I'd recommend against unless you plan on spending a lot of time here. It had a large, fully-equipped kitchen but as a tradeoff the bathroom was small and lacked a soaking tub (um, hello, don't they know I LOVE soaking tubs?) I also preferred the decor in the king rooms to that of the suite.
FUN FACT #2: JetBlue Getaways saved me $500 on this trip for the same exact flights and hotel room I was going to book separately. I wanted to fly into Fort Lauderdale anyway so I could rack up some JetBlue points and just out of curiosity decided to peruse the Getaway option. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that you can pair your FLL flights with hotels in Miami. Definitely check this out, you never know what kind of deal you will score. And if you use your JetBlue mastercard you could earn enough points for a free future flight by simply purchasing this one Getaway package.
Terrariums like these scattered about the hotel
OTHER HOTELS WORTH MENTIONING
The Miami Beach EDITION - Technically part of Mid-Beach, this place is will be where I rest my head on my next trip to SoBe. Loved the work that boutique-hotel-designer Ian Schrager and hotel giant Marriott did together. The decor was spectacular, the Matador terrace was serene and the bowling alley and ice skating rink in the basement was just amazing. This 5-star hotel is not much cheaper than the 1 Hotel, so I would also recommend this one during the off or shoulder season.
Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel - A little more budget-friendly, this trendy 4- star Kimpton hotel is also a good choice even during the busy season. Its oceanfront location near 17th Street puts you a little closer to the action than the above options.
Nautilus, a SIXTY Hotel - Very tastefully decorated, this 4-star hotel is located close to the action of South Beach but just slightly off the beaten path so that you can comfortably and fabulously stay under the radar at a reasonable price.
The Angler's Hotel - Another stylish 4-star Kimpton property makes another more budget-friendly, good option closer to the action. I love that you can count on Kimpton for that great boutique experience but note that this property is not beachfront (although the beach is a short walk).
Looking down on the beach from the pool area at the 1 Hotel South Beach