The Palms Hotel & Spa

Surrounded by palm trees, the 12-story Palms Hotel and Spa feels like a mini replica of Miami Beach. Its large property is made up of tropical gardens, filled with Macaw parrots, a chef’s garden, and colonial-inspired architecture. The airy lobby is filled with white columns, ceiling fans, and glowing palm silhouette designs. A pathway leads through the lush grounds -- with a gazebo and colonial-style patio, offering cold beverages and snacks -- to the pool. The pool deck is covered in orange cushioned loungers, turquoise umbrellas, and a towel stand; next to the pool, a manmade sandy shore has more lounge chairs, hammocks, and umbrellas. Stylish cabanas -- used for spa treatments -- are tucked away between the trees and have flat-screen TVs and iPod docks for all-day lounging on the striped sun beds. The hotel's section of the beach is covered with blue umbrellas, lounge chairs, and a volleyball court; naturally, there's food and drink service. The beach, chic aesthetic, and wide open spaces all make the hotel a popular wedding and family destination, but it's also just a pleasant and luxurious beach retreat.

The Palms Hotel & Spa is tucked away on a pristine stretch of beach, a short drive or longer walk from South Beach’s wild nightlife. The more residential area where the hotel can be found is a 10-minute car ride (or 30-minute walk along the beach) from the party scene on Ocean Drive. The beach (all beaches in Miami are public) is accessible via a private gate by the pool. It’s a 22-minute drive to the airport. The Triton Supermarket is a three-minute walk away. Driving to the American Airlines Arena, home of the Miami Heat, takes 22 minutes. South Beach Dive and Surf, where guests can take scuba diving lessons, is a 12-minute drive from the hotel. The Miami Beach Convention Center is a five-minute car ride away. The hotel offers valet parking for a fee.

The hotel's rooms includes city-view rooms, oceanfront rooms, oceanfront family connecting rooms, junior suites, and one-bedroom suites; the main difference between categories is size, with the higher-tier rooms having larger or separate sitting areas, and some having private balconies. Neutral-colored furnishings, potted orchids, turquoise accents, tropical patterns, and seashell-filled lamps give rooms a modern, beachy feeling. Bathrooms are decorated with mosaic tiles and have walk-in rainfall showers, signature toiletries, bathrobes, and slippers; some guests find the bathrooms notably small. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, safes, Keurig coffeemakers, minibars (in some), irons, air-conditioning, and ceiling fans. City-view rooms feel small, while Superior Oceanfront rooms are especially spacious with sofa beds. Views overlook the pool, ocean, or other buildings. One-bedroom suites have living rooms and sea views from balconies. Rollaway beds are not available, but cribs are free of charge. 

In addition to being lined with loungers and having an adjacent sandy lounge area, the hotel's pool has a tiki bar with flat-screen TVs and patio furniture, although food and drinks can also be ordered to your lounger. Access to the beach, with plenty of guest-only amenities, is through an electronic gate near the pool. The hotel's restaurant, Essensia, is stylish and bright, thanks in part to its large windows; fresh herbs and vegetables are sourced from the on-site chef's garden. The restaurant boasts an extensive wine cellar, buffet-style dining, and a bar and lounge area filled with orange furniture and flat-screen TVs. The dining terrace has rattan chairs, white curtains, and pool views. In the lobby, there's a gift shop with a coffee bar, souvenirs, and accessories. The large, modern gym offers flat-screen TVs, towels, and sea-porthole windows. The Aveda spa also has a nail/hair salon, solarium, steam room, Vichy shower, five treatment rooms, and a HydroCapsule.There are nine bright, modern meeting rooms, including two ballrooms. Rooms can fit between 15 to 350 people. Audiovisual equipment and catering is available. A 24-hour business center also has two PCs and two printers. There's free Wi-Fi throughout.