Hotel Review: Royal Palm South Beach Miami
For far too long, Starwood properties in Miami have been a study in extremes — the St. Regis Bal Harbour sits at the high end, while the Four Points by Sheraton (up by 43rd Street) is pretty ... basic. Starwood's newest offering, the Royal Palm South Beach Miami, sits somewhere in the middle. Set right in the heart of South Beach, the property is under the new Tribute Portfolio brand, and it provides a party vibe both inside and out.
In fact, there were lots of weddings and bachelorette parties during my stay, which didn't surprise me — I can see the attraction of this place for group celebrations. Being located within walking distance of everything you'd want to see and do in South Beach — from beaches to shopping to dining — makes it easy to have the quintessential Miami experience while you're staying here. It may not be the most relaxing (the St. Regis Bal Harbour or even the W South Beach might be better for that), but then again, you probably shouldn't stay in the heart of South Beach if you're looking for a Zen-like experience.
Booking/Check-In
At this SPG Category 6 hotel, I paid $204 plus tax for one night in a Lanai Room with a King bed rather than redeeming 20,000 SPG points, because I would have gotten only a bit more than one cent of value per point. Thanks to my SPG Ambassador, upon check-in I was upgraded to an Oceanfront Suite, and there was Champagne waiting for me in my room.
My biggest gripe about the hotel is that it charges a whopping $30-per-night resort fee for pool, beach and fitness center access, beach loungers and towels and Internet. The W South Beach, St. Regis Bal Harbour and Loews Miami Beach Hotel don't charge any resort fees, and while The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach does, it's a slightly less-aggravating $25-per-day that includes Internet for five devices, water in your room, beach chairs and umbrellas and bike rentals from the concierge.
Design-wise, this is not your run-of-the-mill place, like a Westin or Sheraton would be. I believe that Starwood knows that design is where it needs to up its game and become more unique, and Tribute is poised to be a unique brand. That said, while the recently redone lobby of the Royal Palm is certainly interesting, I also feel it's a bit disjointed, with a small check-in desk and lots of random seating areas.
Oceanfront Suite
To give you an idea of the layout and spaces of my upgraded Oceanfront Suite, I shot this video:
It felt more like a Junior Suite, with a small sitting area, but it did have unbeatable views of the ocean.
The room itself was comfortable, although the bed was a little flimsy. In general, though, it was perfectly nice.
The ceilings were very low in the shower and the bathroom, which gives the hotel a more boutique feel.
Note for families when booking certain rooms, per the hotel's website: Due to the historic nature of our building and fire code restrictions, we are unable to provide rollaway beds for the room type booked.
Amenities
The pool area is gorgeous, with lots of seats and a nice green barrier between it and the beach. Aside from the two separate pools and a plunge pool there are also private cabanas and beach services, and free fresh fruit is available to guests all day.
The pool area also has casual outdoor seating for Florida Cookery, the Royal Palm's restaurant that features locally sourced ingredients.
As an SPG Platinum, I was given the option of two continental breakfast vouchers daily, but I didn't take advantage of this because I'd had a breakfast scheduled for the wedding I was in, but they gave me coupons for two free drinks per night and a free breakfast. The continental breakfast buffet costs $22.
Overall Impression
Overall I enjoyed my stay, and I think the Royal Palm South Beach is a decent option for a weekend trip to Miami when you want to be in the middle of it all. Until July 15, 2015, you can get an extra 2,000 points per stay, which is worth about $40 — pretty darn good for a $200 stay.
That being said, I spoke to someone who was staying there as a Starwood Gold member and he wasn't impressed. I also talked to friends who had stayed there a couple of weeks ago, and they said there were some issues. I personally didn't have any problems, but then again, I have an Ambassador who always makes sure I'm taken care of, so that may be coloring my own experience.
I'm not going to judge the Tribute brand until I stay at a few more properties; the next ones will open in Asheville, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Savannah, Georgia; and Charleston, South Carolina. For now I'll just say that this isn't my favorite hotel in the world — but then, not every hotel can be.
[card card-name='Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express' card-id='22034416' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.