Hotel boom creates array of ‘stay-cation’ options

As South Florida has become a hot spot for hotel development, residents of Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward counties have more upscale “stay-cation” options than ever.

South Florida residents planning a local vacation have more than their fair share of chic hotel destinations to choose from, among them 294-room Miami Beach Edition, the former Seville Hotel at 2901 Collins Avenue. The oceanfront Edition, built by hotel developer Ian Schrager and Marriott International, has the feel of a tropical resort. Manmade attractions include two pools and a bowling alley. Mid-August weekend rates start at $399 a night. (Bowling costs extra.)

Not every hip hotel on South Beach charges $400 a night for a room. Mid-August stays start at $239 per night at Aloft South Beach, a 235-room hotel at 2360 Collins Avenue. The 50-room Vintro Hotel & Kitchen at 2216 Park Avenue in Miami Beach, formerly the Park Avenue Hotel, has a rooftop pool, a restaurant with a Mediterranean menu and proximity to the Bass Museum of Art and Collins Park. Mid-August weekend rates start at $200 a night.

For a quieter retreat, consider the Royal Blues Hotel in Deerfield Beach. It is a 12-room boutique property where every room has a view overlooking the ocean. The hotel has a restaurant, called Chanson, with a seafood-centered menu and an aquarium built into the ceiling. Other restaurants and shops are a short walk away from the Royal Blues at 45 South Ocean Way. Mid-August stays start at $215 a night.  [Miami Herald] – Mike Seemuth