The Palms Hotel and Spa Miami Beach Review
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a commission. This post is not sponsored in any way by The Palms Hotel & Spa (I wish, though)! All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.
Are you longing for a beach getaway in Miami without all of the craziness of South Beach? That’s exactly what we were looking for, too, when we booked a stay at The Palms Hotel and Spa.
If you’ve never been to Miami Beach before, you might not realize that there is a significant distinction between North Beach and South Beach. Looking for an upbeat, beach party experience? You’d likely enjoy South Beach over North Beach. Are you more interested in relaxing on a quiet, private beach? North Beach is likely better suited to your vibe. Knowing the needs and interests of your travel party is critical in determining which area your group will enjoy the most during your Miami Beach experience.
For us, we wanted a quiet escape. A beach hotel away from all of the noise and partying of South Beach. Though we were interested in venturing toward South Beach for an afternoon, we didn’t want to stay in the heart of South Beach for the entire duration of our trip. When we travel, we usually prefer more laid back and private spots.
The Palms is consistently winning awards from notable publications including Travel + Leisure, TripAdvisor, and Condé Nast Traveler. I like to do my research and I knew of The Palms and its fabulous reputation amongst the travel community long before we stayed there. Thus, when we were finally able to make a trip down to Miami Beach I knew I wanted to stay at The Palms to see if it truly lived up to the hype. Spoiler alert: it definitely lives up to the hype. I found it quite interesting that The Palms actually opened in 1941 (under a different name) and it remains family-owned, which is pretty neat!
That being said, I wanted to share our experience staying at The Palms Hotel and Spa, and answer some related questions about our weekend getaway in Miami. I hope this post helps inform your planning process!
Where is The Palms Hotel located?
The Palms Hotel and Spa is only a short drive from the nightlife and excitement of South Beach without compromising the serenity of it being a private beachfront resort. The Palms is 2 miles north of South Beach, but not quite located on North Beach, either. For this reason, many know the area around The Palms Hotel and Spa as “Mid Beach”. And it’s the perfect option for couples or friends looking for a private, beach oasis.
As touched upon in the beginning of this post, there is a noticeable distinction between North Miami Beach and South Miami Beach. Neither is necessarily better or worse than the other, it all just depends on the vibe you’re looking to channel during your Miami Beach vacation. There are tons of fun things to do in both areas. But there are also key things to keep in mind when determining which area will best suit your needs and interests.
The physical separator between South Beach and North Beach is commonly known to be 23rd Street. Anything south of 23rd is considered South Beach, while anything north of 23rd is considered part of Mid Beach or North Beach.
Generally, Mid Beach is slightly less walkable and pedestrian friendly compared to South Beach due to the newer, larger hotels in the area. However, this also means it’s generally much quieter and calm compared to South Beach, too. North Beach is the most quiet and calm area on all of Miami Beach, which is in part due to the residential presence in and around this part of the island.
Oh yeah, did I mention Miami Beach is actually an island?! That’s right. It’s a barrier island separating the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. There is, of course, a bridge connecting Miami Beach to the downtown area of Miami. It can be time-consuming to travel back and forth between the downtown area and Miami Beach, especially during peak traffic hours and weekends. Keep this in mind, and plan accordingly!
If you’re coming directly from the Miami International Airport (MIA) and you don’t have a car, you can pre-book an airport taxi or shuttle to take you directly to The Palms Hotel. You can book a taxi online at Booking.com, check out prices and book on GetTransfer.com, or download Uber or Lyft for quick and convenient ridesharing.
Speaking of the airport, if you’re headed out of Miami International Airport upon checking out from The Palms, talk to the front desk about arranging transportation for your travel party if you don’t want to utilize one of the ride booking methods above. I recommend arriving at the Miami International Airport at least 2 hours prior to your flight. If you’re traveling internationally, plan to be at the airport 3-4 hours before your flight.
Miami International Airport has a lot of great lounges, and I recommend signing up for a membership with Priority Pass to gain access to a network of roughly 1,300 lounges around the world! There are different membership tiers based on how often you travel. I personally use Priority Pass and I love it! The best part about lounge life is definitely the complimentary food and beverages, as well as the quiet space to relax before your flight.
How far away is The Palms Hotel from nearby attractions?
The Palms Hotel and Spa is in, arguably, the best location for visitors looking to enjoy the benefits of both South Beach and North Beach. It’s not too far away from the hustle and bustle of South Beach, but I would definitely recommend using a rideshare app or bicycle to get around. It’s possible to drive your own car, and The Palms offers valet service. However, it’s a bit of a pain locating parking during busy times and it’s much less stressful to utilize Uber or Lyft. It’s also a vacation, so kick the stress to the curb!
If you are interested in spending a day or two exploring South Beach, there are a ton of fun free things to do! Even just walking around the Art Deco-style buildings or jumping in the waves is sure to be a great time. There are also some cool tours and excursions available for travelers interested in getting a more specialized, unique experience during their visit to South Beach.
- For the Foodie Traveler: A Taste of South Beach Food Tour
- For the History-Buff Traveler: Miami Beach Bike Tour of History, Art Deco, Crime, and Scandals
- For the Pop-Culture Obsessed Traveler: Hollywood Meets Miami Beach Movie and Tasting Tour
From The Palms to South Pointe Park Pier, a popular area to visit in South Beach, it’s roughly 3 miles one-way and takes between 14-20 minutes via car.
To get to Lummus Park from The Palms, it’ll take you between 8-12 minutes via car.
Another fun spot to visit during your trip is the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. It’s only a 5 minute drive from The Palms!
We visited Gianni’s Restaurant at The Villa Casa Casuarina (also popularly known as the Former Versace Mansion) during our trip for lunch (I’d highly recommend visiting here, by the way!). From The Palms, it was only a 10 minute Uber ride!
To enjoy some of the main attractions in downtown Miami, you’ll need to cross the bridge back over to the mainland. The Palms is located directly across the Bay from Wynwood Walls, but it’s still a 15-20 minute drive. We loved hanging out around the Wynwood Walls area and there’s great food and art, if that’s your vibe.
Some of my favorite things to do in downtown Miami involve food, art, and being on a boat during sunset! Check out some awesome excursions from Viator that highlight the best parts of Miami below:
- Little Havana Food and Walking Tour in Miami
- Miami Sunset Cocktail Cruise
- Taste of Miami Private Helicopter Tour
- Wynwood Graffiti Golf Cart Small-Group Tour
Another spot we visited during our trip was Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. I’d visited Vizcaya prior to this trip but it was Bradley’s first time experiencing its grandeur. I’d highly recommend visiting if you have time. It’s a 20-ish minute drive from The Palms, but it took us closer to 30 due to traffic coming off the island. If you don’t have a car during your trip to Miami Beach, you can also book this ticket and transportation bundle to Vizcaya through Viator.
What are the rooms like at The Palms?
I can’t personally speak to every room type at this hotel, but I want to share my direct experience with the room we stayed in. We stayed for 3 nights in the Superior Oceanfront King + Double Sofa room, and had unobstructed views of both the pool and the ocean. It was epic. The 400 sq. ft. room can comfortably fit a party of four, and because it was just the two of us we had more than enough room to stretch out and relax.
I do want to mention here that we originally booked a Premier Room with a Partial Ocean View. I booked our stay through the AmexTravel portal with my American Express Gold Card, and we were upgraded upon arrival. The Palms Hotel & Spa is part of The Hotel Collection with American Express, and so this upgrade was likely due to me booking the stay through the AmexTravel Portal with my Gold Card.
The room was clean and spacious, and the bathroom was also big enough for the two of us to move around comfortably. The view is the biggest perk of the room type we stayed in. I still dream about the incredible hues of blue seen from the comfort of our hotel room. The large windows were great for taking photos and soaking in the views.
What are the pool and restaurants like The Palms?
The property itself is elegant and sophisticated. Palm trees surround the pool area and beachfront, making the walk from your room to the shoreline a magical experience in and of itself. After all, it is “The Palms” so I’d hoped there’d be an abundance palm trees! I thoroughly enjoyed both the pool and beachfront lounge space available and neither option ever became too crowded.
In the mornings, we set up at the pool to swim and enjoy the peacefulness of the pool deck before most other guests had woken up. Around noon, we blissfully sashayed over to the beach where we stayed until sunset. Such tough decisions: pool or beach? The Palms Hotel & Spa doesn’t force you to sacrifice one over the other. We always seek out hotels with both pool access and beachfront access when we travel, so The Palms was a win in our books.
The one amenity we didn’t get the opportunity to experience was The Palms AVEDA Spa. During our trip, we instead decided to explore South Beach one afternoon and also the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. There just simply wasn’t enough time during our trip to do it all! From what I could tell, The Spa looked magnificent and incredibly relaxing. Treatments offered include facials, massages, nail services, salon treatments, and more. On my next trip to The Palms, I plan to indulge in the AVEDA Signature Facial. Anyone up for a beach trip?
The food available throughout the hotel was good, but the drinks were even better. From smoothies, to juices, to tropical cocktails–all of it without having to lift a finger. And, even better, without having to move an inch from your beach chair! We enjoyed breakfast at The Restaurant on our final morning of the trip, and it was delectable. There is a breakfast buffet available, but we opted for the a la carte options. We also ordered in-room dining on a couple of occasions because we were so tired from lounging at the pool and beach (exhausting stuff, I know).
The sun really does take a lot out of you, and this can come as a surprise to some visiting Florida for the first time. Make sure to hydrate and wear reef-safe sunscreen/SPF (and re-apply it every hour or so). Check out a few of my favorite beach essentials below to help you get an idea of what to pack!
Other food options onsite include The Bar, as well as a Tiki Bar outside on the pool deck. The Bar at The Palms is nice, but food options here are limited to light bar bites. The outdoor Tiki Bar offers a variety of “pool fare” (think burgers, flatbreads, chicken tenders), as well as cocktails and other mixed drinks. Although the Tiki Bar is located on the pool deck, there are still runners and servers who accommodate guests opting for a day on the beach.
Was staying at The Palms worth it?
Overall, we were extremely pleased with our stay at The Palms Hotel and Spa. It definitely lives up to its iconic and fabulous reputation among the travel community. There are a ton of amazing hotels on Miami Beach, and The Palms is certainly one of the best for travelers looking to be in between North and South Miami Beach. We will certainly stay here again during our next visit to Miami. I can’t wait!
—–
Looking for something fun to do while enjoying the beauty of Miami Beach? GetYourGuide has a variety of awesome excursions and activities to choose from! Whether you want to do a sunset cruise or a jet ski excursion–there are so many options to choose from on GetYourGuide!
While you’re thinking about your next vacation, check out some of my other blog posts for inspiration! Also, be sure to follow me on Pinterest for ideas and travel inspo!
2 Comments
Comments are closed.