Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach

"How did it strike you on arrival?While Miami has its share of standout beachfront hotels, the sheer width of Miami Beach means that even if you get a room overlooking the ocean, you'll still have to spend a couple minutes walking across hot sand in order to dip your toes in the water. For travelers who don’t care about being in the heart of South Beach, and would rather not leave their hotel at all if it could be helped, there’s Acqualina. Channeling a kind of Italian villa feel, the hotel has practically built itself into the water’s edge, to beautifully dramatic effect. What’s the crowd like?People who want to enjoy all the natural beauty and doses of vitamin D that Florida has to offer—without being beholden to the crowds in South Beach—are the ideal Acqualina guests. Families are also a frequent sight, as the resort rents large suites complete with full kitchens, which can be a blessing for families with young kids. Importantly: Tell us about your room.With a grand total of 615 square feet of space (725 square feet, if you include the balcony), our Oceanfront Room—which carves out its own little seating area—was large enough to make us feel like we even had a bit of privacy from each other. White, tan, and grey tones let the water be the real pop of color, and the room’s smoked glass and bronze metal coffee tables add a little bit of an edge to its elegance. We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?In addition to being both comfortable and elegant, with its metallic-like silver throw pillows, the bed’s positioning right in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass balcony door ensured that we woke up to a beautiful view. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that worth a mention?While the balcony—which added more than 100 square feet to the room’s size—was undoubtedly of the room’s most charming amenities, a small foyer and private bar area were unexpected touches that made the already-big room seem even bigger. A gorgeous wingback chair, which I would have been happy to carry back on to the plane, also added a bit of elegance to the living area. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.Like the main room itself, the bathrooms at Acqualina are large and elegant, from the imported marble flooring to the separate bathtub and huge glass-enclosed shower, all of which encourage lingering while you get ready for your day. Products come courtesy of ESPA and are used in many of the treatments at the hotel’s award-winning spa (which you should plan a separate visit to at some point). Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Wi-Fi is free, and connectivity didn’t seem to be an issue anywhere within the hotel’s 4.5 acres. F&B: What are we looking at?Costa Grill serves up a great menu of light bites beachside. At night, Il Mulino New York brings a deeper taste of the Mediterranean to the resort. Ke-uH, the new Japanese restaurant, is ideal for shared plates and fresh fish. Did anyone on staff make an impression?Deciding to stay a good 30-40 minute drive from South Beach (and some of our favorite restaurants) wasn’t an easy decision to make. But kudos to the reservation assistant I spoke with ahead of booking, who essentially listed the many pros that came with being an Uber ride away from the action—and she was absolutely right. Anything stand out about other services and features?While grabbing one of the hotel’s plush loungers (and a beach butler to bring you a cocktail) is never a bad idea, the resort is also home to three pools, each with its own temperament: the Beach Club Pool is the main event, where guests of all ages and activity levels lounge and lunge. More active types will love the Recreation Pool, where the staff regularly organizes games and fitness classes. If you’re traveling sans kids, you’ll want to head to the Tranquility Pool—the adults-only spot whose name says it all. What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?It's natural to feel that if you’re coming to Miami, you’ll want to stay in the city or on Miami Beach. But the tranquility that came with being half-an-hour away from the velvet ropes and see-and-be-seen restaurants actually made for a more relaxing trip. The hotel is also rather self-contained, so if you’re the kind of traveler who likes to plant yourself somewhere and stay, plant away. (Plus, you won't have to pay a resort fee here.) Bottom line: Is it worth it?Seclusion and tranquility are two of the hotel’s most hard-to-ignore amenities, and worth every penny." - Jennifer M. Wood