The hotel has kind of an old school look and feel. Overall it's a nice hotel, with a quiet oceanfont...one of the reasons why I selected the hotel. The drinks are the poolside bar are a little weak, and incidental charges for towels and the use of lounge chairs is a bit much for the caliber that the hotel fashions itself to be. Location is perfect...about a 15 minute drive to ocean drive. In my opinion, the hotel is a best kept secret for those who want to get away to the beach with oceanfront view without all the noise and traffic of being in the center of things.

Exactly what it says on the tin............
Helpful staff.
Nice pool - but you have to pay extra for sunbeds min $10 per day each
Car park - at a charge
Business Centre - $5+ per 15 mins internet connection
Great shopping centre opposite - take credit card!
Easy access to south beach Miami - $1.50 bus trip
Beds uncomfortable.
No tea bags in the room, just coffee
Good restaurant & bar
Good breakfast

Just returned from 4 nights at the Sea View in Bal Harbour. It's a wonderful, old school hotel. There are guests who have been coming back there for 50 years, and for good reason. It's a good quality, family type hotel where the staff greets you by name.

Our room was an oceanview with a balcony. The room was large and clean, and the beds were very comfortable. The bathroom, small by today's standards, was also clean and well-fitted. There was a huge walk-in closet that was big enough to use as a dressing room.
There was also a small refrigerator that we used to keep sodas and bottles of water.

Room service was quick and efficient, and without the ridiculous service charges that other hotels impose. There's no $12 piece of toast here.

There's a great snack bar/coffee shop as well as a terrace dining area for lunch. Jose at the snack bar makes the best milkshakes!

We spent most of our time at the beach, which is beautiful. The attendants at the beach were the nicest people on the staff. The pool is huge and well maintained, and kept at a warm 85 degrees.

The location is great - just across from the Shops at Bal Harbour, where there are several good restaurants. It's about 20 minutes from Aventura, which is great for a rainy day. It's about 20 minutes from South Beach, 25 minutes if you're looking for Joe's Stone Crabs (go for the take-out -- no wait and the same great food).

If you're looking for all-out indulgence, the Sea View is not for you. This is a good quality beach hotel - a rare find in the Miami area. It's not flashy. It's a good value for the money, especially in the middle the high season.

we stayed here for three nights, it was a very nice hotel, elegant in the old fashioned way. we booked a bay view on a high floor so that was nice, the staff was friendly, nice size pool, the beach is right there, very nice walkway by the beach!
The location was amazing, upper class, the bal harbour shopping is right across the street, only fancy shops, good for window shopping!
the bedroom was very nice size and nice bathroom, walk in cubboard, very clean!!
All good rounder!!!