This is the type of hotel that was built as a winter retreat for snowbirds in the 1940's. Two story property with a wide oceanfront footprint. The neighborhood is full of yet older two story properties, some pretty run down and some high rises built in the 60's and 70's. It's actually located in Surfside, not Bal Harbour, which is newer and more fashionable. The great thing about this property is location, location, location. You are just a couple of minutes south of central Bal Harbour. Great shopping there. Drive a little farther north to to Haulover Beach (10 minutes) Sunny Isles Beach (15 minutes) and Hollywood Beach (25 minutes). Go south and you're in Miami Beach in 15-20 minutes. However, the beach here in this neighborhood is one of the best in all Florida. It's usually uncrowded and there is a bike/walking path that follows the beach. It's very safe and very clean.
The hotel is very clean as well. The furniture and carpeting was replaced (I'm guessing) 8 - 10 years ago. The bathroom is clean albeit a bit tight for elbow room. The bedding is newer and is firm. The grounds are well maintained and clean. The only thing that kept me from giving this property five stars is the parking. They charge you $20/day (typical for beachfront resorts) but there is no place to park. I parked in a handicapped spot because it was the last place left. People park on the grass and in the driveway. It's a joke. If you park in the street they'll tow your car and the only other place is in central Bal Habour at a public lot in the Bal Harbour shops, but that's about a 10 minute walk. BTW - The staff here is great. Front desk staff is helpful, the room is cleaned perfectly daily. The rate I got was reasonable. Not the best rate, but OK. Again, it's about location.

I live near this facility. When my air conditioning failed recently, the wife and i booked a room here for one night, September 20th. When I checked in, the desk clerk asked if a had a car. When I said yes, he said, "that will be 19 dollars for parking" I laughed and said that he must be kidding. he wasn't. I said I would not pay such a ridiculous fee, and told him I would park in the public parking lot across the street, which i did. I stayed here last year and there was no such fee. When I asked , the clerk said that the management that took over in March initiated the fee. There is no mention of this exorbitant charge on the BW website. The other problem was the presence of cockroaches in the room. I personally killed two in the kitchen area, and one in the bedroom. Because of the pool and adequate breakfast, I rate this hotel average, and not poor.
I'm being generous.

Is a good place for large group of people whom wants to stay on the beach.But, do not care about noise.Ny husband and I went there for 4 days.The breakfast is really bad( no choice,they did not refill,big line,the coffee room is very small) .We could not eat there any day.Parking you pay for it and when you come @ night no parking. You have to longer for find a parking spot.Good is location .Grocery store near by.About cleaning is not good if you walk in side the room with no shoe your feet became black fast.We pay a lot that bad quality of service,
They need to improve a lot,lot....

Don't even know where to start. We had 2 babies on our trip, within a hour of the kids being on the floor in our room their hands, knees, feet and clothes were black ( and I mean BLACK) . Ok so we got over it, NO KIDS ON THE FLOOR, plus kids and clothes can be washed with soap and water... 2nd...... hope your not planning on getting any sleep, cause when the lights go out they come out, and I mean a LOT of ROACHIES, not only on the floor in the kitchen, but also on the kitchen table, they were also on the tables in the living area, and we even killed a couple in one of the cribs... If you want to enjoy your vacation in Miami look for somewhere else to stay....