We stayed for 2 days in room #207 (I think) and the room was clean, large and quiet. I was surprised it was quiet because it was in the front (on A1A) and the first room on the top of the stairs(so anyone on the 2nd floor had to pass by our door).
Our "garden room" had a view of the roof and broken bottles and other assorted trash. It also had a "bahama bed" - I'm not sure what that is!!! The bath was very, very small but clean. This was a 2 room suite with 2 tvs and a sitting room with sofa and chair. We paid $116 a night and considering prices around town, that was not bad.
We had a change of plans so had to stay another 2 nights and booked a oceanfront room. That room was smaller with 2 double beds and no chair and 1 tv. The view was nice. The balcony was very small and not private - the neighbors nextdoor in the non-smoking room were smoking on the balcony and we were down-wind! The dumpster was in the carport directly underneath our room and was emptied on 2 mornings at 7:30 a.m. (So the room was not as quiet as the other). The bathroom sink was in a seperate area from the tub and toilet so at least there was more room there. This room was $170.
The staff was pleasant enough. The breakfast was ok but usually busy and not much sitting room. There was a good place for kids to play catch or ball . I would not book a room on the first floor nor by the pool - to much activity - but if you want to stick your kids in the pool all day maybe you do want have it right outside your door.
All in all, I doubt that you will find a room in Bal Harbour on the beach any less expensive .

We had room 307 for 3 nights. Kitchen, (small) bathroom, walk-in closet, 2 beds, seating area, balcony.
Room was clean, airco noisy. Reception desk staff was very friendly when we were there, so were the cleaning ladies (we even got thanked for not messing up the room).
Some restaurants 1 block away from hotel, for the rest a quiet area. Very expensive shopping mall a couple of blocks away (shops from Oscar de la Rente, Armani, Dior,...) with excellent dining.
You definitively need a car. We asked frontdesk and they called Enterprise car rental for a quote. They even picked us up from the hotel.
Breakfast is basic, but good enough, except the polystyrene cups and plates!!!
The pool was very warm, the beach very clean.
The hotel is OK for a short stay, but if you wish to stay for a week or longer, I recommend a hotel more close to South-Beach.

The room was spacious, with 2 double beds, large TV, and a little sofa. And a little outdoor area with 2 chairs, facing the excellent pool. Also a kitchen with microwave, cooker, sink, fridge etc I think. Didn't really use any of it - hey, I'm on holiday, not doing any stupid housework :-)
There are plenty of restaurants available just over the road in Surfside (Harding Avenue). Flanigans is great, also Food Gang, and Specchio.
Or if you want to buy food there's a large supermarket just across the road from the hotel (corner of 94th & Harding)

The hotel has plenty of parking spaces available. Most days we were able to park directly outside our room, except for Friday night when we came back late from the Hard Rock hotel (well worth a visit) and it was a bit full- so we parked over the road.

Breakfast was very basic. Fruit juice, a choice of 3 cereals, do-it-yourself toast, bagels, and something under a hot lid - sometimes scrambled egg, sometimes omelette. And all served on polystyrene side plates with plastic cutlery- most eccentric! But, we didn't mind- it's very pleasant sitting outside outside in the sunshine with the beach view.

The swimming pool is large and surrounded by recliners. There's a little bit of noise from Collins Avenue, but it's no problem really. There's also a sun terrace upstairs.

I think the hotel location is excellent. Having a car is vital of course. Getting to South Beach takes maybe 20-30 minutes. But why bother when the beaches near the hotel are just as good and quieter. Bal Harbour beach is very close- across about 50 yards of open space from the hotel.
My favourite beach of the holiday was Haulover park beach- about 1 mile North of the hotel- beautiful white sand and blue water.
Bal Harbour shops shops are a couple of blocks North of the hotel. Very pleasant with good restaurants. Shops are a bit pricey though!

All in all an excellent stat - we'd come again

We stayed in this hotel several times since May 2007. We have stayed in hotels in Sunny Isles for decades but as there have been so many changes with all the highrises beeing built, construction works going on and all the restaurants and shops changed or out of business we have been looking for something else. We liked the BW Oceanfront resort. All 3 rooms we had were very spacious, nice and clean, oceanfront rooms with well equiped kitchenette and he poolfront room with separate bedroom and livingroom (two bathrooms, 2 TV sets). We never had problems with other guests. Breakfast is included, not overwhelming, but good, your usual packed items + daily changing fresh eggs dishes. The beach is beautiful and not crowded. The hotel is just steps away from many nice restaurants, shops and a Publix, very convenient as you dont need a car. While most hotels charge for a resort fee and parking (or you have to use a public metered parking), the rates of this hotel include this already. We are glad to have been able to find a new place to go. Surfside/Bal Harbour have made a good development and we will definitively go back to the Oceanfront resort.