After soaking up some sun the next morning and checking out of the Tides, we walked 2.5 blocks north to Priority Club‘s Z Ocean Hotel. I like this location a lot more because it’s JUST out of range of the craziness that is Ocean Avenue but that craziness is still only a few minutes walk away if you want it.
ROOM
The room was a suite, not necessarily more square footage than the Tides but definitely a better layout. As you entered the L shaped room, there was a small kitchenette and bar area, perfect for eating breakfast in the morning. The bed was separated from the living room by a shelving unit that had 2 TV’s, one facing each way. Interesting way of designing a room and a bit wasteful to us as we didn’t use the living room much. The entire wall along the bed and living room was floor to ceiling glass with a sliding door out to the L shaped patio. There were 2 chairs and a table along with 2 loungers, plenty of room on the balcony facing the pool on the inside part of the hotel.
The bathroom was HUGE. There were two vanities that were about seven feet apart, which gives you a feeling of how big the bathroom was. The toilet was in between the vanities, kind of an odd spot. The best part was the shower. It reminded me of the best shower ever, which was at The Halele’a Spa in the St. Regis Princeville on Kaua’i. It had a regular shower head, a rainfall shower head, and four jets on the wall that sprayed horizontally. I felt bad showering for more than five minutes because it was a waste of water but it was awesome after a hot day at the beach.
FACILITIES
The only amenity we really took advantage of was the free beach setup. Like the Tides, the Z Ocean has an agreement to give their guests “free” lounge chairs and umbrellas. Free really means it’s included in the $20 resort fee that guests have to pay but that is waived for any Priority Club members, even non-elite like myself. So if you stay here, be sure to at least sign up for Priority Club Rewards.
The Z Ocean features an open air bar which we didn’t visit because we decided to walk Espanola Way at night. There’s also a great restaurant right downstairs called The Front Porch Cafe where I ordered breakfast to go. Service was quick and the walk back to our room was less than five minutes.
Of the two hotels we stayed at, we both preferred the Z Ocean Hotel due to it’s combination of lower key location, large suite, and potential for redeeming points! Suites like that in South Beach would easily cost upwards of $250. Considering how easy it is to earn or buy Priority Club points, I’d say 25,000 points a night is a stellar deal. I think we found our go-to hotel in Miami.
For more details and photos, please visit my blog: http://thehustleblog.com/2012/06/26/another-birthday-back-south-beach-king-grove-tides-z-ocean-hotel/
- Also Known As:
- Crowne Plaza Miami Beach
- Miami Beach Crowne Plaza
- De Soleil South Beach
- Vincci South Beach
- Regent South Beach
Phone Number:
Region:
United States >
Florida >
Miami Beach
Amenities:
Bar/Lounge
Beach
Fitness Center
Kitchenette
Restaurant
Room Service
Suites
Swimming Pool
Wheelchair access
#2 Romantic Hotels in Miami Beach
#3 Luxury Hotels in Miami Beach
#3 Family Hotels in Miami Beach
#4 On the Beach Hotels in Miami Beach
#8 Business Hotels in Miami Beach
Price Range:
$$$
Hotel Class:4 star (4*)
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
-
Experience true luxury at our Miami Beach resort, Z Ocean Hotel South Beach. Offering much more than other suite resorts in Miami Beach, Florida, Z Ocean Hotel is ideal for your escape to SoBe.
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