Archives for March 2018

12 Miami Beach Dog-Friendly Hotels

March 4, 2018

Thinking of taking a trip to South Beach? (insert palm tree emoji here)

Miami Beach is one of our favorite tropical getaways where we can easily bring the pups. The best months to go are February/March as it has the least humidity of the year.

FYI, September has the highest. FYI #2: the last week/weekend of February is very busy with conventions and SOBEFF (food festival) so the hotel prices will be triple the normal rate. Early March the prices go back down.

Surprisingly, a lot of Miami hotels accept pets so I’ve put together a list of dog-friendly hotels in South Beach — including those we’ve stayed at and love!

Map from Wanderlog, a road trip planner on iOS and Android

[ img credit: hotels.com ]

1 Hotel: Airy + spacious rooms with driftwood walls, the largest rooftop pool in town (four pools total!) and this gorgeous hotel even uses recycled and repurposed woods, preserved moss — what’s not to love? Oh, the pet fee is FREE! 40 lbs or less.

Edition: This collaboration with Marriot and hotelier Ian Schrager is just exquisite. Exotic flora, slick white marble floors + tabletops and splashes of disco-gold, it’s a fabulously designed space. Pet fee: $150. 25 lbs or less. Read our full review here.

[ img credit: dezeen.com ]

Faena: Vaulted ceilings with gold cathedral-style columns and floor-to-ceiling tropical murals just make the entrance dazzling. A decadent, once(or more)-in-a-lifetime experience. Pet fee: $250. My top choice for true indulgence. Read our full review here.

W: Stylish and swanky, 346-room hotel showcases a multi-million dollar art collection on its dark, gleaming walls, including a few Andy Warhols. Pet fee: $125. 40 lbs or less. Read our full review here.

Dream: Close to all the nightclubs, this trendy hotel features chrome + glass decor, spa and rooftop bar. Pet fee: $50. 30 lbs or less. Read our full review here.

[ img credit: My Boutique Hotel ]

Shore Club: A relaxing place to stay with its calm, all-white design + beautiful gardens inspired by Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech. This simple + comfortable hotel also has a lively pool scene. Pet fee: FREE. 20 lbs or less.

Mondrian: Dutch designer Marcel Wanders designed this hotel as an homage to Sleeping Beauty’s own surrealistic castle. Also experience festive pool parties, spa and bonus: every room has its own kitchenette. Pet fee: $100. 20 lbs or less. Read our full review here.

[ img credit: Fountainebleu ]

Fountainebleu: One of the most historically and architecturally symbolic hotels in Miami Beach. Pet fee: $100. 50 lbs or less.

[ img credit: Loews ]

Loews: Art Deco with a little taste of modern with an oceanfront pool. It’s also one of the more kid-friendly hotels in town. Pet fee: $50. No weight limit.

[ img credit: Come See Orlando ]

Plymouth: This rustic Art Deco hotel showcases a great pool and bar. Enjoy a private beach with service for hotel guests. Pet fee: $125. 25 lbs or less.

[ img credit: Curbed ]

SLS: Designed by Philippe Starck (one of our faves) and even a penthouse designed by Lenny Kravitz, this hotel is fit for a rockstar. Sexy vibes, mirrored ceilings and high-energy glam. Pet fee: $150. Under 20 lbs.

[ img credit: Miami Tourist Guide ]

Delano: Upscale hotel features Philippe Starck’s signature white-on-white, plush rooms with marble accents, high-ceiling lobby and buzzy boutique vibes. Pet fee: $100. 25 lbs or under.

Faena Hotel Miami

March 4, 2018

Design + Culture + Art…

From the moment you walk into Faena, you are hit with its opulence. I knew this hotel was going to be spectacular and all the days leading up to it, I was tingling with excitement! It’s difficult to describe this kind of beauty.

Vaulted ceilings with gold cathedral-style columns and floor-to-ceiling tropical murals just make the entrance dazzling. It’s worth sitting on the benches for awhile and soaking it all in; it’s akin to the grandeur of say, the Sistine Chapel — South Beach style.

Alan Faena…

It only makes sense that the owner, an Argentinian hotelier, of such a hotel is an equally fascinating character. Case in point: we were waiting for the theatre to open to watch their weekly show Sensatia, when the doors open and in breezes by a man dressed head-to-toe white with matching white silk turban, cape + cane who nodded with a smirk to the butler (yes, they are called butlers here!) we were chatting to. We didn’t realize til later that he was the owner.

After watching The Great Gatsby at the Cannes Film Festival, he hired the director Baz Luhrmann and his wife Catherine Martin, a designer, to decorate the hotel interiors in a larger-than-life theatrical fashion.

And you know what all of it reminded me of? That jet-setting but hippie auntie wrapped in a floor-grazing bohemian skirt made of Indian Silk, of course, with a sage smudge stick in her straw purse and orange leather Hermes slides on her feet (I’m hoping that’s me one day, obvi).

Speaking of floor-grazing, pets can stay for $250 per stay — yes, a high price to pay for such glamour!

[ img credit: Dezeen ]

And what about the room?

The rooms keep the classic Miami Art Deco design with added touches: rich red sofas with fringe, turquoise drapes, intricate rugs and touches of leopard. The room reminded me a bit of Saint James in Paris which also had leopard, red + turquoise decor. Make sure to check out the exquisite spa + gift shop — I discovered an Argentinian fashion designer Carolina K, who I can see myself quickly getting obsessed with.

W Hotel Miami

March 3, 2018

The W Hotel is definitely stylish and swanky — the moment you walk in, you feel the glitzy vibes and are ready to party (I took my free sangria and promptly passed out).

The hotel is big (346 rooms, to be exact) with a multi-million dollar art collection showcased on its dark, gleaming walls, including a few Andy Warhols.

And dining: Mr Chows on your left and The Dutch on your right which both have dog-friendly outdoor patios, so you can enjoy the hotel together.

There’s plenty of space here for walks, especially the beach being only steps away. Rooms are quite spacious with most balconies facing the beach and even some rooms with kitchens. The decor feels slick and very cosmopolitan — a mix of glossy black, chrome and slate grey. Fira fit right in!

One thing I learned about Miami is that most of the hotels are also residences, so you get a lot of nice amenities to share — 24 hour gyms, better health clubs (W has basketball + tennis courts), spas and larger lobbies. The W is one of the more popular spots with condos going from $1 – 6 million.

PAW (Pets Are Welcome)

W is proud to offer the PAW program for your pets to enjoy some extra pampering! A pet toy, treats, poo bags are yours to keep and a pet bed + food bowls w/ mat are provided in room. Pet fee: $125. 40 lbs or less.