Hotel Review: Grand Beach Hotel Miami Beach

By Kendal Rodgers
June 23, 2017
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Bebe Voyage Rating – 8/10

If you are looking for a relaxing, family-friendly beach vacation that is also close to the culture, shopping, and amazing Cuban food in Miami, this is the place for you. The climate in Miami Beach is perfect nearly year-round, and this hotel caters specifically to families. We have been twice now, once this past December and again, just a few weeks ago, in May. Both of our stays at the Grand Beach Hotel fulfilled nearly everything we look for in a family vacation, so we will definitely be back again.

Location

Located in the mid beach area of Miami Beach, the Grand Beach Hotel is a quick taxi ride from Miami International Airport and a short ride to the shops in South Beach and the Art Deco district. You’re far enough away from the nightlife to be in a more kid-friendly area but close enough to still grab a cab and head to Ocean Drive for a lovely dinner outside. Exiting out the back of the hotel lobby, guests walk past the pool area to direct beach access. The hotels private beachfront area is well-maintained, and staff set up beach chairs and umbrellas for you each morning. If I could change anything, I wish the location was more walkable and had shopping nearby, but it meets your needs in a way that you don’t feel the need to leave the hotel for much. The beach is clean and quiet, which makes it a nice retreat.

Style & Character

The hotel is bright, modern, and feels really luxurious for being so family-friendly. I think it lends a certain European style and is very sleek, both of which I love. The espresso gelato bar, liquor bar, and boutique (containing both children and adult beach items) in the lobby make it a fun atmosphere for both kids and parents.

Service & Facilities

If you have a caretaker for your children on the trip, or simply want to spend some time alone, enjoy the adults-only tranquility pool and fitness center on the 7th floor. There is also a poolside bar to enjoy adult beverages; it is Miami Beach after all!

Our favorite part was the children’s play areas, one next to the pool and another on the beach. Each morning, staff set out plenty of sand toys, climbing structures, games and other toys. Our toddler stayed busy playing in the sand with other children while we relaxed on lounge chairs and enjoyed the ocean breeze. Listed are some of the amenities:

Ocean front location
Two family-friendly beach front pools and hot tubs
Adults-only Tranquility pool, two hot tubs, and fitness center on the 7th floor
Chez Gaston Restaurant (serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner + room service)
Liquor bar in the Lobby
Massage and Spa services provided on the Beach or pool-side
Beach chairs and umbrellas (included in daily resort fee)
Two kids play areas with toys
Espresso and gelato bar

Rooms

The oversized suites were perfect for our family of four. They had a rollaway crib already set up in the room for us at check-in. On our most recent stay, I was disappointed by the room when I walked in; it felt dark, the shower was leaky, etc. I mentioned it to the desk and they promptly moved us to a better room. We enjoyed having two full bathrooms and a separate living space. There is a fold-out couch with its own television and bathroom in a living-area style setting that our toddler liked to hang out in. Our sleep schedules were out-of-whack after two weeks of travel, so it was nice to let our three year old hang out there in front of cartoons when he woke too early.

The mini-fridge was perfect for storing baby food, and the double wardrobes kept our suitcases up and off the floor. We enjoyed eating on the balcony with views of the yachts and gorgeous waterfront homes. No matter where your room faces in this hotel, the view is sure to be great! There is water on both sides–the ocean and the bay.

Food & Drink

We typically would eat at the hotel restaurant for breakfast, as the buffet is filling. You pay one flat price per guest and children under 5 eat free! On busy mornings, we opted for the Espresso Gelato Bar in the Lobby, which serves up quick bites like made-to-order waffles with strawberries on top and fresh-squeezed orange juice (the best!). They have the most delicious baked goods, desserts, and simple kid-friendly items like cereals and muffins. If you’re exhausted after a long day and don’t want to drive somewhere to dinner or deal with your child(ren) sitting still at the restaurant, I can’t recommend the room service enough! We used it twice, once for lunch on the balcony before naptime and another for dinner after a long day in the sun. I was so impressed; it was gourmet and the portions were satisfying. I would like to see a happy hour (complimentary drinks) for the adults and some fruit baskets sitting out for the kids. An apple can go a long way for a toddler who has spent his morning in the sun and has to wait for his lunch to be ready.

Value for Money

It’s best to spend several days here, as they are often running specials like ‘stay 3 nights, get the 4th night free’ and such. For the amenities you receive, the nightly rate is fantastic. Food in Miami can be expensive in general, so consider stocking up on snacks to take with you to the beach and for the kids to have midday since there’s a mini-fridge in the room.

Family Friendliness

The Grand Beach Hotel is incredibly family-friendly without feeling like you are in the midst of a kids playhouse. It’s stylish and refined, but there are families everywhere and no one bats an eye when your child drops his fruit at breakfast or cries when it’s time to leave the beach for naptime. We loved how multicultural it is, from the European lobby staff to the Australian family of four we struck up conversation with at the pool. The moment we saw the kids play areas and the gelato bar, we knew we were going to enjoy ourselves!