Question: Trying to decide between Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove and Biltmore Coral Gables — have one week to spend with two kids (girl 14, boy 10). Does anyone know these and have an opinion as to which is more fun?
1) Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables is better but Coconut Grove or Coral Gables are not really fun aerea , the two are quiet and nice but SoBe of course, is more fun. The Loews Hotel in South Beach is very good for family, also the Ritz Carlton at the begin of Ocean Drive and The Standard in Island Avenue is very safe for family. I am not sure if they have a family room but pratically you are out from the crazy South Beach area but you can reach it in a very short time by cab.
2) The Ritz Carlton in the Grove is nice… your typical RC… the Grove is great for families, in that you’re not in the middle of all the craziness of South Beach and it’s very walkable. It’s a great spot for sailing, if you’re into that. And, there are some cutesy restaurants in the area, as well as Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and Miami Science Museum which are both great for families.
The area of Coconut Grove and Coral Gables is beautiful, especially if you just hop in the car and take a drive down Dixie Highway. We would to like to suggest you also the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa. You are waterfront with a range of treatments and specialty massages in a outdoor areas, with yoga platform and a Watsu pool.
3) The Biltmore in Coral Gables is in the middle of a residential area – so very safe and quite fro kids – with a lot of restaurants and parks around. Not bad. The Ritz in Coconut Grove is more of a touristic area, you have theaters within walking distance, Coconut Grove circle, with clubs, restaurants, a lot of shops, etc. the boating area, a lot more to do in Coconut Grove than in Gables.
So, at the end, we definitely suggest Grove for the family.
However some Hotels located in the North of SoBe, for example in the Bal Harbour area, are very safe, you have restaurants, shopping, lounge bars, golf course and some more features. In half hour you can be in South Beach.
InsideMiamiBeach.com, like no other.