Priceline Hotel: 4* Miami (South Beach) Royal Palm

[HilltopBoy]

I used the standard bidding procedure to get this booking. I repeatedly added zones that didn't have a 4* hotel, starting at $60 and going up by about $10 each time. I almost gave up and started over at 3* or by including Downtown.

I've read very mixed things about the Royal Palm. I think it's a good hotel in a good location and well worth bids in the low $100 range. Our room had a beautiful view of the ocean and was clean and comfortable. As some people complain, there were signs of wear in the bathroom and on the furniture. But let's get real ... truly elegant 4* hotels in South Beach just are not available on Priceline. This hotel has charming public areas and is just at the north end of South Beach's clubs-and-restaurant zone. Apparently, one of the two buildings has been renovated, but those rooms are never sold on Priceline directly. You can ask for one and pay a premium to get moved there. I suppose they might overbook once in a while and move Priceline customers into the renovated rooms. I've gotten better deals than this on Priceline in other cities, but not with ocean views in an Art Deco styled building.

Be aware that there is a mandatory $19/day "resort fee". I hate this system. Priceline should require that all mandatory fees be part of the bidding price. Valet parking is $39/day. You can park in a structure across the street for $16/day, which is a much better solution. We didn't use the restaurant. For breakfast, the Front Porch Cafe is about 3 blocks south on Ocean Drive. Starbucks is even closer (right at the start of Ocean Drive). For dinner, I strongly recommend the restaurant Spiga. We also ate at Tantra, which I thought was ridiculous, unless you like seeing waitresses with breast implants (food was good, but expensive). Tapas y Tintos was very nice, but not as special as Spiga. If you're into art and have a car, it's well worth driving an hour north to Palm Beach to see the Norton Museum.