The points cost to stay at the St. Regis Bal Harbour was 100,000 points per night. The fifth night being free resulted in a total of 400,000 points. The cash rate at the time was US$1,476/night. That totalled US$7,380, or about CA$ 10,000, for the stay. Considering this translates to a value of 2.5 cents per point, it was a very good usage of Bonvoy points.
The hotel charges a resort fee of US$45 per day. They claim it includes things like wifi, beach chairs, gym etc., but frankly, like most other fees like this, it is just a money grab. Hotel valet parking is US$55/day. So if you have a car, plan on paying US$100/night to stay here on points.
While I wouldn’t earn any points for the stay, I earned 75% bonus points on dining and incidental spending by being a Titanium Elite Bonvoy member and 5X the points per dollar spent by using my Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card.
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The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at more than 7,000 hotels around the world is with the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card).
In addition to the great welcome bonus on both cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases and 5 points per dollar at Marriott locations. And each year, you’ll earn a certificate for one free hotel stay (35,000 point value) and 15 Elite nights toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.
The St. Regis Bal Harbour is situated on nine acres of oceanfront property in the Miami suburb about 5 miles north of Miami Beach.
When travelling to the east coast of Florida, one usually has to consider whether they want true beachfront access when deciding on a destination. In many areas, there is a road between the hotels and the beach. While that isn’t the end of the world, it diminishes the beach vibe a bit to cross a boulevard with lots of traffic to get your feet in the sand. However, the high-end area of Bal Harbour has its hotels right on the beach.
The hotel is centrally located with the prestigious Bal Harbour shops right across the street, with lots of other restaurants nearby and all the highlights of Miami a short drive away.
The hotel is an imposing 27-storey tower flanked on each side by the St. Regis Residences. At the entrance, you are met by a valet and a red carpet leading the way inside.
The entrance and reception area is one of the most stunning areas of the hotel. Upon entering, you’re met by a silver cloud sculpture called “Cloud Prototype No. 4” by Inigo Manglano-Ovalle. The main hall is filled with mirrored surfaces and large crystal chandeliers. The reception desk and concierge areas have comfortable seating where you can complete the check-in formalities.
As a Titanium Elite member, I was given an upgrade from a Deluxe room to a Grand Luxe room, the difference being a higher floor and a better view of the beach and ocean. I have to admit I was pretty disappointed in this.
After having researched the hotel, I read of numerous other elite members receiving suite upgrades which feature wraparound balconies and full kitchens. But alas, these would only be available for a cash supplement of US$ 2,000/night +tax, so we opted to stay in the Grand Luxe room.
The tower elevators feature a digital interface. By indicating where you want to go along with your keycard, the screen will tell you which elevator will pick you up. We were in room 1507 so headed up to the 15th floor.
The room, in a word, was stunning. In addition to its large size, there were light creams colours and elegant touches throughout the entire space. Upon entering there is a foyer and closet, followed by a corridor with sections of the bathroom on each side, then the main room which for us contained two queen beds. A sizeable minibar with fully stocked fridge was available, as well as a working desk and digital controls for the room.
The marble bathroom was divided on each side of the hallway and had a huge bath, shower, two sinks, toiletries by Laboratoire Remede and Aromatherapy Associates.
The large closet was fully mirrored and contained another bathrobe and in-room safe for valuables.
The large balcony featured uber-comfortable sun loungers, a small table with chairs, and sweeping views of the Atlantic ocean.
Being on a sunny Florida family vacation with two young daughters, the pool & beach was our main event. But honestly, they would have been even without my daughters there. 😉
There was one main pool on the lower level and an adults-only pool on the upper level, featuring a bar area and jacuzzi. Water, sunscreen, and towels are available at the entrance. There was a little play area for kids as well.
The beach was just a few steps away. The daily resort fee includes the use of two chairs and and an umbrella. Kids sand toys are also available for them to play with. There’s a path called ‘Atlantic Way’ which is perfect for walking or biking up and down the coast.
The hotel’s main restaurant is a Greek one called Atlantikos. As a Titanium Elite member, we had a complimentary buffet breakfast here every day. The restaurant was beautiful, and the food was delicious. It was a full-featured St. Regis buffet breakfast with pretty much anything you could want, including the signature St. Regis honeycomb which I indulged in every morning.
If you’d like to eat outside, Atlantikos has a patio and there is a separate pool bar and grill. You can eat at table or they provide pool-side and beach-side service.
If you have drinks at your hotel’s bars and restaurants, don’t forget to charge these expenses to your room bill, earning up to 17.5 points per dollar based on your Marriott Bonvoy status!
When you check out, pay with your Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card to earn 5 points per dollar!
Inside the hotel near the reception there is La Gourmandise which is a patisserie and serves light meals and the traditional St. Regis afternoon tea.
We ordered room service a few times as it was convenient for the kids. The service was very good, with the food very well presented. Everything was delivered in a hot box underneath the table to keep the food at the correct temperature until it was served.
There was a casual burger restaurant in the hotel which we didn’t use. While it looked decent, the style of it didn’t mesh with the rest of the hotel. I’m not sure where the idea of it came from. In fact, it was odd that the hotel didn’t choose to have a smaller fine-dining establishment on site.
Last but certainly not least was the St. Regis bar. This was a superb space that continued the theme in the main reception hallway with a modern look and mirrored surfaces. Champagnes, an extensive wine list, and delicious hand-crafted cocktails were available. We went twice at sundown when one of the butlers performed the daily champagne sabering ritual.
The hotel has a large gym with a selection of weight training and cardio equipment. Available amenities included complimentary towels, water, fruit, and granola bars.
There is a spa on-site as well as oceanfront day villas available for rent which we didn’t use during our stay. The hotel does have a kids club, but it’s been closed for years, and they couldn’t tell me at the hotel when or if it would reopen.
The signature St. Regis service was on display in all areas of the hotel. The hotel staff were courteous, prompt, and ready to help with anything you needed. Chairs, umbrellas, and towels were set up for you anywhere you liked around the pools or beach.
My wife joked that it was difficult to open a door for yourself while walking back inside the hotel from the pool area. Quick food & beverage service was available everywhere, including the pool, beach, bar and in your room. A truly want-for-nothing vacation!
Valet $55/day
Overall this is a wonderful hotel to enjoy a beachfront vacation near Miami. Personally, we preferred the quieter area of Bal Habour rather than being in the thrust of Miami Beach since we had our small children with us. But even if you wanted to enjoy the nightlife of Miami, it was a very short drive away.
The rooms here are gorgeous, the staff are great, the food and drinks are delicious, and the facilities are top-notch. Considering the high cash cost of staying here, it’s a very good choice to use your Bonvoy points.
The first part of this trip was spent at the Marriott’s Harbour Lake Vacation Club. Read my review here:
Keep reading with our experience with Sonder rental in New Orleans:
Savings are here:
