I STAYED AT A BEACHFRONT HOTEL IN MIAMI AWAY FROM THE MAIN TOURIST DISTRICT—AND LOVED IT

I’m going to make this very clear: I’m not a fan of traveling to or through Miami, Florida. Even though I love the beach and a thriving food scene, there are plenty of other places closer to me in Jacksonville that offer something similar. To me, the joy of a beach trip isn’t being hounded by spring breakers, tourists clad in neon-colored tank tops, or the hours of traffic it takes to get through a city to the beach, but to find rest and relaxation while I listen to the soft sounds of the waves crashing over the sand. 

But as a cruise and family travel writer, it’s hard to skip this South Florida city. I recently made the trek to Miami for two back-to-back cruises on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas and Regent Seven Seas Grandeur and found myself needing a place to stay for one night between the two sailings. That’s when I found the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour. 

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Even though the stunning resort is set on the same small barrier island that South Beach and Miami Beach are set on, it feels a world away—even though the actual distance from the tourist hot spots to the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour is only 10 miles. The laid-back atmosphere of this upscale Miami neighborhood gives it more of a homey feel than a bustling tourist town. And even better, the resort was awarded four stars by Forbes Travel Guide, and earns strong reviews from Kayak and Tripadvisor, so I knew I was in for a treat staying here. 

Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour superpower: water views everywhere

Because the hotel is set on the northern tip of the barrier island, no matter what type of room you have or where you’re at within the resort, you’ll likely have a view of the water. From the lobby, you can see beach from the large windows near the back of the welcoming space; and rooms have views of the ocean or the Intracoastal waterway. 

The resort’s property isn’t huge so it’s easy to get around. All of the main amenities like the restaurants and spa are set within a whitewashed tower, with a pool just outside of the spa doors. And just a short walk from the pool is the semi-private beach. 

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Before my room was ready, I spent the morning and early afternoon at the beach, where waves crashed over the nearby pier and surfers took advantage of the big waves. I was surprised to learn that the resort’s amenity fee covered the set up of beach loungers, towels, and an umbrella down on the sand. To me, this is a big bonus because beach rentals are not always included in the overall cost of a stay at beachfront hotels, even luxury ones. I also loved that even though my room was not ready upon arrival, the beach staff was able to accommodate me with the beach amenities with proof of stay. I just needed to show them my luggage ticket.

After getting the call that my room was ready, I picked up my things and walked back to the resort from the beach. The beach staff remembered that I didn’t have a room key so kindly walked me back to the pool entrance, which leads to the lobby, and unlocked the gate for me to be able to officially check-in and get settled in my spacious room. 

The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour has 95 ocean-view rooms, and there are only two accommodations per floor, so I was never bothered by loud neighbors or kids running up and down hallways all night. My 510-square-foot guest room had two cozy queen beds and a massive balcony that overlooked the beach and the Intracoastal waterway. Additionally, the room had a small coffee area complete with complimentary bottled water and a mini-fridge. 

What really set the room apart for me was the bathroom, which had floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the ocean (there were also automatic shades that could be brought down over the windows for more privacy). The marble bathroom had an oversized bathtub and a rainfall shower, a separate water closet, and a closet that could also be opened from the bedroom side of the accommodation. 

Amenities aplenty, including a secret affogato hour

Besides the beach and the pool, there were plenty more amenities to enjoy at the resort. While I didn’t get to enjoy the Exhale Spa, walking by it on the way to the pool was enough for me to want to book another stay at the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour. 

Besides beach rentals, the daily resort fee of $45 also included two daily complimentary cocktails at the resort’s onsite restaurant, Artisan Beach House; access to the resort’s bikes, which could be used to ride around the neighborhood; and high-level Marriott Bonvoy Members can also take a complimentary fitness class. 

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My favorite amenity at the resort though was the secret affogato hour. Every day from 3 until 4 p.m. the resort hosts an affogato cart in the lobby. The cart is manned by one of the resort’s kind staff members, who made fresh affogato to order. There was also a small assortment of toppings for the espresso and gelato treat, including rainbow sprinkles and mini-chocolate chips. I chose to put sprinkles on my Italian coffee treat, which I know is not traditional, but i think life is way more fun with sprinkles. 

Of course, no short getaway is complete without a great meal, and at the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, I opted to try the waterfront Artisan Beach House. The menu ranges in style from fresh seafood to Mediterranean. I snagged a lunch reservation for a late afternoon meal, and even though the restaurant was nearly empty, the food and service were still fantastic. 

I started out with the heirloom tomato toast, which piled fresh tomatoes and a burrata cheese mousse onto perfectly grilled bread. For my entree, I noshed on grilled fish tacos that loaded with fresh white fish and a tangy cilantro crema. Dessert was a showstopper as a chocolate and peanut butter dome cake, which I was able to order to-go and have a few bites at the restaurant before leaving and taking the rest up to my room. Later, I savored the last few bites of my leftover dessert in bed while watching my travel comfort show, Shark Tank. 

As someone who travels from hotel to hotel year-round, I found the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour a perfect mix of luxury and style, without being pretentious or stuffy. The staff were kind, helpful, and anticipated my needs, and the amenities lived up to the reputation that the brand has laid for itself. After this trip, I can’t wait to return to Miami for this resort experience.

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