La Gourmandise St. Regis Bal Harbour

First off, the rooms are amazing. The beds are comfortable and clean and the bathroom is very nice. The service is very good and they are constantly making sure you are comfortable. The property itself is gorgeous and it looks like it’s a grand hotel from a move. The location is good, you are in Val Barbour which is a little isolated from other parts of Miami. The pools are very nice and the beach is amazing.

A quick stay at the St. Regis Bal Harbour for a few days over spring break. Stayed here years ago and it's still a beautiful property but given all of the luxury options in the Miami area there are a few areas that need improvement. The good: rooms are spacious with large closets, bathrooms, sitting area, desk and large outdoor lounge spaces. Hard to beat the size level of detail in the rooms. We did not use the spa on this visit but in the past it was wonderful. The location could be a plus or minus depending on the traveler. I like that it's far north out of the craziness of SB. The mediocre: The service is good but not 5 star as in the past. No one was at the front when we arrived. It was largely made up for by the friendly check in once inside. Food in the hotel restaurant for breakfast and dinner was mediocre and the restaurant itself needs a refresh. Service outside near the family pool was very slow. The bartender/server was very kind and like everyplace else they are simply short staffed. So, service/food was a weak point but the people we found to be friendly and helpful. Beach service was good although it was a bit windy and we were informed that they could not put up any umbrellas as a regular beach goer it was marginal and a decent umbrella would stand up fine). So they suggested one of the clamshell style structures instead of loungers in the sun. However, the cost seemed silly several hundred for the day). We used the loungers and eventually umbrellas were put up. As with many hotels in the area the shade moves in quickly so it's best to get out early if you want sun at the pool. The adult pool stays sunny a bit longer but there was absolutely no service there and I felt bad for the few people working as they were going up and down between pools. It would have taken an hour to get anything so we went down to the covered dining area/bar by family pool and ordered for ourselves. The prices need to come down if they continue to be so understaffed. In general, and like most travelers, I'm not a fan of paying a lot of extra fees when staying in a luxury hotel at luxury prices typically prices are near if not well over $1000 per night) for the room and exorbitant prices for food/drink. Another positive: We used points for our stay. Despite using points we had a wonderful room. The fact is when you use points at luxury properties you sometimes feel the level of service/room/room location go down significantly and that was not the case here. Hotels make up some of that in loyalty to the brand/hotel and the guest ends up spending on drinks/food and other services so it makes sense to treat loyalty customers well. Overall a lovely visit with a beautiful ocean facing room and we wanted to just chill for a few days after visiting family on the Gulf Coast but if we were expecting or needing true 5 star service and had paid full price which at the time was around $1300 2300 per night we would have been disappointed.

The Good: Rooms are large, well appointed and have a good size balcony. The F&B staff and beach staff are very accommodating. The Bad: 1)Housekeeping is terrible-everyday we had to call down to the front desk because they failed to replace something or take away dirty dishes. 2) concierge staff is totally inept-not aware of events in the hotel let alone around town 3) management: when I requested to speak to a manager I was told they would get back to me. I was home for 3 days before I received a form letter (email) which basically said sorry but we got your money and don't really care about your experience (not in those words but that is the feeling you get from their response). At these prices would stay elsewhere.

I'd like to extend my appreciation for the outstanding service during my recent stay at your hotel. The blend of the stunning beach and pool provided an unparalleled tranquility that was truly memorable. The outdoor dining was excellent, with attentive service and delightful cuisine enhancing the overall experience. Your team's dedication and kindness didn't go unnoticed and added significantly to my comfort and enjoyment. Thank you for your exceptional hospitality. The St. Regis Bal Harbour stands as a testament to luxury hospitality, and I look forward to returning soon.

Every experience we have here is top notch. From dining experiences to spa days, the service level is unsurpassed. Always a pleasure to visit the St. Regis Bal Harbour.Service: 5/5