The hotel has kind of an old school look and feel. Overall it's a nice hotel, with a quiet oceanfont...one of the reasons why I selected the hotel. The drinks are the poolside bar are a little weak, and incidental charges for towels and the use of lounge chairs is a bit much for the caliber that the hotel fashions itself to be. Location is perfect...about a 15 minute drive to ocean drive. In my opinion, the hotel is a best kept secret for those who want to get away to the beach with oceanfront view without all the noise and traffic of being in the center of things.

After 11 wonderful nights with my family at the Sea View I can only say the very best about this hotel. Beautiful large room, very clean, grandiose service from all staff members, perfect for children (mine is 15 months old). What makes the service special is the surprisingly wonderful cuisine of the hotel restaurant and the fact that you will never hear anything like "sorry, can't do". Everything seems to be possible, and I loved to hear the sentence: "Anything you want, M'am!" Get a room with a balcony if you like the fresh air as the windows cannot be opened for safety reasons. And then: enjoy and let them spoil you!

we stayed here for three nights, it was a very nice hotel, elegant in the old fashioned way. we booked a bay view on a high floor so that was nice, the staff was friendly, nice size pool, the beach is right there, very nice walkway by the beach! The location was amazing, upper class, the bal harbour shopping is right across the street, only fancy shops, good for window shopping! the bedroom was very nice size and nice bathroom, walk in cubboard, very clean!! All good rounder!!!

Just back from a two week stay at the Sea View. We had originally booked the Regent in Bal Harbour, which was due to open on Jan 1, 2008, but got delayed (it had not yet opened as of February 10!) and so unfortunately we had to settle for the Sea View since we wanted to be in Bal Harbour and the Sea View is the only place in town after the closure of the Sheraton. Our room was the best available: oceanfront with balcony, at $430 plus tax per night, a steep price we think. The hotel dates from the late 40's but has been quite well maintained. Here are the positives: - Clean hotel and rooms, certainly in view of the age. - Quiet place, across the street from the Bal Harbour Shops, with direct access to the beach, and without the day and night noise and crowds of South Beach (some may think this is a negative, but we like peaceful hotels). - Large self-parking area adjacent to the hotel (valet is also available). - Very large pool and pool area, with plenty of space for everyone. However, there are many negatives: - Tiny bathroom, impossible to use by more than one person, without a real bath, just a well functioning shower. - Depressing breakfast restaurant, which is also the ballroom, half filled with tables close to the window. No possibility to have breakfast outside although there is a terrace with tables (usually people travel to S. Florida to enjoy the sun and have meals outside, but many hotels seem not to have understood this). - No buffet breakfast, and everything is to be paid for (one extra glass of orange juice = $4,5); service can at times be very slow. - Almost nobody has dinner in the hotel, so one must go outside, which we did every day even when we didn't feel like. - No pool service for food or drinks. Collect at the pool bar. - Be prepared to pay $18 per day for parking, even if you park yourself, use of pool lounge chairs $10 per person (at the former Sheraton next door this was free) plus tax. All in all, at a daily cost for two of $495 incl tax, plus breakfast at about $40 per day and $21.40 for a few hours at the pool one expects more than what the Sea View has to offer.

Exactly what it says on the tin............ Helpful staff. Nice pool - but you have to pay extra for sunbeds min $10 per day each Car park - at a charge Business Centre - $5+ per 15 mins internet connection Great shopping centre opposite - take credit card! Easy access to south beach Miami - $1.50 bus trip Beds uncomfortable. No tea bags in the room, just coffee Good restaurant & bar Good breakfast