Marseilles Hotel, Miami Beach

Advantages: Great hotel, great location
Disadvantages: Not that cheap...

...We stayed at The National Hotel for a few days last summer, on Collins Avenue, one block from Ocean Drive in the heart of Miami's Art Deco Historical District. Built in 1939, the 13-story National Hotel lobby contains original period antiques and richly designed wood furnishings. It was restored in 1997 to showcase the original Art Deco details (the concierge desk is a precise replica of the original from 1939 !), this hotel is a visual delight for Art Deco fans ! It's not a massive hotel (unlike the Loew's just a block down the street), but then most of the South Beach / Ocean Drive hotels are acutally pretty small affairs... Other features at this hotel include: - 115 tower rooms and suites - 36 deluxe rooms and suites in the Cabana Wing, along side the pool - The Triplex, exclusive tri-level penthouse suite - Award... Read review

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Advantages: Lovely little hotel
Disadvantages: Limited amenities, but what do youe expect for 2*...?

...yellow walls are accented with black and white photos of classic Miami Beach Deco hotels. Wooden Venetian blinds add to the airy, tropical feeling. The pool's nothing on that at The National - but who needs one ? The ocean's just acress the street ! Also, there's no restaurant, although they do serve a "continental" style breakfast in the lobby - or even on the verandah. There are also a hundered excellent eateries just a few blocks down Ocean Drive, so we didn't find the lack of a restaurant a problem at all. There's also the AMAZING "Jerry's Famous Diner" just around the corner at 1450 Collins Avenue, everything you could ever want for breakfast, lunch and dinner ! As with most South Beach hotels, there's no car park, but a valet parking service is available with a $25 daily fee. Just a reminder that you'll need to give them... Read review

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Advantages: Sits on the Beach
Disadvantages: Pool area always crowded

..., very welcome. Having said that, none of the staff have ever been rude at all. The location of the Hotel is ideal. If you walk out the main reception doors and head for the beach, it is literally, a two minute walk to the sea. I mean the sea. Not the beach. Over the sand and to the waves. If you walk around the pool way to the beach, maybe a 30 second walk? There are plenty of shops around the area and because Es Cana is such a little place,everywhere is within easy walking distance. The nightlife has definitely improved since all those years ago. But I didnt stay out much this year. I'd rather sit at the bar in Hotel Miami and watch the entertainment. (Which I've seen a million times over now...but still insist on watching - mainly because the staff are so friendly and fun!)... Read review

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