Travel

These South Florida hotels offer more than room and pool. Take a look

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

South Florida hotels are offering hospitality through bold renovations, design revivals and an emphasis on the guest experience.

Historic oceanfront properties such as an 85-year-old landmark have received major upgrades, blending preserved architectural elements like vintage diving towers with state-of-the-art amenities and contemporary design.

New projects are mixing hotels, entertainment complexes and culinary hotspots such as what's planned on the Miami River.

Industry trends include wellness offerings such as Turkish baths and rooftop pools, as well as celebrity chef partnerships, pet-friendly services and expanded public spaces.

Take a look at these hotels as lifestyle hubs.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Macarena Vargas works the front desk inside the lobby of the Gale Hotel and Residence that is opening soon. The Gale Hotel and Residence gave a preview of its property along with amenities during a tour on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Miami, Florida. By Carl Juste

NO. 1: THIS NEW MIAMI HOTEL IS PACKED WITH FOOD, A GYM, EVEN A TURKISH BATH. SEE FOR YOURSELF

Get a sneak peek with these photos. | Published May 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Vinod Sreeharsha

NO. 2: HEAD TO MIAMI’S CORAL GABLES TO FIND ELEGANCE IN YOUR NEXT FLORIDA GETAWAY

Escape the hustle of Miami and discover the serene charm of Coral Gables. From luxurious stays to top dining spots, your perfect getaway awaits. | Published July 31, 2024 | Read Full Story by Angela Caraway-Carlton

Hotel Mandarin Oriental, Miami

NO. 3: SEE CELEBRITIES AND GO BEHIND THE SCENES AT THIS MIAMI LUXURY HOTEL THAT IS DISAPPEARING

Actors promoted their movies here. | Published December 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

View of a building part of the Pier Sixty-Six development, set on 32 waterfront acres along Ft. Lauderdale’s 17th Street Causeway and the Intracoastal Waterway, Pier Sixty-Six was originally established in the 1950s as a fuel dock and gas station for Phillips 66 Petroleum, on Tuesday, May 07, 2024. By Pedro Portal

NO. 4: A LANDMARK HOTEL JUST REOPENED IN FORT LAUDERDALE. WHAT ABOUT THE ROTATING ROOFTOP?

Here’s what you can expect after major renovations. | Published January 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Vinod Sreeharsha

Rendering of planned Riverside Wharf Miami

NO. 5: IT WAS A SPOT TO PARTY ON THE MIAMI RIVER. NOW A HOTEL, CLUB AND RAW BAR ARE MOVING IN

See new renderings, learn of updated timeline for the new project. | Published February 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Vinod Sreeharsha

The Shelborne South Beach is undergoing an $85 million renovation. Above: The iconic Miami Modern-style hotel shown on Friday, March 28, 2014. By MARSHA HALPER

NO. 6: AN 85-YEAR-OLD HOTEL IN MIAMI BEACH JUST GOT A $100M UPGRADE. SEE WHAT’S NEW — AND OLD

“Our focus was on respecting the building’s storied past.” | Published February 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Vinod Sreeharsha

The Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne opened in 2001. By Chuck Fadely

NO. 7: A MAJOR MIAMI HOTEL IS CLOSING FOR A $100M REMODEL THAT WILL LAY OFF HUNDREDS OF WORKERS

Here’s the timeline for the changes to a signature resort. | Published March 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Vinod Sreeharsha

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.