South Beach is not typically branded as a family destination.  However, in the area south of Fifth Avenue---SoFi, as it's locally referred to---lays a luxurious and quiet enclave tucked away from the boisterous nightlife that exists just a few blocks north.  It is here that The Bentley Beach Hotel, sister to the smaller Bentley Hotel in the heart of South Beach, is located.  The Bentley Beach Hotel's beachfront location at the base of famous Ocean Drive is a draw for families who want to be close to the action but prefer a slightly larger, more quiet, and more luxurious hotel.

The $45 million all-suite property, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels Of The World group, is comprised of 109 suites in two ten-story towers.  Guests can choose from junior suites, one- and two-bedroom suites and -- for the high rollers -- a 3,500-square-foot penthouse with a split-level rooftop terrace overlooking the ocean. Each suite is unique, but all have kitchens or kitchenettes, Sony CD/DVD home theatre systems, plasma screen televisions, marble bathrooms, handcrafted European furnishings, and wireless Internet access.

A Family-Size Welcome 

With plenty of luxury, comforts and space, families will feel right at home. The Bentley Beach suites provide the security of having everyone stay in the same unit, with the privacy and spaciousness of separate rooms. Many suites have their own large private balconies, and most have separate showers and Jacuzzi bathtubs in the bathrooms. The kitchen allows families to cook their own food, making it easy for those with restless small children or picky eaters to enjoy a meal 

The cleaning service does the dishes, too---what a relief. In fact, I noticed that the hotel doesn’t provide any cleaning supplies in the kitchen, like a sponge or a dish rack, even though they have almost every device and dishware a typical home would. We assumed they just expect to clean up some serious messes so guests won’t have any chores to worry about.  When parents want to take a night on the town and enjoy Miami’s Latin-infused dining and nightlife, the concierge can arrange for a babysitter to watch children in the room.

Guests are spoiled with an abundance of towels, Frette robes, and Caroli bath amenities from the on-site spa. The beds are outfitted with 100% Egyptian cotton linens, and are to die for. I had one of the most comfortable sleeps I’ve had in a long time, so much so that even as the beautiful day beckoned me outside, getting up was painful.

When we did venture out, even if it was only for a short trip, we would return to an immaculate room.  One evening, when we went down to the beach for what had to be less than 20 minutes, housekeeping had taken care of the turndown service. (They were so discreet, it made us wonder if they were videotaping our comings and goings.)
 
Tom Billante, an acclaimed restaurateur opened Vivi Ristorante, specializing in Italian cuisine.  Vivi features both indoor and outdoor dining. Additionally, many great restaurants are in walking distance of the hotel, such as the well-regarded Prime 112, Joe’s Stone Crab, and the casual-but-good Big Pink.  Also, the nearby Dolce Vita Cafe has heavenly gelato.

Whiling Away the Days

The Bentley Beach Hotel is home of the first Caroli Spa in North America, the newest addition to a European chain of upscale spas from spa expert Angelo Caroli, who has been in the business for 20 years.  The full-service spa covers 4,000 square feet of space, with uniquely designed treatment rooms.  It offers a series of facial and body treatments using the organic ingredients from its own body care line, and a variety of massages.
 
Teen especially will appreciate the hotel’s salon, Rocca Donna Hair and Beauty Art, owned by Leonardo Rocco, a celebrity stylist born in Argentina and trained in Europe.  Besides offering the latest looks, the salon also does hair extensions, spa pedicures and manicures, and make-up applications.  The modern space aims for trendy appeal, with flat-screen plasma TVs positioned at each hair station, as well as a VIP room, where guests can receive a consultation and makeover by Mr. Rocco himself, all while sipping champagne.  I assume that the salon lives up to its promise because at 7:30 on a Thursday night, when most people in South Beach were dressing to go out, there were three customers getting designer haircuts and color there. Besides late hours, what traveler can resist a salon that's open seven days a week?

For those who like to keep up their workout routine while away, the Bentley Beach has a health club with an array of weightlifting equipment, LifeFitness cardio machines (with those ubiquitous flatscreen TVs built in), a sauna, steam room, and large outdoor Jacuzzi.  The health club offers Pilates and Yoga classes, and connects to a landscaped walkway leading to the beautiful beach, where guests can take advantage of jogging circuits along the ocean.

At the back of the hotel is a small infinity pool surrounded by lounge chairs, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.  A poolside bar serves refreshing beverages to sunbathers here and a few steps away, on the hotel's private stretch of beach.  Children will love how they are treated like VIPs at the property's beach club: they get their own pint-size lounge chairs and mini umbrellas, and the staff will provide them with whatever beach toys they need.  Adults will love relaxing in the oversize chaise lounges and "beach beds" with pillow-like cushions.  For the more mature, watersports such as parasailing and jet skiing, and land sports such as biking and rollerblading, are available through local concessionaires.

Special Touches

The Bentley Beach Hotel prides itself on exceptional service, which extends to include same-day dry cleaning and laundry, on-site valet parking, luxury car and yacht rentals, and a multilingual staff.  I liked how housekeeping had turned on a special light in the entryway at turndown, so I wouldn't have to fumble around in the dark for a switch when I came back late one evening.  We could use the computer in the lobby for free at any time, and found an ice bucket of bottled water and free headsets next to the towels at the gym.  It is little touches like these that make the Bentley Beach Hotel a comfortable and memorable place to stay.

The hotel has an ongoing Family Getaway package, based on a two-night minimum stay, that includes a one or two bedroom suite, a toast upon arrival- champagne (for the adults) and juice (for the kids), a family pass that includes four admissions to Parrot Jungle or the Miami Children's Museum, and a fun pack for each child.

Here is a list of Miami Beach, FL hotels based on user reviews from across the web on www.uptake.com.

Bentley Beach Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida www.thebentleyhotels.com;  866/236-8539 $$$$ A A- A B   Extra Credit: Great staff and pet-friendly too. Comments:  No kids club or daycare programs, but super for teens.

Gia interned for Family Travel Forum while an English major at New York University.  She now works for True Romance Magazine. She likes to read, write, sing, golf, and of course, travel. One of her favorite places is Rome, and she hopes to live there for at least part of her adult life.