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Kimpton Surfcomber Miami Beach Florida
This past weekend I attended a Bilt Advisor Retreat where we not only learned a lot about the progress of the program and where its future is headed ( really exciting things in the next couple of weeks, and even more over the next year ), but also gained an incredible amount of insight into loyalty programs via Dave Canty who has headed SPG, Jetblue, IHG, and now Bilt Rewards. The Kimpton Surfcomber hosted the event, IHG is a partner of Bilt Rewards, and I was given room and board for the weekend. I wasn’t given any normal room, I was given their largest advertised suite: a One Bedroom Ocean Front Terrace Suite.
Sure, I’m an IHG diamond member, but most of the Bilt Advisory board has this status, and didn’t receive any upgrades…so keep that in mind. I undoubtedly was given this suite because of my association with Bilt + social media following and thought even though this isn’t representative of a normal experience, it would still be worthwhile to see the room and hear my thoughts.
The biggest thing I would point out is that the Rosewood hotel is under construction just north of the hotel. I could hear constuction pretty early, and of course, South beach is party central, but I’d assume that is why you’d choose this location over another.
Stay Details:
- October 2022
- One Bedroom Ocean Front Terrace Suite
- Room 281
- IHG One Rewards Diamond Status
- Hot Breakfast as a benefit
Other IHG properties we have reviewed:
- Kimpton Fitzroy London
- Kimpton Glasgow The Blythswood
- Kimpton Sylvan Atlanta Georgia
- Kimpton La Peer, West Hollywood
- Kimpton Hotel Surfcomber Miami Florida
- Kimpton The Brice Savannah
- Kimpton Nashville
- Six Senses Maldives
- Intercontinental Chicago
- Intercontinental Times Square New York
- Intercontinental The Barclay New York
- Intercontinental Boston
- Intercontinental Buenes Aires
- Intercontinental Park Lane
- Intercontinental Shanghai
- Intercontinental Hong Kong
First Impression
I love the art-deco design of the hotels along South Beach, but if I’m being honest, at 42…I’m not a massive fan of the South Beach party vibe and the Kimpton Surfcomber is right in the thick of the action. If you’re looking for a packed saturday afternoon party pool with bumping music – this is your spot. If you’re not…there are other Kimptons in the city that may be up your alley a bit more.
Check-In
I checked in later at night and it was quick and easy. Don’t forget the Kimpton secret password ( we had a special one for the event ). As a diamond member I was given the choice of the following:
- Free Hot breakfast for 2
- 600 IHG points
- $30 raid the mini bar credit
I chose breakfast which is served in the hotel lobby restaurant and was very good! So good…I forgot to take pictures
The 1 bedroom ocean front terrace suite
The room felt newly refreshed and exudes that South Beach/Palm Springs, Retro 60s vibe. Immediately upon entering you’ll see a large living room. I believe the suite measures between 700 and 750 square feet and features an nespresso machine in the living room.
If you were to choose the raid the mini bar – here’s what your choices would be. There is also a full size fridge in the bedroom. The cheese plate I believe was in response to the retreat and not a perk of diamond status, but I didn’t confirm this. I wouldn’t expect it though.
And the bedroom featuring a large king size bed. The water on the bedside is $10 a bottle, but If you wait until turn down you’ll be given a couple of free bottles.
Large walk in closet with safe
The Bathroom was quite small considering the size of the closet and the suite itself. The rain shower had great pressure.
The terrace is why you’d choose this room and it is very large. You can see in this picture the construction, but also how the terrace wraps around the building and offers multiple seating options.
Here’s a look from the other direction overlooking the pool.
The pool and cabanas
The pool Is wonderfully large, but if you are there during peak party hours it’s pretty packed. Great if that’s your thing, the energy around the pool is DJ central and super fun. I didn’t really partake in any of those activities since I was on a work trip, but this would be a dope spot if you’re looking for a fun pool and hotel combo.
Alongside the pools are cabanas that you can rent and have waiter service.
In between the pool and the beach is another bar area that brings the beach to the hotel. You can also venture out to the beach where there are lounge chairs and full service.
Nightly Happy Hour
Each night between 5pm and 6pm there are appetizers and wine served in the lobby
Overall
I would absolutely come back and after staying at the Confidante further north twice in the past year, I’d much prefer this hotel to it. The Confidante is in dire need of its upcoming renovation and rebranding as an Andaz, and the Kimpton is just primed for business. The staff were great and the diamond breakfast was very good. Don’t forget Kimpton hotels are pet friendly, and if I were to return with my wife and dog, I’d be happy to stay here if South Beach were our destination.
I’m heavily leaning toward rebooking this hotel for next year’s Bitcion convention since it would be far easily to walk to/fro because of its location.
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer
75k Ultimate Rewards after $4k spend in 3 months
*you may find an elevated offer walking into a branch – see below
Annual Fee
$95
Points Earned
Transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 75k Ultimate Rewards after $4k spend in 3 months
- Worth $937.50 in Chase Travel℠ and way more if you maximize transfer partners
- Some people have seen Chase branches offering the following:
- 75k Ultimate Rewards After $4k spend in 3 months + 10k Ultimate Rewards after $6k in 6 months
- 5x on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, including eligible delivery services for takeout & dining out
- 3x on select streaming services
- 3x on online grocery purchases
- (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit via Chase Travel℠
- The begins immediately for new cardmembers and after your account anniversary for existing cardmembers
- 2x on all other travel
- 10% Anniversary Bonus
- Every year you keep the card, your total spend will yield a 10% points bonus. If you spend $10k in a year, you’ll get 1k bonus points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to redeem at 1.25c in the Chase Travel℠ and the slew of other benefits remain in tact including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver ( primary ), purchase protections, etc.
- Points are transferrable to 14 Ultimate Rewards partners
- Redeem in Chase Travel℠ for 1.25 cents per point
- No foreign transaction fees
- Suite of Travel and Purchase Coverage
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver is my favorite
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024
- $95 Annual Fee
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists the best ever offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Historically 80k is a very, very good offer and hit in both 2022 and 2023. In 2021, we saw the offer hit an all time high of 100k. Who knows if that will ever come back.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is exceptional starter card and offers transferrable Ultimate Rewards, and pairs well with other Chase cards.
If you carry this card alongside Chase’s cashback cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠and Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the business versions: Ink Business Cash® , Ink Business Unlimited® you can combine the points into Preferred account and transfer into hotel and airline partners
Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.
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