Bal Harbour, Miami is a haven for Florida-bound travelers who leave their budgets unpacked on a vacation, but instead bring a lust for high-end shopping, impressive museums, and luxury accommodations.
TravelPulse recently sat down with tourism representatives from the village located at the northern tip of Miami Beach and got the rundown on everything from the best hotels to the best shopping.
We also tell how you can get free access to more than 15 Bal Harbour museums.
Here’s what we learned.
Where to Stay in Bal Harbour
The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort
Location and luxury are the main draws at The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, which offers ocean views to go along with its prime location directly across from the famous Bal Harbour Shops.
The hotel has 216 total guest rooms and suites, including 118 king rooms and 34 double rooms, 40 one-bedroom king suites, 20 two-bedroom king suites, three four-bedroom Signature Suites and one two-bedroom Presidential Suite.
The resort and residences are made up of three all-glass towers, which rise 27 stories above the beach on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour
This is the hotel to stay for guests who simply can’t get enough of Bal Harbour’s extensive art galleries as this 95-room hotel houses a 3.5 million art collection to go along with high-end accommodations. The hotel’s collection features 400 artworks, including paintings, photography, and sculptures.
Sea View Hotel
The Sea View Hotel also has a great location in the heart of Bal Harbour. Eighteen miles from the Miami International Airport and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the hotel is also a 30-minute drive from downtown Miami, Brickell, Wynwood and South Beach.
The hotel offers 220 rooms and suites with seven room types and views of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. The Junior Suite includes a kitchenette, while one- and two-bedroom suites expand to full kitchens. Some categories offer balconies.
Bal Harbour Quarzo
Bal Harbour Quarzo is a charming, 27-room boutique hotel that opened in 2011 and caters primarily to families. Like the other hotels mentioned, this property is also located within a short distance from all of Bal Harbour’s main attractions.
Bal Harbour Shops
It was recently announced that Bal Harbour Shops, the aforementioned shopping center that is popular amongst affluent travelers across Florida and beyond, has been approved for a 340,000 square-foot expansion.
The shopping center is home to many famed dining spots from celebrity hotspot Carpaccio to Hillstone’s The Grill at Bal Harbour. Bal Harbour Shops encompasses three floors of boutiques and charming cafes, lined with palm trees and fountains.
Founded in 1965 by luxury retail visionary Stanley Whitman, Bal Harbour Shops is family owned and operated.
Free Art Tours for Hotel Guests
As part of Bal Harbour’s “Unscripted” public art program, all hotel guests get an Art Access Card that will gain them free entry to more than 15 museums in the area.
A full list of museums that hotel guests and residents receive free access to with the Art Access Card can be found by clicking here.