Review: Lowes Hotel on Miami Beach

Although I live in Miami, I don't often make it over to South Beach. But this past week I spent two nights at the Lowes Hotel on Collins Avenue and below are my comments regarding the hotel amenities, service, rooms, and adjoining Elemis Spa.

My room (1554) faced north and offered a view of the ocean to the right, the SoBe skyline straight ahead, and Biscayne Bay to the far left. Both the room and bathroom were small (like most hotels in the area), but nicely appointed.

The bath robes were ultra-comfy, but the beds were much too soft for my taste. Also, the duvet comforter was an awkward weight - under it I was hot, but any exposed body part was chilly, even with the air conditioning off.

The in-room pod-style coffee makers offered Emeril-branded coffees and Celestial Seasonings teas. A note: when I first entered the room I sneezed several times due to the strong air-freshener, but opening the balcony door for an hour alleviated the smell.

I ate the heavy hors devours offered by the hotel the first night of our stay as part of the conference I attended. Several food stations were set up in the beautifully-appointed outdoor courtyard overlooking the beach. Everything was tasty - my personal favorites were the mussels, roast beef with mushroom ragout (really good), and the roasted vegetables as part of the antipasti display. I sampled several of the dessert offerings - the spoons of dark chocolate, the rice pudding, and the crème brulee (though it was more like a pudding) were delicious.

Each day the maid places a list of hotel events on your bed. One of the offerings is a free glass of lemonade in the lobby - a different flavor each day, When I asked about it downstairs, I was told (graciously) that they were no longer offering lemonade, but would I like a strawberry smoothie. Yes, and it was delicious!

The Preston dining room offers an impressive buffet breakfast ($54 + tax) including custom omelets, pancakes, oatmeal, bacon, sausage, and a tasty selection of dried and fresh fruits, bagels, breads, and pastries. You can also order Belgian waffles and French toast a la carte. My personal favorites were the warm cheese blintzes, the scrambled eggs, and banana bread. (Plus I really liked the silver round placemats that echoed the circular theme throughout the hotel.)

The grounds are beautifully maintained. The pool was a popular spot for sunbathers and families with children. Attendants prepare your chosen chair and check in occasionally to see if you need more towels or a drink/snack from Nautilus, the pool-side restaurant.

And only a few steps from the pool, the beach is spectacular (though windy this time of year!). You can also take a walk along the newly-paved brick boardwalk. A note: the hotel does not provide beach chairs. Cabanas, umbrellas, chairs, and towels are available for rent on the beach from an independently-operated company for $10-40.

As a Mom of twin toddlers, I'm always evaluating child/stroller-friendliness and Lowes scores well for both. Styrofoam noodles are provided at the pool, the shallow end is beach-like in that you can just wade right in without stairs. (And the Preston dining room - located half a floor above the lobby - has a ramp for easy stroller/wheelchair access.) Another kid-friendly item are the delicious chocolate chip cookies!

Apart from the beach and pool, the palm-tree lined walkway from Collins to the beach, a small grassy area near the pool and a large courtyard for special events, all offer semi-confined outdoor spaces for young children to burn off some energy. Plus, the Lincoln Road pedestrian mall is only a block away.

The spa is well-furnished with the usual equipment and includes an enticing his/her Jacuzzi and steam room, but you must pay an additional $10 per day for access. Pilates, spinning, and other exercise classes are offered daily for a $5 fee. The class fees are reasonable, but the gym fee is like charging me $1 for a soda on a plane. When I'm paying a few hundred dollars per night, just add a few extra bucks to the room rate and be done with it. Being nickeled and dimed in this class of establishment is annoying.

If you get any type of spa service - massages, facials, manicures, etc. - the daily spa fee is waived. I had a 50 minute deep tissue massage ($130 plus a 20% service charge) one afternoon, then took a spinning class that evening.

The female masseuse was friendly and professional; the massage itself was good, but nothing exceptional. A note: at the beginning I requested just my upper body to be massaged, but she - politely - responded that legs and feet were part of the "protocol," though she would "not spend much time on them and use a light touch." Fine, but the bottom line is that I'm paying a premium price for a service that by definition should be customized to each client and my wishes should be both solicited and followed.

I relaxed in the Calming Lounge between my massage and spinning class - sipping the fresh-fruit-infused water an munching one of the provided apples. A selection of canned fruit/vegetable juices was also available, as well as hot tea upon request.)

Other comments: the lounge/dining area on the lobby level is well-designed and is removed enough from the hustle and bustle of the front door..... a New York Times appears outside your door each morning - an appreciated touch since the local paper (the Miami herald) is terrible. Valet is available for a flat fee of $31/day, which includes as many comings and goings as you like.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay at Lowes Miami Beach. The location is excellent, the service, rooms, and amenities are very good. I would recommend the hotel to both visiting tourists as well as local South Floridians looking for a weekend getaway.