South Florida Master Thread

[snagger]

My OB says "before traveling, be sure to check with the cdc regrading zika" in otherwords he has no up to date info regarding specific areas. Looking at the cdc map it doesn't seem to include anywhere north of 63rd street. Just trying to make sense of all of this.

[mordechain]

For a summer trip as a single dad, 2 nights with 3 little kids, am I better off at Sheraton Suites Fort Lauderdale for 14k SPG, or Towneplace Miami Airport for 10k SPG? What's near the Sheraton for  kosher food ?

[CS1]

For a summer trip as a single dad, 2 nights with 3 little kids, am I better off at Sheraton Suites Fort Lauderdale for 14k SPG, or Towneplace Miami Airport for 10k SPG? What's near the Sheraton for  kosher food ?

we enjoyed the Sheraton Suites in Cypress Creek for our trips. They are only recently calling it Fort Lauderdale.
It's a bit of a drive to Aventura or Hollywood for the restaurants, however we liked the 2-room suites and the open floor plan, and even by staying 4 nights, the rates are so low that you're not emptying your account as fast. The Sheraton Club is nice there and plenty of Kosher Parve food and snacks.
 The kids can watch the fish in the indoor stream in the center of the hotel.

Cafe Emunah (next door to chabad) is possilby the closest place, and the Boca Restaurants, including Ditmas Boca -- which is not yet in the wiki are all approx 20 minutes away... Levy's of Hollywood and Hollywood places:
Mozart Cafe (open till 2 AM)
Levy's
L'chaim Asian Cuisine & Steakhouse
Sara's Pizza
Grand Cafe (not CY)
Pita Plus

Boca Raton
Asia (Meat. 3.5/5)
Mozart Cafe (Dairy. 4/5. Nice outdoor area too)
Jon's Place (pizza)
Pita N Go http://www.pitangoboca.com/ 4.5/5
Boca Kosher Bagel (Dairy 4/5)
Boca Grill http://www.kosherbocagrill.com/
Century Grill (Meat 4/5) http://centurygrill.weebly.com/
Menchies (Dairy. 5/5. Incredible non C'Y frozen yogurt)
Orchid's Garden Chinese (Meat 4/5)
Butcher Block Grill (Meat 4/5)
 

[mordechain]

we enjoyed the Sheraton Suites in Cypress Creek for our trips. They are only recently calling it Fort Lauderdale.
It's a bit of a drive to Aventura or Hollywood for the restaurants, however we liked the 2-room suites and the open floor plan, and even by staying 4 nights, the rates are so low that you're not emptying your account as fast. The Sheraton Club is nice there and plenty of Kosher Parve food and snacks.
 The kids can watch the fish in the indoor stream in the center of the hotel.

Cafe Emunah (next door to chabad) is possilby the closest place, and the Boca Restaurants, including Ditmas Boca -- which is not yet in the wiki are all approx 20 minutes away... Levy's of Hollywood and Hollywood places:
Mozart Cafe (open till 2 AM)
Levy's
L'chaim Asian Cuisine & Steakhouse
Sara's Pizza
Grand Cafe (not CY)
Pita Plus

Boca Raton
Asia (Meat. 3.5/5)
Mozart Cafe (Dairy. 4/5. Nice outdoor area too)
Jon's Place (pizza)
Pita N Go http://www.pitangoboca.com/ 4.5/5
Boca Kosher Bagel (Dairy 4/5)
Boca Grill http://www.kosherbocagrill.com/
Century Grill (Meat 4/5) http://centurygrill.weebly.com/
Menchies (Dairy. 5/5. Incredible non C'Y frozen yogurt)
Orchid's Garden Chinese (Meat 4/5)
Butcher Block Grill (Meat 4/5)

Thanks! Isn't the Sheraton Suites that Dan recommended on ddms the Sheraton Suites FLL -plantation?

[chevron]

Why are miami beach / south beach hotel redemption points so shabby ? hot demand? just spent 25k hyatt on a hotel thats 200 a night

[ShlockDoc]

just spent 25k hyatt on a hotel thats 200 a night

why?

[chevron]

i dunno, ts for my brother

[chevron]

his wife wants on the beach. Nothing on IHG points wise, used my anniversary IHG for BIL and sister, marriott anniversary nada. Hyatt anniversary option not on beach, so thats 25k points. ideas ?

[mochjas]

his wife wants on the beach. Nothing on IHG points wise, used my anniversary IHG for BIL and sister, marriott anniversary nada. Hyatt anniversary option not on beach, so thats 25k points. ideas ?

sell the points and pay with cash

[ShlockDoc]

his wife wants on the beach. Nothing on IHG points wise, used my anniversary IHG for BIL and sister, marriott anniversary nada. Hyatt anniversary option not on beach, so thats 25k points. ideas ?

I'd sooner pay cash than 25k for a $200 hotel.

[chevron]

I'd sooner pay cash than 25k for a $200 hotel.

whats 25k hyatt worth ? $250?

[chevron]

I see 1.1-1.25

[chevron]

Is there a difference in points or cash in terms of upgrade requests ?

[@Yehuda]

I had this problem too, and I spent the 25K for the Hyatt's Confidante hotel. (That doesn't make the redemption any better.) Miami is missing a good points value hotel on the beach. Can spend 12K (I believe) at the Four Points, but supposedly it's nothing to write home about.

[Hjay]

I had this problem too, and I spent the 25K for the Hyatt's Confidante hotel. (That doesn't make the redemption any better.) Miami is missing a good points value hotel on the beach. Can spend 12K (I believe) at the Four Points, but supposedly it's nothing to write home about.

Miami Beach Edition is a great hotel. 50k Marriott / 16,666 SPG. 

[mochjas]

Miami Beach Edition is a great hotel. 50k Marriott / 16,666 SPG.

The miami beach edition is a tier 5 ritz carlton which would be 23.3k spg per night

Also marriott hotels are stingier with upgrades and amenities compared to SPG and Hyatt hotels

[mochjas]

I had this problem too, and I spent the 25K for the Hyatt's Confidante hotel. (That doesn't make the redemption any better.) Miami is missing a good points value hotel on the beach. Can spend 12K (I believe) at the Four Points, but supposedly it's nothing to write home about.

Yes I would rather stay home than go to that 4 points. I stayed there once and would not go back. The place is very low class and old rooms

[eliteflyer]

I think the W Fort Lauderdale is pretty decent value for the points, depending on what paid rates are. I don't recall the specifics, but for a nominal amount more, we were able to reserve a Residential Suite on a points stay.

If you prefer Miami Beach, we had a great stay at the Residence Inn Surfside. It's not a St. Regis by any means, but it's hard to argue with $125 Chabad/Shul corporate rate confirmed into a one bedroom 2-queen bed suite with a kitchen within a five minute walk of all the restaurants and across the street from the beach. There's also free breakfast to boot.

[@Yehuda]

Miami Beach Edition is a great hotel. 50k Marriott / 16,666 SPG.

Nice. I went before the merger, so 50K Marriott was out of the question. All the more so if mochjas is right that it's more than that.

[Hjay]

The miami beach edition is a tier 5 ritz carlton which would be 23.3k spg per night

Also marriott hotels are stingier with upgrades and amenities compared to SPG and Hyatt hotels

WOW!! I was there a little over a year ago & it was a cat. 3, 50k a night, & they never took the points out of my acct.