Hotels I've Loved: The Standard Spa, Miami

If you ask me what my favorite hotel is, I will--without hesitation--tell you The Standard Spa in Miami Beach.

This gorgeous boutique hotel is like a yummy, sexy playground for grown-ups.

Included in the room rate is access to the Turkish-inspired hamam--a dark heated chamber filled with hot stone slabs that you can stretch and nap and roll around over. Once you're warmed up, you can move onto the bevy of indoor and outdoor hydro features like massaging waterfalls, an icy arctic plunge, hot tubs, big soaking bathtubs with a la carte aromatherapy salts, scrub rooms, cedar saunas, sound showers, and even an outdoor mud patio where you can cover yourself in cleansing mud before baking and detoxing under the hot Miami sun.

There are also massage therapists, daily yoga and fitness classes, stand-up paddle boarding, meditation circles, nutritional consultation, and a number of other traditional spa services.

The rooms themselves are sparse but luxurious, with comfy beds draped in crisp shades of cream and white, sheer curtains, and hidden TV sets. Perfect for sleeping in late.

Some of the rooms feature private patios with outdoor soaking tubs that you can sink into with a glass of wine while enjoying cool breezes blowing from the bay.

And when I say it's an adult playground, I really mean it. There are no kids under age 17 allowed, but the hotel does allow (and even encourage!) adorable doggies. You are also encouraged to spend your entire stay wandering around in your bathing suit or one of the fluffy hotel robes (and I usually do).

And while Miami Beach can often get a bit rowdy, The Standard is located about a mile away from the craziness on Belle Isle. It's a quick cab ride or easy walk or bike ride (the Standard lets you check out bikes) to the hub of activity, but far enough away that serenity and calm can be easily had.

Seriously the best of both worlds!

I'm also a big fan of the hotel restaurant, The Lido, which serves up a solid menu of healthy, tasty dishes just perfect for enjoying between hours by the pool (open 24 hours!) or in the spa.

Think gorgeous kale chopped salads topped with grilled chicken, grilled octopus, skirt steak, raw lasagna, or crispy fish tacos. So so perfect.

There is also a cute juice bar that's perfect for breakfast in the morning, and a bar that serves up boozy cocktails and fresh coconut water late into the night.

My only complaint about The Standard is that depending on the season, the rate can sometimes swing wildly towards the too expensive level. But if you catch it at the right time, I promise you that it is so worth it.


Travel Tips

• Want to enjoy the spa benefits without staying? You can actually buy day passes that allow you access to the pool and the spa regardless of where you're staying (great for locals, too!) Or keep an eye out for one of their regular events and classes, which usually include spa access in the rate.  
• If you're flexible or feeling spontaneous, download the One Night Standard app, which offers amazing same-day rates for last-minute bookings at all Standard hotels starting at just $99 a night.

Photo Credits: Images 1 via Afar, 2-4 via The Standard

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Loved this post? Here are three other travel articles you might like:

• Travel Diaries: Obidos, Portugal
• Honeymooning in Vieques, Puerto Rico
• My Airplane Travel Essentials

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