Review of Deauville Beach Resort 3*

I decided to take the time to write a review for the Deauville because I cannot comprehend why it has been given so many low ratings. Simply put: you cannot get a better location on Miami Beach! The Deauville is just the right size: grand without being grandiose; posh without being self-important; understated enough to be the perfect getaway yet in every way without imposing a host of burdens on its clientele to 'live up' to some bogus affectation. The rooms are spacious and well-appointed, but given that you are not likely to be coming here to live indoors, they are not at the opulence level of an AKA residence for World Bank movers-and-shakers. The light inside the rooms is exquisite until the artificial lighting becomes necessary, when it is basic eco-sensible — — but still abundant. The individual heating and air conditioning units are what they always are in a place where the outdoors can tend towards an extreme: you have to figure out exactly what your own ideal setting is. Do you really need blankets in Miami Beach? Bring comfortable pajamas or a light robe if you prefer to chill your room down to 68 degrees or less. Makes sense to me! And the sheets, by the way — — those sheets that so many lamented were all that was covering the beds — — are of a superb texture, wonderfully soft and conditioned by the launderers to the perfect degree of polished silkiness, so they feel like damask. These are certainly not your garden-variety K-Mart sheets, not even of the Martha Stewart brand, but infinitely more agreeable. The beds are comfortable; the baths have excellent showers and fixtures, including that highly valuable mainstay of a top-notch American hotel: toilets that do the job without making you wonder how many more times you will need to jiggle the handle, and don't also deafen you each time someone has to use them. I found the staff to be extremely courteous, kind, attentive and efficient. None were rude. None were obsequious. None acted as if they were expecting gratuities. Check-in was a snap. The coffee was balanced, delicious and abundant. The breakfast was worth the effort and the price — — but there were plenty of other options available. Having a self-service guest laundry on the premises is extremely useful when you travel as a family. The fact that Spanish seems to be often the dominant language was not something that bothered me: it is not unusual in Southern California, parts of Texas and certainly in Florida. Miami is an international hotspot and for the Spanish speaking world a second Paris. On my first visit to this magnificent city, I immediately got what all those decades of "Miami gushing" were all about. Of course everyone wants to be here! Of course loads of people who come here are from Spanish-speaking countries, and many in the staff originate in our neighboring countries! Why would that be surprising? Why would it offend anyone? Does it offend when native Hawai'ians use Hawai'ian words, or Inuit their own? Must all Canadians speak English, or may Quebec residents prefer French? When you come to Miami, please leave your obsessions unpacked in your suitcase. Enjoy the treasures of this gorgeous planet while you are able to. Savor the new, revel in the eternal. If you love noise and crowds, South Beach will be your scene and you will gravitate towards the Fontainebleau, which I will also check out on another journey. But if you want to save a bit more money to shop, and if you have kids and need a bit of a quieter environment, and like not to be stressed, the Deauville cannot be beaten for convenience, location and attitude. The poolside area and the beach itself are absolutely at the top of my list of favorite resorts anywhere, including quite a few great ones I have been fortunate to sample. Go, don't hesitate, be healed. That's what a proper holiday is for.