I recently stayed at the Sea View Hotel in Bal Harbour, and while the location is fantastic, the property itself is quite dated. Opened in 1948, it certainly shows its age, which can detract from the overall experience.
My first room was a standard setup, featuring a bed, TV, and bathroom. While the air conditioning and heating worked fine, I encountered a significant issue with the shower—it had very low pressure, making it nearly impossible to take a proper shower. I reported this to the front desk, and maintenance promptly came to take a look. They provided a temporary fix, but it quickly became clear that it wouldn’t hold. To avoid further disruptions to my vacation, I requested a room change.
The second room was an improvement in functionality, though it had a bit of a musty smell. Thankfully, there were no further issues, which allowed me to relax a bit more during my stay.
Another downside was my experience at the bar. They seemed to lack a decent selection of standard beers, including Corona. I ended up settling for a Corona Light, but when I finished the bottle, I noticed it was expired by six months. I brought this to the bartender's attention, but to my surprise, he didn’t remove the other ten expired beers from the shelf. This lack of attention to detail was disappointing.
Overall, while the Sea View Hotel has a prime location and some nostalgic charm, it definitely needs updates and better management. Given my experience, I would recommend staying at a differ