Hotel Place St. Michel Rating: 2.5 Pearls

Coral Gables, Miami, Florida

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Although the streets are palmlined and clean, they are not quite as exciting as the streets that surround the Westin or Hyatt. There are, however, a few eateries sprinkled about and -- more apropos to Coral Gables' charm -- a trolley stop nearby.

Though off the beach, Coral Gables offers a well-manicured, beautiful relief from downtown Miami's corporate towers, but it's still within 20 minutes of Miami International Airport and the Port of Miami. Developed in the 1920s to emulate the beauty of the Mediterranean, Coral Gables is perhaps best known for its immaculately landscaped gardens in the historic Vizcaya Museum and the famous Venetian Pool. This mostly residential area is also home to the University of Miami and many multimillion-dollar homes.

• 10-minute drive or $25 taxi to Miami International Airport
• 35-minute drive or $90 taxi to Fort Lauderdale International Airport
• 15-minute drive to the Port of Miami
• 15-minute drive to Parrot Jungle Island and the Miami Children's Museum
• 10-minute drive to the Vizcaya Museum
• 10-minute drive to the University of Miami
• 25-minute, $35 taxi to the beach at South Beach

The King Room

• Standard rooms start at about 225 square feet, small, but still a comfortable size for Miami; each has either one king-, one queen-, or two full-size beds
• The Junior Suite (375 square feet) has either one king or two full-size beds, plust a small sitting area or a large, roll-top desk
• Small, 27-inch flat-screen TVs -- a bit of a departure from the classic look
• Bathrooms are a bit worn and lack counter space; some don't have mirrors.
• No coffeemaker
• No smoking rooms
• Free Wi-Fi