Surfcomber Hotel Rating: 3.0 Pearls

South Beach, Miami, Florida

Book now by phone with Hotels.com – Call 1-800-246-8357

Beautiful pool right beside the beach

It's a mixed crowd at this 186-room hotel -- from kids singing in French for their parents at the pool to single fellas plotting their "game plan" for the night at the nearby Skyline bar.

For most guests, the main draw is the hotel's location -- a prime piece of beachfront real estate along the poshest few blocks of South Beach's Collins Avenue, and beside some of the swankiest be-seen hotels like the Delano and Shore Club. The rooms are significantly less expensive than at the hotel's luxe neighbors, but it's not the only affordable hotel nearby -- check out the National or South Seas hotels, which both have pools and beachfront access but also have more spacious rooms.

Porters are positioned to open doors, check-in is quick (made even better by a free welcome cookie), room service is prompt, and service requests -- like extra towels -- are delivered swiftly.

The concierge was so-so, as is to be expected at a mid-range hotel. I tested her by asking where I could find Miami's best ceviche or the best local dive bar, but she only seemed familiar with super-touristy spots on Ocean Drive.

Pets are catered to like their human campions at the Surfcomber. The hotels, which refers to them as VIP gusts (Very Important Guests) stay free and receive a bowl and bed. Arrangements must be may ahead of time, but rest assured that furry friends' needs will be met at this or any Kimpton.

Room service is available 24 hours, and poolside bartenders keep loungers well hydrated.

View on a Larger Map

The hotel is located right on the beach, within quick walking distance of South Beach's chic party central and the be-seen bars and restaurants of the nearby Delano and Shore Club hotels.

Some of South Beach's best dining, drinking, and shopping can also be found at the Lincoln Road outdoor mall, just two blocks away.

Direct access to the beach

The Surfcomber sits directly on South Beach: Walk past the pool area and through one of the two gates, and you're on the boardwalk. From there you'll find a narrow but well-trodden path through the seagrass to the beach.

Once on the beach, however, guests are on their own: The Surfcomber has no beach services. Guests can purchase chairs and umbrellas from an independent beach-services stand called Beach Aqua Circus. Chairs run $10 per day, $15 with an umbrella, and can only be paid for in cash. The deal is the same at the Richmond and South Seas next door. However, guests at the similarly priced Catalina hotel across the street get two free chairs with their room.

Great food on the beach is available at the nearby Love Food Cafe, a charming yellow shack on the beach that's been there for decades. It serves up amazing burgers and salmon ceviche.

The Double Bed Room

Renovations were made in 2011 after becoming a Kimpton. Rooms are on the smaller side -- about 200 square feet for standard Deluxe Rooms - but the decor is a fresh mix of beach and bohemian. All rooms are equipped with 32-inch flat-screen TVs (including all major networks and 24-hour yoga channels), desk and chair, iHome docking station, and bedding and bath products from European designer Etro. Complimentary morning coffee and newspaper are also available in the hotel living room. In addition to the standard rooms, the hotel also has four 400-square-foot suites, which unlike the others can fit a rollaway bed.

Bathrooms also got a much-needed update. Though still cramped, they're sleeker and much cleaner since the renovation. The [/miami/hotels/ |bathroom] in the standard room, however, is among the smallest in Miami -- truly only big enough for one person. The [/miami/hotels/doubletree-surfcomber/photos/bathroom-double-bed-room-doubletree-surfcomber-v183278/ |door] could only open about three-quarters before slamming into the toilet.

A few of the rooms have oceanfront views, and some have courtyard views. Management says you'll need to specifically request one of these when you book, or you'll get stuck looking at the wall of the Marseilles Hotel like I did.

Great pool with a waterfall

The hotel has one heated pool with cabanas and poolside service. The lounge chairs are clean and white, and the waterfall gives it a nicely posh touch. Two elevated decks on either side of the pool have additional chairs and tables under white tents -- a quiet escape from the sun, with a nice view of the ocean. A bar with poolside drink service is just steps away, and guests can get poolside massages upon request (for a fee, of course). All in all, this pool beats the comparably priced competition at the National and the South Seas.

The gym is small but the equipment, including the Precor elliptical and two treadmills, are in good shape. The three machines have personal video monitors and come with headphones that have replaceable earphone pads. In addition to the cardio options, there are also three medicine balls and a full set of weights, although there's nothing lighter than five pounds. The Glade air freshener, though, was way too strong for such a small space.

• Wirelss internet costs $10 + tax per day, but the hotel does offer free Wi-Fi through its Kimpton loyalty program. The program is free to join, and does come with a few other perks.
• Valet parking is an exorbitant $34 per night, making it even more expensive than the decidedly more upscale Delano a few blocks down the street.
• Free evening wine hours, free morning coffee, and eco-friendly practices are all perks that come standard in all Kimpton properties.
• In-room massages and free yoga equipment are available upon request.
• Pets stay free and get food and water bowls, and disposable pick-up bags.

Kids menu at Terrazos

Cots and rollaway beds are both free, but the rollaways don't fit in the 200-square-foot standard rooms. But standard rooms with two full-size beds are available, as well as connecting rooms. There are also 400-square-foot suites, but they don't have pullout sofas.

The shallowest section of the pool is still 3 feet deep (the deepest end is 6 feet) and thus not ideal for small children.

The Terrazos restaurant has high chairs and a kids menu offering cheeseburgers ($7), grilled cheese sandwiches ($5), and pasta ($6), all of which come with chips or fries (even the pasta).

The main spaces in the hotel are kept clean, including the grounds, the gym, and the pool. The lobby looked pretty dated during my stay, but it has since been renovated.

Lantao Kitchen and cocktails opened in 2012 and offers well-priced Southeast Asian cuisine. Most of the menu comes in under $20, which is appropriate for the Miami-chic but street food-inspired entrees. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

There are plenty of excellent restaurants within walking distance, many of which are along the Lincoln Road open-air mall, just two blocks away.