HotelChatter

Of course, this isn't just any old spa. The Standard takes a cue from the Romans, Russians and Turks, and considers its spa a place for unwinding and being social all at the same time. When you step into their Hamam, steam room, sauna, or roman waterfall hot tub outside, you're probably going to be surrounded by couples and small groups of friends and acquaintances. Overall, it makes for a relaxed vibe that lives up to the 'adult playground' sensibility of the hotel.

We have a habit of heading over with a guest pass to lay by the pool right when a Miami afternoon thunderstorm rolls in, so we've also discovered fun ways to relax on the grounds: lounging by the fire pit (sometimes with a pooch in tow), or reading a magazine in one of the garden's hanging chairs. We're also fond of a pick-up game of ping pong under the watchful guise of a towering Polynesian statue.

One thing's for sure: you'll never get bored. Just keep in mind that lounging by the pool is going to make you thirsty and drinks/food here are not cheap. (It's a hotel, after all.)

Overall, we love spending an afternoon at the Standard, but our last visit did bring up two burning questions: Why does it take such a Herculean effort to catch the attention of the pool servers (are they as distracted as we are by their 'surroundings'--ie. eye candy)? And what's with the little red string that the pool attendant slipped around our wrist to indicate that we were a guest (sans room key)? Could it be that no one came over to take our order because they thought we were a Kabbalah freak?