But that change didn't last long. The folks over at Perfect Escapes let us know that the hotel is now being called The De Soleil South Beach Hotel. The hotel is now a member of the Preferred Boutique Hotel group and there's a Table 8 restaurant on the property. It also looks like all the amenities and features have remained the same. But we just hope that this is the last name change for a while.
This is a shot of the remote control at the Angler's Boutique Resort Hotel which we wrote about earlier. We felt it was important to give you a close-up of the remote (and the iPod dock next to it) which turns on the TV, selects whether you want basic TV or cable, turns on the DVD player and allows you to order a movie from the in-room risque movie list. We half expected this remote to flush the toilets, draw the blinds, turn down the air and give us a back massage. Now, wouldn't that be nice?
We were traveling last week so we had to miss the premiere of one of our newest fave shows ever, Top Chef. But yesterday, we hunkered down in front of our TiVo and caught up on all that we missed (Entourage, Flight of the Conchords and Lauer's interview with the dreamy Princes of Wales included.)
The first two seasons of Top Chef took place in Los Angeles but for the third season, the show was moved to Miami and guess where the first meeting of the contestants took place? Gianni Versace's former residence-turned-exclusive-hotel, Casa Casuarina.
And that's not all, the contestants are being put up in the Penthouse suite of the Fontainebleau Resort and Tower on Collins Ave, a la Real World Las Vegas at the Palms.
The Angler's Boutique Resort kicks off their soft opening tomorrow in South Beach with half-off the regular room rates until November. We just checked a studio room with a terrace (435 sq.ft) for the weekend of June 22-24 and the going rates were $200 a night.
Want a room with a direct pool access? That's $225 a night. And a room with two double beds, a balcony and a pool view is $290 a night.
As we reported a while back, the hotel is opening in phases. This is Phase One. Phase Two and Three are expected to be completed by October/November.
Also of Note: On May 31st, the hotel said their soft opening would be in two weeks and lo and behold, two weeks later they are soft opening. We won't name names but a few hotels out there could learn from this hotel.
Speaking of hotel butlers, we came across this snapshot of the Ritz-Carlton South Beach Tanning Butler Malcolm, who we were first introduced to back in December in our Miami Guidebook series. This shot however was taken last August probably before Malcolm got his cool Chanel sunglasses and his deepened tan.
While Summer is just around the corner, the scene in South Beach is still going strong. The area had approximately 350,000 visitors over the Memorial Day Weekend and the off-season hotel deals are just about to kick-in.
The latest hotel on the scene is the The Angler's Boutique Resort on Washington Avenue. Originally built in 1903, the Art Deco building was abandoned for over a decade until developer Gregg Covin came in to turn the place into a swanky boutique resort.
The hotel has a unique layout comprised of four different buildings holding a total of 49 studio and duplex suites with interiors and common areas designed by Wallace Tutt. The amenities include plasma TV's, DVD players, iPOD docking stations with hardwired surround sound, a wet bar and marble bathrooms. Even better, several units feature either private rooftops, private gardens, or or private outdoor spa baths.
There's also an open-air lounge and pool, fully equipped fitness facility, 24-hour concierge service and a "social architect," Michael Capponi who will help get you into the hottest SoBe clubs. Note to Nemo Librizzi: You got competition.
While the hotel's not on the beach, the beach is only two blocks away. As for dining, there will be a Parisian Brasserie as well as a sidewalk care. No word on whether Ashton Kutcher or Bobby Flay will set up shop in there. And the rumors about Nicky Hilton looking to "rebuild" her Nicky O Hotel here can also be put to rest.
The rates start at $290 for a studio suite to $2,000 for a duplex suite with private rooftop. Just remember the hotel is opening in stages. The main building and the pool will open first and the entire hotel is expected to be completed sometime in Fall 2007.
Nevermind that we spent our college graduation partying at a now-defunct wings chain in Pennslyvania with an afterparty in someone's apartment where the keg was predictably tapped within two hours, you youngsters can party it up like K-Fed at the Catalina Hotel in South Beach with their Congradulations Package.
The hotel is offering recent college grads a week (or five days) of accommodations at $105 per person per night. Goodies include:
· complimentary limo service to and from Miami International Airport · VIP passes and a table for four at Mansion with one comp bottle · two daily beach chaises at the Catalina Beach club · and a free nightly cocktail hour in Catalina's hotel bar. · a complimentary Catalina Beach Cruiser bike (based on availability) · Jet Ski-for-two (three-hour rental available for a special rate to Catalina guests.)
The offer is good from May 15 to August 31st and apparently a group from the Class of 2007 at UPenn's Wharton business school has already booked a week's stay.
Book this package by e-mailing reservations@catalinahotel.com or calling (305) 674-1160.
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by juliana
