Do you ever have those times where the only thing that gets you through the day is the promise of a getaway? That has been me for the last couple of weeks! Work has been insanely busy and the only thing getting me through was knowing that I’d be heading to The Gates Hotel South Beach for a three day Girls Getaway. Thankfully, The Gates did not disappoint!
We arrived on a Friday afternoon and after a quick check-in headed up to our room. It was on a corner with a wrap around balcony and a beautiful view of the pool and Collins Ave. There was a super cute table and chairs out there that were perfect for enjoying the wonderful weather we were having that weekend.
The room was comfortable, modern, and had everything that you could need for a weekend getaway. Even though the room was floor to ceiling windows on two walls that let in all the amazing sunshine, there were also floor to ceiling curtains to keep out the light at night. And don’t worry about its close proximity to Collins Avenue. Even on a busy Friday night we didn’t hear ANY of the sounds that were coming from the street below.
After getting settled we went on a little tour of the hotel. We grabbed two Dragonfruit Mules from the lobby bar (holy cow those things were amazing, and beautiful) to enjoy while we looked around.
The original hotel was built in the 1950s so the lobby, restaurant, and pool area shared that mid-century modern vibe. I wanted to steal all the furniture and take it home with me. All of the mid-century mod touches made the lobby and pool deck feel trendy and comfortable all at the same time.
The lobby area included a business center, bar, multiple seating areas, a pool table, and even some fabulous hot pink bikes that you could check out for free. The Motel Ankara, the original motel on the property, was built in 1954 and is still standing as part of The Gates Hotel property. It is so cool to see the original building, complete with its name on the side, sitting next to the tall modern tower. It was amazing how seamlessly these two structures flowed together, all while keeping the charm of the vintage building.
The pool area had plenty of lounge chairs, cabanas (that they didn’t charge extra for), and a pool bar. Just around the corner from the pool was The Continental restaurant where you could grab breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The cool part that was the restaurant, all three bars, and room service were all run by the restaurant so you got the same great service all through the hotel.
There was also a sun deck on the third floor of the hotel that overlooked the pool. It was the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun without being right next to the pool.
The next morning we took advantage of the bikes that were available and enjoyed a leisurely ride along the boardwalk. The bikes have a 2 hour limit, but it was so great to just be able to go down to the lobby and check out the bikes. Less than 2 blocks from the hotel we were able to hop on the boardwalk and enjoy the beautiful weather and views of the beach.
After our ride we decided to check out The Continental and grab some breakfast. We decided to eat outside on the patio so that we could continue enjoying the weather. On Saturday’s they offer a buffet breakfast. Since we knew we’d be out and about for the rest of the day we figured it was the best bet. I’m not always a fan of breakfast buffets, but this one was great. In addition to all the breakfast choices (yogurt, fruit, pastries, cereal, oatmeal, eggs, breakfast meats, french toast, and more) the price also included unlimited orange juice and coffee.
In addition to all the property had to offer, I loved its proximity to South Beach shops and restaurants. It was great being able to walk to highly rated restaurants and bars, not having to worry about driving during a busy time of year. It was also close to Wynwood, a nearby arts district, that we visited on Saturday. After a LONG day of walking around, eating, and drinking, it was nice to be able to get back to our hotel so quickly. I really enjoyed our stay at The Gates Hotel South Beach and will definitely be back in the future.
*Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary stay at The Gates Hotel South Beach. As always, my thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
