We just returned from a week at HGVC in South Beach. We had a really great time and plan to return. The neighborhood is great fun with lots of bars and restaurants within a short walk. Upscale Collins Avenue shopping is an easy walk as is Lincoln Road Mall (which is really a pedestrian promenade with lots of shops and restaurants. The facility just a few feet from the beach which is beautiful. Our unit had an ocean view from all three rooms. The carpet was a little soiled but all units are currently being redecorated. Staff was very nice and very helpful. Units have also have complementary WiFi access if you want to bring a laptop and keep up with your email. I loved the Art-Deco district and HGVC fits right in. I also love the porch where we had late night cocktails and watched the crowds go by. We are HGVC members, but this facility is quite different from other more modern HGVC facilities because of the art-deco theme. We loved it!

The whole Hilton Grand Vacation Club is a giant rip-off. You can never find a resort available. High pressure sales. Screwed me,

Dean Bishop
deanbishop@comcast.net

Excellent location, very good hotel.
One minor point: I had a room right next to the washingmachine and dryer for the hotelguests.
A lot of hotelguests like to wash (late) in the evening and I could hear the noise of the machines in my room.

My wife and I, young seniors went there at end of April when weather was clear, sunny and 85-87 degrees.

The name Hilton is a misnomer so forget that aspect. It is two hotels within two paces of each other, both equally clean and attractive, being low rise and pastel painted. Access controlled, light and airy.

There is shade and soft settees and loungers at the front to view the passing night life or day pedestrians when desired. Hotel porter in position at front for service and security.

Miami Beach is in fact Ocean Drive, much hyped but deserving of its reputation as a clean, safe, vibrant and exciting stretch of road bordering the beach and sea which is kept immaculately clean and swept. You can hire umbrellas and loungers by the day and the sea is fantastic, forget about sharks and concentrate on the bikinis and thongs, male and female. Sharks is a joke folks! Unless you class the time share sellers amongst them.

On that subject there is a greensward separating Ocean Drive from the beach and all the best benches have been booked by the ‘upper class vagrants/ panhandlers’ seen there. They were not a problem and appeared to be having a great time.

Behind Ocean Drive is Collins Avenue and Washington, home to small stores and excellent restaurants when fleeing the usual sea front cafes/restaurants which are good value initially.

The area is very, very safe. As an ex-cop spoke to Miami cops who police from fixed positions in area and patrol in cars and on cycles. Usual problems with drunks and drugs at night but we felt very safe in day and walking back in area at night. The drunks were funny and friendly, (that was us)

The hotel rooms are very large, clean and airy, two TVs, fridges, kitchen, sofas and all we wanted was a bed, loo and bathroom but that is the USA folks.

Staff very helpful, beach towels for use. It’s a place to stay for no more than two days before going elsewhere. Once you tire of the beach there is little else to do unless you want to brave the ‘Downtown traffic’ – not a good idea!

We hired a car from Avis in Collins Avenue to go to the Keys. Driving easy on freeways and expressways but once you leave them, that’s when the fun starts.

We returned to the hotel two weeks later prior to flying home and made the mistake of not checking room first. It was situated on 4th top floor under air conditioning unit but at least it broke us in to sleeping within sound of jet engines – well not that bad.

Return again, yes, it was good value for money, service with a smile and a fantastic introduction to Florida – well done the staff.