Q. We're planning on going all out for our wedding weekend accommodations since we won't be able to honeymoon for a while. I always thought five star hotels were as good as it gets, but now I've read about hotels with six-star ratings. Should we look into those?
A. While five stars (or diamonds) is technically still the highest rating a hotel can get from Mobil and the AAA, a new breed of hotels have begun marketing themselves as worthy of six stars. While five star hotels may have above-and-beyond accommodations, most "six star" sites have the most luxurious appointments available, plus pampering services like 24-hour butlers on call. Luckily for you, right now the only buzzed-about "six star" hotel in the U.S. is close to home -- South Beach's Setai (2001 Collins Ave., 305-520-6000). Three pools, an art gallery, and private spa serve The Setai's 125 rooms, which feature rain showers, Irish bed linens, silk accents, private air transportation, in-room spa treatments, flatscreen TVs, and granite and teak floors. You can also unwind at the site's champagne and caviar bar. With studios starting at $900, you'll pay for the difference -- but if the up-market lifestyle is your thing, you'll notice it. That said, most four and five star hotels still offer just as much fabulousness, even if their sound system hasn't been upgraded quite as recently. High-scoring favorites The Loews Miami Beach Hotel (loewshotels.com), Mandarin Oriental (mandarinoriental.com), and The Four Seasons Hotel Miami (fourseasons.com) are all options that will ensconce you in luxury in the midst of bustling Miami.
|
