Every January, my husband plans a long weekend in Miami Beach.
I know: huh? But he’s convinced me that it’s the easiest way to feel like you’re in another country. And even if it’s not 85 and sunny every time we come, it’s ALWAYS warmer than DC. Especially this year.
We stay in a different hotel each time, usually a big fat one that will take our AmEx points. But this time, John booked us into a smaller hotel, claiming he was looking for a “more authentic Art Deco experience.”
I was skeptical.
However, the Richmond Hotel – a self-proclaimed “art deco masterpiece” – has not disappointed.
The rooms are teeny by today’s standards, and very few rooms have a view – it’s a long skinny hotel with the short ends facing Collins Ave and the beach, and the longer sides face other hotels. But everything is clean and fresh, and there’s no denying that this is more Jay Gatsby-goes-south than the larger chain hotels.
The Deco is in the details: the nautical/ocean liner theme…
…the terrazzo floors, the elevator buttons…
The back garden is equally charming. The pool is small, but it feels intimate, not skimpy.
And there’s a delightful serpentine water trough and coral path to the beach.
Speaking of the beach, I think I’ll head there now. I probably won’t swim, but I only have a few pages left in my Michael Connelly book, and I AM on vacation…
