Miami poolcrasher’s guide 2024: How to take a dip without having to stay overnight
If late May’s staggeringly high temps are any indication of how hot summer is going to be, get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Fortunately, in the 305, we have many options for staying cool that don’t involve blasting the A/C while binging “Bridgerton” on your couch.
Miami-Dade County has a plethora of pools that are just waiting to be crashed for the day.
We scoped out a few good ones, where, after paying a flat rate, you can lie around for hours, dipping in at your leisure and getting sunscreen all over someone else’s towels, then bolt.
Make a day of it
ResortPass: This is one of the most dependable sites for booking a stay for just the day. Rates start at $30 a person at trendy hotels like the Kimpton Surfcomber, which is right in the middle of the action in Miami Beach. Guaranteed for the price: a lounge chair, beach access, outdoor showers and live entertainment.
Most of the time with ResortPass (and other similar booking websites), food and drinks are extra. But sometimes deals, collabs and promotions pop up. Right now at the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort in Sunny Isles, the so-called Malibu Vacation for two costs $185 and includes nine hours inside a private tiki hut, plus Malibu cocktails, snacks, water bottles and a swag bag.
Want to hang out somewhere you could never afford to sleep? More upscale properties are available, like the Eden Roc ($60), Ritz Carlton Bal Harbour ($85) and Four Seasons Brickell ($100). Again, budget in more for noshing, drinking, parking and tipping, which can really add up at Instagrammable hot spots such as these.
Info: www.resortpass.com
Daycation: This booking site is similar to ResortPass, but with less inventory and more promotions. We spotted a rate of just $20 at the perfectly respectable, funky Generator hostel in Miami Beach. Penny pincher alert: There’s street parking, so no need to valet. Read the reviews left by fellow daycationers to get the lay of the land (Generator passed the vibe check).
Feeling a little more flush? The SLS South Beach offers a pass to both the pool area and beach for $90. Thrown in the package is free WiFi, a phone charger and portable locker.
Info: daycationapp.com
Hotels By the Day: The hook is you rent rooms by the hour, then are granted access to all amenities at a fraction of an overnight stay. A quick scan reveals a few hip, off the beaten path places like Groot Hospitality’s Goodtime Hotel. A 10 a.m.-4 p.m. slot runs $109 for two, with a onetime $40 resort fee at check-in.
OK, so you’re not on the ocean, but the pool on the roof next to the famed clubstaurant Strawberry Moon, is no slouch. Need refueling after a swim? Hit your hip room for a shower, outfit change or a nap, with oh-so-key black-out shades.
Info: www.hotelsbytheday.com
Family fun
Know your audience. If the kids are in tow, Google to see if the destination of your choosing is on any “Top 10 Bars” list. In all seriousness, some hotels actually exist to cater to little people, so start there.
Tidal Cove Water Park at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa: Heat index in the triple digits? We got you. Once you make it through the Aventura gauntlet, five acres of soaking wet fun awaits. What’s not for a mini-me to love? Seven water slides, a surf simulator, lazy river, raft ride and the pièce de résistance for parents, an Olympic-size pool. On June 1, TC is celebrating its five-year anniversary in a big way, with games, a body boarding contest, giveaways, prizes, live DJs from Y-100 and more.
Info: Day passes from $55; 19999 W. Country Club Drive, Aventura; tidalcovemiami.com or 786-279-6152.
Venetian Pool: Hopefully, every local has splashed around at least once at this awesome aquatic attraction, which turned 100 last year. Leave the goggles at home, there’s barely any chlorine. The Gables landmark, replete with waterfalls, grottoes and caves, is fed by spring water from an aquifer and refilled daily.
Info/tickets: 2701 De Soto Blvd., Coral Gables. 305-460-5306, coralgables.com. Adults $22, kids $17. Coral Gables residents pay $6.75 (adults), $5.75 (kids). Closed Mondays.
Book a treatment
Spent too much time doom scrolling last night? Because a massage always makes everything better. Pro tip: Book a spa treatment at a hotel and many will allow you to use the facilities, too. The luxurious, often lauded Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, which actually houses two pools, is a good call.
The Spa at Baia Beach Club: This Boho chic beauty at the Mondrian South Beach hotel offers wellness treatments galore, as well as potent drinks, stunning views and a bougie crowd. Just please swap out the Target flip flops for some cute heels.
Eat and drink
You live in a subtropical climate; of course, there are restaurants that have on-site pools. Just make sure you do as mom said and wait 30 minutes after eating.
P.S. Bring your own towel because napkins don’t do the trick.
The Cascade: Tuck into shareable, light fare like conch fritters, pork carnitas and avocado flatbread at this outdoor oasis at the iconic Biltmore Hotel’s pool. The serene sound of the waterfall will dull the sound of your cellphone ringing. 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, 855-311-6903. www.biltmorehotel.com
The Broken Shaker at the Freehand: Great cocktails made by award-winning mixologists, live music and guilty pleasure noshes like wings, tacos and burgers. Need we say more? 2727 Indian Creek Drive; 786-476-7011, freehandhotels.com
Monty’s at the Miami Beach Marina: This dependable and (still) affordable hole in the wall is giving Key West without the drive. Located on the docks of the Miami Beach Marina, 300 Alton Road, Miami Beach, 305-672-1148, montyssobe.com. Free parking and dockage.
