Hotel Riu Plaza Miami Beach

Hotel Riu Plaza Miami Beach sits at 3101 Collins Avenue in Mid-Beach. It is an oceanfront high-rise with an outdoor pool and direct beach access. The hotel belongs to the RIU Hotels & Resorts group. Unlike RIU’s Caribbean resorts, this property does not offer all-inclusive. Its RIU hotel page lists room-only, bed-and-breakfast and half-board rates instead.

Rooms and Ocean Views

The hotel’s accommodations page describes three room types. Deluxe Ocean Front rooms have one king bed and a balcony or patio with sea views. Deluxe Ocean View rooms have two double beds. Their balconies or terraces face the sea at an angle. Deluxe City View rooms look toward the city instead of the water.

Ocean Front and Ocean View rooms measure 28 square metres. Both list satellite television and a coffee maker. The official photos show a work desk, an armchair, a wall-mounted television and a ceiling fan.

Every room includes free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a mini refrigerator and bath amenities. Wi-Fi covers two devices per guest. Plan around that limit if you travel with a laptop, a phone and a tablet. If the view matters, book an ocean category. Deluxe City View rooms look away from the beach.

The Pool Deck and the Beach

The outdoor pool is a curved, free-form design. Sun loungers ring its edge, and palms shade the deck. The hotel’s aerial photo shows the deck, a shaded terrace with blue sails and a wide sand beach just past the trees. At least one pool has handrails on its steps for easier entry.

The Greater Miami and the Beaches listing confirms beachfront access and a single pool. The hotel itself describes direct beachfront access to the Atlantic. The pool deck sits between the building and the sand, so loungers and the beach stay close together.

Food, Drinks and Meal Plans

The hotel runs a buffet restaurant called Florida. It also has a café, a lobby bar, a snack bar and a pool bar. The lobby bar and pool bar serve snacks and drinks through the day. Both offer take-out service. The hotel also lists grab-and-go options.

You choose a meal plan when you book. The RIU page lists room only, bed and breakfast, and half board. Breakfast comes with the bed-and-breakfast and half-board rates. The visitor bureau lists a breakfast buffet and a dinner buffet at a supplemental charge. Confirm what your rate includes before you arrive.

The hotel advertises live shows and music several days a week at no extra charge. Ask the front desk for the current schedule. The hotel does not charge extra for these shows, so they cost nothing beyond your room and meal rate.

Check-In, Parking and Practicalities

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM. Check-out is at 12:00 PM. Parking is paid valet with limited spaces. The hotel does not publish a self-parking option. The RIU page does not state the nightly fee, so ask before you drive in.

The hotel has a 24-hour gym. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. The hotel lists 13 adapted rooms, and at least some facilities are wheelchair accessible. The visitor bureau also lists a business center, concierge service, laundry service and baggage storage for cruise travellers.

The RIU page mentions that guide dogs are allowed. It publishes no general pet policy. It does not state a resort fee either, so check the total price at booking. Ask the hotel about both before you book.

Meetings, Weddings and Private Events

The hotel offers meeting and conference rooms with event planning support. The visitor bureau lists 958 square feet of meeting space. That space includes one meeting room and a foyer. The largest room measures 570 square feet. It holds about 60 people theater-style and 50 at a banquet.

The property site also markets the hotel for weddings and honeymoons. Couples can call 1-888-774-0040 to start planning. For other event questions, call the hotel at (305) 673-5333. That is a modest space, so it suits small gatherings better than large receptions.

What Kind of Hotel This Is

This is a large, beachfront hotel with a pool deck and a city-hotel format. It is not a boutique property. The visitor bureau lists 284 rooms. The value lies in the oceanfront position, the pool and the meal-plan choices. Guests who want design-led interiors should look at other places to stay in Miami Beach.

The visitor bureau lists some rooms with balconies and dedicated workspaces. It also lists mini-fridges, an emergency backup power generator and dry cleaning. The property site highlights a swimming pool and sun terrace, a poolside snack bar and a poolside restaurant. Compare rates on the RIU site and on booking platforms, and confirm which meal plan each rate includes.

Mid-Beach as a Location

Mid-Beach sits north of the Art Deco district. The visitor bureau places the hotel near the Convention Center, Lincoln Road and the Art Deco district. The airport is about 11.5 miles away. Many independent restaurants lie a short ride away, so plan a few meals out. The property site points guests to nearby Art Deco district restaurants and to nightclubs on Washington Avenue. It also lists windsurfing, kayaking, water skiing, golf and tennis as activities in the area. Browse Miami Beach restaurants before you go.

Who It Suits

The hotel suits families and groups who want a beachfront pool at a mid-range price. It suits travellers who like a flexible meal plan. It suits guests who do not mind valet-only parking. It suits less well anyone who needs self-parking or a design hotel. Anyone planning to walk to South Beach nightlife should also look elsewhere.