Courtyard Cadillac Marriott Getaway, Miami Beach

I believe in the power of The Getaway: the power to restore, revive and re-awaken the senses and open the mind to new experiences. It does not have to be a faraway place or some hidden sanctuary, just somewhere different where you can sleep in a bed other than your own and eat food prepared in another kitchen.

This time we stayed at the Courtyard Cadillac Marriott in Miami Beach. Yes, we were back to South Beach, a place that is especially enchanting for us.

The Courtyard Cadillac Marriott was built in the 1940’s and has recently undergone renovations.

The first pleasant surprise we received was upon check-in. I casually asked if an upgrade was available and they said yes: we were switched from a room with a king bed facing the city to a room with 2 beds facing the pool, with a balcony. Sweet.

We loved the room, which was very spacious and beautifully decorated. The balcony was really quite a bonus, my chickens spent most of the time there, chatting and laughing.

We were ravenous and went downstairs to have dinner. The restaurant happened to be Carrabba’s, part of an Italian restaurant chain. The service was above par and the food was good but not very pretty.

An after-dinner walk on the beach proved to be delightful, one of the best parts of staying in a hotel where the beach is their backyard.

We had a hearty breakfast the next day. With our bellies full, we took one last walk on the beach to bid farewell to a wonderful stay at this lovely hotel.