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Relaxed romance at Grove Isle

Grove Isle Resort & Spa 's lobby. (handout)

BY JASON GEORGE | Chicago Tribune

7:42 PM EDT, October 26, 2007

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The restaurant, tennis courts and spa are so impressive at the Grove Isle that it would be easy to fill this column without a single mention of the hotel that anchors them all -- which would be a big mistake.

That's because the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa provides one of Miami's most original and enjoyable boutique stays by excelling in the holy trinity of hospitality: service, style and space. It fills its 20 island acres with a relaxed and romantic vibe that feels both chic and old Miami, and the Grove Isle succeeds in becoming an oasis, even though a bustling shopping and night life district sits just 2 miles away.

Checking in/Attitude: As you cross the short bridge to reach the island the Grove Isle shares with a small residential community, the security staff greets you and hands over a parking decal, which allows you to come and go during your stay. They also surreptitiously send your information and description ahead to the hotel, so by the time you drive the 300 yards or so to the reception area, employees greet you by name -- check-in basically ends before it begins.
Rooms: The 49-room hotel has nine suites, and all rooms boast balconies with Biscayne Bay views. We paid $247 plus a $24.70 mandatory nightly resort fee (more on this below) for Room 201, which, like all the other rooms, features pillow-top mattresses, canopy beds, Wi-Fi , bathrobes, hair dryer, cordless telephone and a flat-screen television. Terra-cotta floors and original artwork transform the spaces into retreats.

Bathroom: Call it the International House of Lavatories: Italian marble, French-style bidets and the only-in-America touch of a second television mounted above the toilet. Bravo internationalism.
Kid friendly: We saw kids at the pool, but not at the tennis courts, the spa or BALEENmiami, the hotel's award-winning and obnoxiously spelled restaurant.
Room service: The entire restaurant menu is available in the room.
Perks & peeves: Two of each, starting with the peeves: First, the hotel claims that while it charges a $24 fee for 24-hour valet parking -- there is no other parking -- and requires a daily resort fee of 10 percent of your room rate, gratuities are included in the stay. However, the staff was quite willing to accept tips, which makes a stay unnecessarily awkward and expensive. In my opinion, Grove Isle should drop or reduce the fees and trust the free market, or keep the charges and instruct employees to refuse tips.
Second, not once, but twice, during our stay we were charged for food we didn't order. Eric Gavin, the property's marketing director, blamed new staff and a guest who "mistakenly" wrote down the wrong room number, twice. Sad to say, but check your bill when checking out.
Two noteworthy perks are the fitness opportunities for those who want to exercise, and the spa for those who want nothing of the sort.
The hotel's Patrick McEnroe Tennis Center features 12 outdoor courts, 11 Har-Tru clay and one U.S. Open-style hard court. With views of the marina and cool sea breezes, the tennis is hard to beat, and makes the resort fee seem a steal. Indoors, the fitness center offers numerous workout options, for everything from elliptical bikes to a yoga deck with water views.
Another appealing activity is SpaTerre, the hotel's spa, where South Asian design meets South Beach treatments like the Key Lime Margarita Pedicure.
Bottom line: Prices vary greatly, depending on if you book a room or a package that includes dining and spa treatments, but a double occupancy room by itself currently runs from $223 to $343 a night, plus a 13 percent room tax.
The hotel features ramps and an elevator, and two rooms have been customized with roll-in showers and other modifications for those with disabilities.

GROVE ISLE HOTEL & SPA, Four Grove Isle Dr., Coconut Grove, Fla.; 800-884-7683; groveisle.com