Miami is more expensive hotel city than New York

Bloomberg World Hotel Index from May 2014 found Miami ranked #5 in the world for priciest hotels with an average room rate at $245 per night, making Miami a more expensive hotel city than New York which ranked #10 at $233 per night hotel rate average.

The methodology collected room rate data in early May 2014 for all hotels in a city and averaged rates for two periods in August 1-10, 2014 and February 1-10, 2015.

1. Geneva, Switzerland $308

2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates $273

3. Kuwait City, Kuwait $253

4. Zurich, Switzerland $250

5. Miami, United States $245

6. Hong Kong, China $242

7. Edinburgh, Scotland $241

8. London, United Kingdom $235

8. Singapore, Singapore $235

10. New York, United States $233

St. Regis Bal Harbour

Miami is more expensive hotel city than New York is what I experienced in 2012 after staying in New York and Miami Starwood Hotels. The most expensive hotel room I ever stayed was St Regis Bal Harbour, the town north of Miami Beach, during the last week of December 2012. The room rate for the basic room was $1,200 after tax. SPG American Express picked up the tab as part of a sponsorship of a few bloggers called SPG Amex Stars.

I stayed at three St. Regis luxury hotels in December 2012 with SPG Amex picking up the tab. I wrote on Loyalty Traveler in my reviews that the experience convinced me I do not particularly like luxury hotels. I was not asked to participate in the SPG Amex Stars program again for 2013. Mommy Points filled my slot. That was a good exchange of bloggers for SPG Amex. I was not a good fit for the program. Obviously, the PR company had not checked out my blog before inviting me or they would have known that I am not a promoter of credit cards.

Was a beach view room at St. Regis Bal Harbour on Collins Avenue nice?

Sure.

Would I ever pay $1,200 per night to stay there again?

Certainly not. I would not even consider spending 30,000 points per night either. That kind of resort is not my scene or where I want to be seen.

So who stays at these kinds of places?

I saw CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in shorts walking along the beach outside the St. Regis. That is an image I am still trying to forget.

Loyalty Traveler posts:

Where and What is Bal Harbour, Florida?

St. Regis Bal Harbour – The Hotel and Beach

St. Regis Bal Harbour – The Room