I feel like Miami Beach is one of those destinations where you can easily overpay for a mediocre hotel experience. There are a lot of properties on Collins Avenue that look great in photos but leave you feeling like you got nickel-and-dimed for a room the size of a closet.
So when I say that The Shelborne By Proper genuinely surprised me, I mean it.
The Shelborne is part of Marriott's Design Hotels collection, meaning it's fully bookable through Marriott Bonvoy, which is great news for those of us who like to put points to good use.
The property underwent a massive $100 million renovation, and it shows. This isn't one of those hotels where you can tell they slapped a fresh coat of paint on the walls and called it a day.
Everything here feels intentionally designed, thoughtfully finished, and genuinely new.
We stayed here over Christmas week with a group of four, and I walked away thinking this might be one of the best value redemptions I've made in a while. Let me get into the details.
We booked a two queen room, and thanks to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status, we were upgraded to a two queen with an ocean view.
I should note that the ocean view was partially obstructed by another wing of the building, so it wasn't a full, unobstructed panorama. That said, you could absolutely still see the ocean, and I appreciated the upgrade regardless.
Design Hotels properties within Marriott's portfolio aren't always the most generous when it comes to elite recognition, so this was a pleasant surprise.
The real standout here was the size of the room. I've stayed at plenty of Miami Beach hotels where you feel like you're sleeping in a beautifully decorated shoebox.
That was absolutely not the case here. The room was massive.
We had four people in the room, and it never once felt cramped. There was plenty of space to move around, ample closet space, and the layout just worked.
This was a very generous-sized room for what I was expecting in Miami Beach.
The design aesthetic was gorgeous. The Shelborne leans into a renovated Art Deco style, and the room reflected that beautifully.
There was travertine throughout the space, including travertine tile flooring that gave the room a warm, polished feel. It managed to feel modern without being sterile, which is a balance that a lot of hotels get wrong.
The bathroom featured a walk-in shower stocked with Aesop products. There was no bathtub, which I know some travelers prefer, but the shower was well-sized and had good water pressure.
Overall, I was really impressed with the room. It exceeded my expectations for what I thought we'd get at a Miami Beach hotel on a points redemption.
Let me talk about the property itself, because The Shelborne really does have a special feel to it.
The lobby is genuinely one of the most beautiful hotel lobbies I've seen in a while. It has this wonderful interplay of natural light, lush indoor greenery, and Art Deco design elements.
There's a bar off to the side of the lobby that adds to the atmosphere. The whole space just feels alive without being overwhelming.
The pool area was lovely. One thing I thought was a really nice touch: the hotel had individual single-serve packets of Goop sunscreen available for guests to grab. That's a thoughtful amenity you don't see at most hotels.
There were also plenty of pool attendants on hand who would set up your lounge chair with towels and cushions if you wanted a plush setup by the pool.
We personally spent most of our time at the beach rather than the pool, and the beach experience was equally well-managed. You just give them your room number, and they'll set up two chairs and towels for you right on the sand.
The Shelborne sits right on Collins Avenue in the prime stretch of Miami Beach, so the location is hard to beat. You're steps from the sand and within easy reach of restaurants and nightlife in both directions.
The Shelborne has a few food and beverage options worth mentioning.
The signature restaurant is Pauline, which is a seafood-forward spot with Latin Caribbean influences. We went to Pauline for drinks one evening, as we had a credit to use, and the ambiance was fantastic, and the bartenders were both very freindly.
The cocktails were well-crafted and the space felt upscale but not pretentious.
We also had breakfast at Pauline, and I have to say, it was genuinely excellent. We ordered the Shelborne breakfast and loved it.
I wasn't expecting the breakfast to be a highlight of the stay, but it really was. The quality of the food, the presentation, and the overall experience were all top-notch.
Then there's The Cafe, which is located near the front of the hotel and serves coffee and lighter fare. It's a nice spot to grab something quick in the morning before heading out.
The lobby bar, as I mentioned, was elegant and beautiful. It's a great spot for an evening drink, and the design of the space made it feel special.
Service throughout the property was solid. The staff were attentive and friendly, and the overall operation felt well-run.
Between the pool attendants, the beach setup, and the restaurant experiences, I came away feeling like the service matched the quality of the physical product.
We used two 85,000-point Marriott Bonvoy free night certificates to cover both nights of our stay. As many of you know, these certificates have a face value of 85,000 points but can be topped off with up to 15,000 additional points if the award rate exceeds the certificate value.
For one of our nights, we had to add 8,000 points on top. For the other, we added 10,000 points.
So in total, we used two free night certificates plus 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a two-night stay at a beachfront Miami Beach hotel over Christmas week. When you consider what cash rates look like at this property during peak season, that's an outstanding redemption.
This is exactly the kind of booking where free night certificates shine, and I'd argue it's one of the better ways to use them within the Marriott portfolio.
The Shelborne By Proper is a phenomenal hotel, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.
For a Miami Beach property, it checks all the boxes: a prime Collins Avenue location, a stunning design, generously sized rooms, a beautiful pool and beach, and genuinely good food and beverage options. The fact that it's bookable through Marriott Bonvoy and eligible for free night certificates makes it even more compelling.
Our Christmas week stay was well worth it. I should note that the weather wasn't especially cooperative during our visit, but that's not something I'd hold against the hotel.
The property itself was beautiful regardless of what was happening outside, and the overall experience was excellent from start to finish.
If you're looking for a Miami Beach hotel that you can book with Marriott Bonvoy points or free night certificates, and you want something that actually feels special, The Shelborne By Proper should be at the top of your list.
Absolutely would stay again.
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I feel like Miami Beach is one of those destinations where you can easily overpay for a mediocre hotel experience. There are a lot of properties on Collins Avenue that look great in photos but leave you feeling like you got nickel-and-dimed for a room the size of a closet.
So when I say that The Shelborne By Proper genuinely surprised me, I mean it.
The Shelborne is part of Marriott's Design Hotels collection, meaning it's fully bookable through Marriott Bonvoy, which is great news for those of us who like to put points to good use.
The property underwent a massive $100 million renovation, and it shows. This isn't one of those hotels where you can tell they slapped a fresh coat of paint on the walls and called it a day.
Everything here feels intentionally designed, thoughtfully finished, and genuinely new.
We stayed here over Christmas week with a group of four, and I walked away thinking this might be one of the best value redemptions I've made in a while. Let me get into the details.
We booked a two queen room, and thanks to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status, we were upgraded to a two queen with an ocean view.
I should note that the ocean view was partially obstructed by another wing of the building, so it wasn't a full, unobstructed panorama. That said, you could absolutely still see the ocean, and I appreciated the upgrade regardless.
Design Hotels properties within Marriott's portfolio aren't always the most generous when it comes to elite recognition, so this was a pleasant surprise.
The real standout here was the size of the room. I've stayed at plenty of Miami Beach hotels where you feel like you're sleeping in a beautifully decorated shoebox.
That was absolutely not the case here. The room was massive.
We had four people in the room, and it never once felt cramped. There was plenty of space to move around, ample closet space, and the layout just worked.
This was a very generous-sized room for what I was expecting in Miami Beach.
The design aesthetic was gorgeous. The Shelborne leans into a renovated Art Deco style, and the room reflected that beautifully.
There was travertine throughout the space, including travertine tile flooring that gave the room a warm, polished feel. It managed to feel modern without being sterile, which is a balance that a lot of hotels get wrong.
The bathroom featured a walk-in shower stocked with Aesop products. There was no bathtub, which I know some travelers prefer, but the shower was well-sized and had good water pressure.
Overall, I was really impressed with the room. It exceeded my expectations for what I thought we'd get at a Miami Beach hotel on a points redemption.
Let me talk about the property itself, because The Shelborne really does have a special feel to it.
The lobby is genuinely one of the most beautiful hotel lobbies I've seen in a while. It has this wonderful interplay of natural light, lush indoor greenery, and Art Deco design elements.
There's a bar off to the side of the lobby that adds to the atmosphere. The whole space just feels alive without being overwhelming.
The pool area was lovely. One thing I thought was a really nice touch: the hotel had individual single-serve packets of Goop sunscreen available for guests to grab. That's a thoughtful amenity you don't see at most hotels.
There were also plenty of pool attendants on hand who would set up your lounge chair with towels and cushions if you wanted a plush setup by the pool.
We personally spent most of our time at the beach rather than the pool, and the beach experience was equally well-managed. You just give them your room number, and they'll set up two chairs and towels for you right on the sand.
The Shelborne sits right on Collins Avenue in the prime stretch of Miami Beach, so the location is hard to beat. You're steps from the sand and within easy reach of restaurants and nightlife in both directions.
The Shelborne has a few food and beverage options worth mentioning.
The signature restaurant is Pauline, which is a seafood-forward spot with Latin Caribbean influences. We went to Pauline for drinks one evening, as we had a credit to use, and the ambiance was fantastic, and the bartenders were both very freindly.
The cocktails were well-crafted and the space felt upscale but not pretentious.
We also had breakfast at Pauline, and I have to say, it was genuinely excellent. We ordered the Shelborne breakfast and loved it.
I wasn't expecting the breakfast to be a highlight of the stay, but it really was. The quality of the food, the presentation, and the overall experience were all top-notch.
Then there's The Cafe, which is located near the front of the hotel and serves coffee and lighter fare. It's a nice spot to grab something quick in the morning before heading out.
The lobby bar, as I mentioned, was elegant and beautiful. It's a great spot for an evening drink, and the design of the space made it feel special.
Service throughout the property was solid. The staff were attentive and friendly, and the overall operation felt well-run.
Between the pool attendants, the beach setup, and the restaurant experiences, I came away feeling like the service matched the quality of the physical product.
We used two 85,000-point Marriott Bonvoy free night certificates to cover both nights of our stay. As many of you know, these certificates have a face value of 85,000 points but can be topped off with up to 15,000 additional points if the award rate exceeds the certificate value.
For one of our nights, we had to add 8,000 points on top. For the other, we added 10,000 points.
So in total, we used two free night certificates plus 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a two-night stay at a beachfront Miami Beach hotel over Christmas week. When you consider what cash rates look like at this property during peak season, that's an outstanding redemption.
This is exactly the kind of booking where free night certificates shine, and I'd argue it's one of the better ways to use them within the Marriott portfolio.
The Shelborne By Proper is a phenomenal hotel, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.
For a Miami Beach property, it checks all the boxes: a prime Collins Avenue location, a stunning design, generously sized rooms, a beautiful pool and beach, and genuinely good food and beverage options. The fact that it's bookable through Marriott Bonvoy and eligible for free night certificates makes it even more compelling.
Our Christmas week stay was well worth it. I should note that the weather wasn't especially cooperative during our visit, but that's not something I'd hold against the hotel.
The property itself was beautiful regardless of what was happening outside, and the overall experience was excellent from start to finish.
If you're looking for a Miami Beach hotel that you can book with Marriott Bonvoy points or free night certificates, and you want something that actually feels special, The Shelborne By Proper should be at the top of your list.
Absolutely would stay again.
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