Traveling together sounds wonderful until everyone starts deciding where to sleep. A Miami vacation with grandparents, adult children, young children or two families can quickly turn into a puzzle of adjoining hotel rooms, pullout sofas and people waiting for the same bathroom.
There is another option. Booking two private vacation residences in the same building can give a larger group something that is surprisingly difficult to find: togetherness and privacy at the same time.
You do not have to choose between space and location
Large vacation homes often provide plenty of bedrooms but may put you farther away from the places you actually came to Miami to enjoy. Multiple hotel rooms solve the location problem but can leave the family scattered.
Two condominiums in the same building create a middle ground. Your group stays together at one address but has separate bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and living areas.
Who benefits most from this setup
Multigenerational families. Grandparents can stay close to children and grandchildren without sharing every part of the same residence. Everyone can meet for breakfast, head to the pool together or go out for dinner while maintaining a separate private space when desired.
Two families traveling together. Children can spend time together while each family retains its own kitchen, bathrooms and sleeping arrangements. No negotiating over who gets the primary bedroom.
Parents traveling with adult children. Everyone gets considerably more independence than they would sharing a large hotel suite.
Wedding and celebration travel. When several members of a family are coming to Miami for a wedding, bar or bat mitzvah, holiday or other celebration, staying in the same building makes coordinating plans much easier.
Jewish families visiting for Shabbat or holidays. For observant families, proximity to one another can become even more important over Shabbat. Two residences in the same building allow a larger family to stay close while remaining near synagogues, minyanim and kosher dining.
What you actually gain by booking two condos
Start with the obvious: more space. But the real value is how that space is divided. Instead of four hotel rooms, a group can have:
- Two full kitchens
- Two living rooms
- Two private balconies
- Four bedrooms
- Four bathrooms
- Laundry in each residence
- Separate spaces for children and adults
- Greater privacy between generations
- A place to gather that is not a hotel lobby
For week-long or extended stays, these differences can completely change the experience.
Two kitchens are more useful than you think
You may not come to Miami intending to cook every meal. But having a kitchen becomes extremely valuable when traveling with children, keeping specific dietary requirements, preparing breakfast before everyone leaves for the day or simply having somewhere to store drinks and snacks. With two kitchens, larger families gain even more flexibility.
The morning bathroom test
One of the easiest ways to understand the advantage is to imagine eight or ten people getting ready at the same time. Four bathrooms across two residences is very different from everyone squeezing into one hotel suite.
The same is true at bedtime. Young children can go to sleep in one residence while adults continue talking or watching television in the other.
What about remote work
Longer family vacations increasingly include at least one person who needs to work. At Miami Waterfront Retreats, Unit 803 includes a dedicated workspace with fast Wi-Fi, while Unit 405 provides a portable desk that can be set up when needed. That allows one person to take a call or work while other family members use the second residence.
A waterfront option near Bal Harbour and Surfside
At Miami Waterfront Retreats, Unit 405 and Unit 803 are located within the same boutique waterfront building at O Residence in Bay Harbor Islands. Each residence accommodates up to five guests. When both are available, families and groups can reserve the two condos together for accommodations of up to 10 guests.
Unit 405 offers the closer-to-the-water experience, with yachts passing directly in front of its larger balcony. Unit 803 sits higher in the building with elevated ocean, bay and Bal Harbour skyline views, a dedicated workspace and two parking spaces. Together, guests have access to the same waterfront pools and spas, fitness center, sauna, dock, kayaks, paddleboards and BBQ area.
The location also matters
Bay Harbor Islands gives families a quieter waterfront base while remaining close to Bal Harbour, Surfside and the beach. That means different generations can find something they enjoy nearby, from beaches and boating to restaurants and luxury shopping. Jewish families also benefit from nearby synagogues, minyanim, kosher restaurants, markets and other community resources, set out in our Shabbat and Jewish travel guide.
Is it more expensive than hotel rooms
Not necessarily. The right comparison is not one condo versus one hotel room. For a group of eight or ten people, the real comparison may be two full residences versus three, four or five hotel rooms. The final cost will depend on travel dates and the hotels being considered, but families should compare the entire stay, not simply the nightly rate of one room. Also consider the value of kitchens, laundry, private living areas, balconies and parking.
The best question to ask before booking
Instead of asking how many beds you can fit everyone into, ask how comfortably everyone can actually live together for the duration of the trip. Those are very different questions. A vacation should still feel like a vacation after the first night.
Planning a Miami trip for up to 10 guests
Miami Waterfront Retreats offers two luxury, legally permitted short-term vacation residences in the same Bay Harbor Islands building. Reserve Unit 405, Unit 803 or, when both are available, book the two residences together for your family or group. You can stay together without having to live on top of one another.
