Some hotels sell you a room. Acqualina sells you a feeling that you stepped into a Mediterranean villa that happens to sit on the Atlantic. I spent three nights here in October, walked the lobby, tested the beach and pools, and kept notes on every fee that showed up on the way. If you are weighing Acqualina Resort & Residences in Sunny Isles Beach against other South Florida splurges, here is what I would want to know before booking.
Address: 17875 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
Rooms: 98 guest rooms and suites (54 rooms and 44 suites), plus 188 residences
Setting: about 4.5 beachfront acres, with three oceanfront pools (one adults-only)
Honors: Forbes Five-Star for both hotel and spa, and AAA Five Diamond
Check-in / check-out: 4 pm / 12 pm
Valet parking: $55 per night in listings I found; resort fee listed at $73.45 per night
How Much Does Acqualina Cost?
This is a luxury resort, and the nightly rate is only the start. AAA’s listing showed rates starting from $1,290 a night, before taxes and fees. One price tracker notes that the cheapest times to book are generally September and October, which is when I went.
The extras add up, so here are the fees listed by booking sites for the property. Fees vary by source, so confirm the final numbers on your reservation.
| Item | Cost (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Room rate | From $579 to over $2,085+ per night | AAA listing; before taxes and fees; varies by date |
| Resort fee | $73.45 per night | Per accommodation; some booking pages list rates with no resort fee |
| Valet parking | $55 per night | In and out privileges; the property is valet only. One listing shows $45 |
| Full breakfast | $57.15 adult, $28.50 child | Daily, 7 am to 11 am |
| Pet fee | $100 per stay | One pet, up to 25 lbs; pets are not allowed on the beach |
| Rollaway bed | $75 per night | Subject to availability |
Here is the math for a three-night stay: the resort fee comes to $220.35 and valet parking to $165, so about $385 in fees before tax and before you eat or book anything.
Money tip:
Before you book, check whether your rate includes the resort fee and parking. A lower nightly price that adds both on arrival can end up costing more than a higher rate with them included.
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Where It Is and How to Get There
Acqualina sits on Collins Avenue in Sunny Isles Beach, a high-rise beach town between Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The resort says Bal Harbour’s luxury shops are about a 10-minute drive away, and Aventura Mall and Oleta River State Park are within about a 5-minute drive. Miami International Airport is the preferred airport, roughly a half-hour away.
Arrival and the Lobby
You pull in under white arches with hanging lanterns, and the resort’s logo is worked right into the ironwork. Inside, the lobby is all chandeliers, fluted columns and polished floors.
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The Suite: What My Room Looked Like
My suite had a proper living room, a dining nook with ocean views, and a bedroom with a king bed. The layout felt like a small apartment, which is exactly what you want on a longer stay. The bathroom has marble details and a jetted tub, and the robes and towels were fresh and plush.
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Beach and Pools
The beach is the main event. The resort has about 400 feet of private shoreline, and the property was built completely open to the ocean, with no barrier between the tower and the sand. Red umbrellas fill the beach, and there are cabanas for shade. Beach yoga and beach volleyball are available on site, and guests can use
Good to know:
The city of Sunny Isles Beach does not allow pets on the beach, so a pet-friendly room does not mean your dog can go to the sand with you.
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Where to Eat at Acqualina
The resort has four oceanfront restaurants: Il Mulino New York for Italian, Avra Miami for Greek and Mediterranean, Ke-uH for Japanese, and Costa Grill for casual dining on the beach. AQ Gelato & Coffee handles coffee and sweets. Il Mulino reopened in 2026 after a refresh. Full breakfast in the hotel runs $57.15 per adult, which is the kind of number worth planning around.
The Spa and Kids’ Program
Acqualina Spa covers about 20,000 square feet over two oceanfront floors, and USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards named it the best hotel spa in 2025. For families, the AcquaMarine children’s program is a marine biology-based activity program, and guests get complimentary access.
Tips to Save at Acqualina
- Go in September or October. Price trackers show the cheapest rates then.
- Ask what the resort fee covers and whether your rate already includes it.
- Budget for valet. It is valet only, at about $55 a night, so plan on it rather than hunting for a way around it.
- Think about breakfast. At $57.15 per adult, the in-house breakfast is a big line item, so price a few mornings elsewhere.
- Ask what is already covered. Beach chairs, towels, umbrellas, pools, beach yoga and volleyball are listed amenities, so ask which ones are included in your rate and fees.
- Compare booking sites. Get up to 40% Off Select Stays + an Extra 10% Off Over 100,000 Hotels with Member Prices at Expedia, then compare the final total with the hotel’s own rate, including fees.