Just 10 years after the construction of the 790-room oceanfront giant, Loews Miami Beach Hotel asked the question: Why be just the biggest when you can also be the best?

Cue a US$50-million renovation that was completed in November. Guests are now cocooned in a world of water-walls, lobby-spanning aquariums and quality cuisine.

Kid-Friendly Space

The new digs give high-tech youth a good reason to stay on the property: a Teen Cabana with rocking Guitar Hero contests, Nintendo Wii on projector screens and a kids-only bar serving sugary mocktails.

On-site Dining

Three upscale restaurants (plus an ice cream shop) ensure there’s no reason for older visitors to leave either. Master Sushi Chef “Fuji” Fujita, who occasionally teaches classes on sushi during the Saturday SushiSkool, created Sushi SoBe onsite. Nearby, the smell of the grill at Emeril’s Miami Beach lures sandy-footed sun-worshippers.

Room Features

Guests can stumble upstairs to their iHome docking stations, 32-inch high-def plasmas and cloud-like Frette duvets. The next morning, allow the Pool Concierge to recommend a lounge chair as you fetch your chilled towels and linger in the Evian-filled misters, revelling in the pitch-perfect riff on a Miami Beach cliché.

The Best Deal

Score an extra 100-sq.-ft. suite by asking for a Rotunda Room. These oval rooms feature additional seating areas and fancy bath products for about the same price as a standard room.

Room rates start at $400.