The Sunny Miami Sunny Isles Beach, Curio Collection by Hilton

Rooms and decor

Picture a beachfront resort sitting right on the Atlantic in Sunny Isles Beach, the suburban oceanfront strip north of Miami Beach where the mood is calm, safe, and easygoing in the way only a real family resort manages. That's The Sunny Miami — the name plenty of guests still know as Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort — a resort that has held its spot on this beach long enough to become a familiar local landmark. Step into the lobby and you pick up that classic seaside feel: not flashy, just warm and comfortable. Rooms are done in soft, simple tones, and many open onto long views of the deep-blue sea, while the city-facing ones look out over the high-rise skyline of Sunny Isles. Beds are comfy and rooms run wide enough for a family to spread out their bags and give the kids a little space to move. Wake up, pull the curtains, and you get warm light and the soft sound of waves from the balcony. The overall feel is relaxed and kid-friendly from the first step — a comfortable beachfront base that doesn't cost a fortune.

Food and amenities

If one thing makes families choose this place, it's the big 20,000-square-foot outdoor pool deck that becomes the kids' water playground all day. The deck has a main pool that older children and adults can enjoy, and — the part parents of little ones love most — a separate kids' pool with shallower water so children can splash safely. The space around the pool is roomy enough to watch them up close. Just beyond, down by the sand, there's a playground for climbing and running once they're out of the water, backed by a full set of kid-friendly touches: cribs, a children's menu, and activities running through the day. Another charm you won't easily find elsewhere is the old wooden fishing pier reaching out into the sea right next to the resort, where a family can stroll, fish, or stand at the far end soaking up the ocean breeze. Out front is the resort's private beach with a range of beach sports, and the on-site restaurant serves both grown-up and kids' menus so you don't have to head out for a meal. Add it up and it's a resort packed with things for kids, at a price families can reach.

Location and getting there

The location is another reason families pick The Sunny Miami. It sits on Collins Avenue in Sunny Isles Beach, right on the sand a few steps from the water. The area lies north of Miami Beach and carries a calm, safe, suburban oceanfront character — a world apart from the buzz of South Beach — which makes it easy to bring the kids without worry. There are restaurants and convenience stores within walking distance, and crucially it's close to Aventura Mall, one of Florida's largest malls, as well as the upscale Bal Harbour Shops, both a short drive away — handy backups for a rainy day or a break from the sun. If you want a taste of Miami's color, it's about a 25–30 minute drive down to South Beach and the Art Deco buildings. There's no metro line, so most trips rely on a private car, taxi, or ride-hailing. The short version: if you want a family trip where you wake up and stroll straight onto a quiet beach, then still drive out to other parts of Miami easily, this location works and the value is strong.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, understand this is an older resort that has been on this beach a long time, so some rooms, the lobby, and parts of the facilities look dated and aren't as new or plush as the upscale neighbors in the same area. Some reviews note that several spots could stand a modern update. If you're expecting the spotless, full-on polish of a five-star resort, this isn't it — but on value for the price, many families feel it's an easy yes. Second is the distance from the main entertainment districts: the appeal of Sunny Isles is the quiet, but that comes with a 25–30 minute drive to South Beach or the Art Deco area, which you can't reach on foot from the hotel. Anyone who wants to step out and walk into a lively district right away, or who'd rather not drive or hail rides often, may find it less convenient than a hotel in the heart of South Beach. Third, a point reviews raise often, is the extra charges: like most Miami beach resorts, this one has a daily resort fee plus parking, which together can push the final bill above the room rate you first saw — check the resort fee details when you book and budget for it. And because it's a popular, well-priced family resort, the pool and beach can get crowded during high season, holidays, and long US weekends, with loungers filling up early. If you're after total quiet, avoid the peak or get to the pool early.

Our take

After our team read through plenty of real family reviews, The Sunny Miami (Newport Beachside) is a resort that sells value and kid-friendliness in a likable way. If the trip in your head is the kids splashing all day in the big pool deck and kids' pool, climbing the beachside playground, an evening stroll on the old wooden pier watching the waves and the sun, then heading back to a comfortable ocean-view room without paying as much as the luxury resorts next door, this is a value pick that fits families doing Miami on a budget. But if the heart of the trip is modern, full-on luxury, or walking a lively South Beach every day without relying on a car, the older-resort feel and the location further north may give you pause. Overall we give it 7.9/10, best for families bringing kids who want an affordable beachfront resort loaded with pool time and activities, in a quiet, safe suburban-oceanfront setting.