Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables

From Jeryl Brunner

The famed 700,000-gallon, 23,000 square-foot pool has the impressive title of being the largest hotel pool in the continental United States. In fact, Johnny Weissmuller of the Tarzan films was a swimming teacher there. But when it's cold, it's not very functional; it's too costly to heat. For guests aching to swim, that's the only option (there's no indoor pool and the beach is 25 minutes away.)

Also, although this writer visited during a very busy weekend, there was usually only one person at reception. That meant having to wait to ask simple questions. And for a hotel as grand as the Biltmore, the small, plain bathroom in our guest room didn't match the rest of the property.

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