I paid $860 for a night in the cheapest room at the Versace Mansion and felt like the hotel’s one-and-only guest

• I booked one night at the former Versace Mansion-turned-hotel in Miami’s South Beach neighborhood.
• I stayed in the Villa Casa Casuarina’s Aurora Suite for $864, the cheapest option when I booked.
• My posh suite and a gilded pool made me feel like I was an A-lister like Kim Kardashian.

I’m not typically one for fancy things, but my stay at the Versace Mansion brought out a posh side of me I didn’t know existed.

I spent one lavish night inside Gianni Versace’s former home, now the luxury boutique hotel Villa Casa Casuarina, in October 2021. I booked the least expensive room available for about $860.

I felt like a pampered VIP guest from check-in to check-out.

The hotel has a rich history as host to the elite.

The Spanish-style home, named Casa Casuarina when it was built in the 1930s, was a hot spot for the original owner’s bohemian friends, according to the hotel’s website.

Fashion designer Gianni Versace transformed the mansion in 1992, creating 12 suites to accommodate his family and friends, which included Princess Diana and Elton John, Vanity Fair reported.

Several years after Versace’s death, the mansion was transformed into a luxury hotel, and the Villa Casa Casuarina now caters to celebrities like the Kardashians.

The lobby was mostly empty when I walked in with my duffel bag.

The first thing you see when you walk past the front desk is the vast lobby and restaurant on the ground floor.

I noticed that restaurant guests weren’t able to explore the whole mansion — only the first floor. I didn’t see anyone else aside from staff on the higher floors.

I thought I’d feel intimidated in a hotel frequented by A-listers, but the staff made me feel welcome immediately.

I arrived five hours before check-in, hoping to drop off my bags, but my room was ready early. Someone took my luggage upstairs, and other staff members greeted me on the way. They were so attentive that I felt like I was the only person staying there.

I stayed in the Aurora Suite on the third floor.

Rather than a key card, I was given a golden key with a tiny replica of the hotel’s mission bell attached to a keychain. I had to show my key upon reentering the hotel to indicate I was a guest.

When I stepped inside, I was in awe of the size and decor of my room.

I was so grateful to have all this space to myself that I started jumping around in excitement, using my socks to slide gracefully across the wooden floors.

A four-poster king-size bed topped with swans was the centerpiece.

The bed was soft, but firm — the perfect combination, in my opinion. I knew I would get a good night’s sleep the moment I sat on it.

There was also a mounted TV on the wall facing the bed.

I don’t think I’d ever had a king bed to myself before this experience.

When fully stretched out, I felt like it went on forever as I drifted off to sleep later that night.

There were several golden throw pillows matching the room on the bed. Behind them were the most comfortable pillows I’ve ever rested my head on. Their cases felt crisp and cool on my face.

The suite had window seating with a view overlooking the pool and a glass table in front of it.

It was a great spot to do work or eat room service meals.

To the right of the sitting area was a closet with two thick, cozy robes and a door leading to the bathroom.

The weight of the robe made me feel like I was being cuddled as I walked around my suite.

The shower was my favorite part of the whole suite.

With decorative tiling, showerheads on either side, and an additional handheld showerhead, it was the most luxurious shower I’ve ever stepped into.

I couldn’t get enough of it. In less than 24 hours, I took three showers, and I still think of it while I’m waiting for the water to heat up in my New York apartment.

There were also luxury Italian soaps and lotions that left my skin feeling clean and soft.

The room also had a large mirror tall enough to see your whole outfit — including your shoes.

It seemed fitting for a former fashion designer’s home.

Looking up at the ceiling, it was wild to think this was once someone’s home.

Living among so much detailed artwork inspired me to consider making my own. I wonder if that’s how Versace felt.

After checking out my suite, I walked up and down the hotel’s stairs without running into a single person.

I felt like I was in an art museum with exclusive access to stunning tile patterns and dazzling stained-glass windows.

Around lunchtime, I headed downstairs and noticed Gianni’s, the hotel restaurant, was filling up with customers.

Restaurant patrons had a view of the glistening hotel pool but couldn’t swim in it. But I could.

As I walked past all the tables, I was awestruck to find the most beautiful pool waiting for me, and it was completely empty.

The Thousand Mosaic Pool is made up of thousands of 24k gold tiles.

Stepping into a pool that looked like a piece of art in front of so many people dining made me feel like the fanciest person on earth.

The pool was shaded, and the water felt cool. As I dipped underwater, I thought I could spend years swimming in this pool every day and still not notice every detail. It was mesmerizing.

After a dip, I headed up to the rooftop deck, which felt like my own private terrace.

Being on the roof reminded me how close I was to the ocean. The beach was right across the street, and I could smell the ocean and feel its breeze.

The rooftop also offered views of colorful South Beach. At night and with no one else around me, it felt like the whole mansion was just for me.

I didn’t just feel like a Kardashian up there — I felt like a Versace. To me, that regal feeling was priceless.

Above the deck, stairs led to an observatory.

The observatory was a calming, peaceful space that felt worlds apart from the famous South Beach party scene below.

Versace reconstructed the observatory when he moved in, adding a new copper dome, according to the company’s website.

That night I slept like a baby and woke up to a complimentary breakfast of bacon, buttery pastries, and orange juice.

Although I ate my breakfast in a T-shirt and basketball shorts, I still felt glamorous and was grateful for the chance to stay somewhere so special. Perhaps I am one for fancy things.

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