Miami Beach deal: Dive into free night at hotel where Esther Williams swam

Hollywood water queen Esther Williams swam here, and you can too. The vintage Art Deco pool is reason enough to visit the Raleigh Hotel in the trendy South Beach hood of Miami Beach. But if you need an added incentive, the Raleigh is offering a third night free.

The deal: The ornate 1940s-era pool at the hotel, which is marking its 70th year, is where Williams filmed some of her most famous sequences. With the One Night on Us package, you pay for two nights in an ocean-facing room and get the third free.

When: Good for stays through Dec. 23, subject to availability.

Tested: I checked the hotel’s website and found a number of dates and room types available with the third-night free offer. For example, an ocean-front room with one king- or queen-sized bed from Dec. 12 to 15 started at the discounted rate of $243 plus tax per night (the breakdown: two nights at the best available rate of $365 plus tax and zero for the third night).

I couldn’t find a room at the $229 starting rate listed for the offer on the website, so I called to find out why. The hotel reservation agent told me that rooms at that rate sold out quickly. No matter; the price I found still represents a significant savings.

Tip: Expect sophistication, not over-the-top luxury, Travel + Leisure says. The hotel has plenty of old-school Florida charm, but rooms are small (the one I reserved was 250 square feet) and decorated in period furnishings.

Still, the pool awaits — and don’t go alone. How else to practice those synchronized swimming drills?

Contact: Raleigh Hotel, (305) 534-6300