OverviewThis waterfront property offers direct access to the beach and is situated among other hotels, bars and restaurants. This hotel is well suited for guests who prefer a property with on-site business facilities, a pool and and a restaurant.
This property is 100% smoke free and all 186 rooms include free Wi-Fi, a TV with pay-per-view movies, a coffeemaker, a mini-fridge, a desk and air conditioning. Rooms are furnished with two double beds, one queen bed or one king bed. Suites also include a microwave and a sofabed and are furnished with either one king bed or two double beds. Some rooms have a balcony and/or views of the ocean.
There are 14 rooms available for the physically challenged and elevator access is available to all floors.
Underground parking is available on site for an additional fee of $26 per night and there are a limited number of spaces (32). There is a public parking facility about a 3-minute walk away (two blocks north). Pets are not permitted.
A full hot breakfast or a continental breakfast is available for an additional fee of $13 per person. The on-site Aqua Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and room service. There are multiple on-site bars, including one at the pool.
Other on-site amenities include a seasonal, heated outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness centre, a business centre, meeting and banquet facilities, ice/vending machines on every floor, a convenience store, laundromat and dry cleaning services. Jet ski rentals are available on the beach.
Access to the I-195 is about 3 minutes away by car, while the Miami Beach Golf Club is a 5-minute drive away. The Miami Beach Convention Centre, Jackie Gleason Theatre, Bass Museum of Art and the Miami Beach Botanical Garden are all about 6 minutes away by car. The Art Deco District, including the South Beach Night Club, is a 9-minute drive away.
Virginia Key, which features a Mountain Bike Park, the Miami Seaquarium and the Rosential School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, is 20 minutes away by car. The Miami International Airport (MIA) is also about a 20-minute drive away. (All driving time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified by a front desk agent on May 10, 2013: Underground parking fee of $26 per night. A hot breakfast and continental breakfast are available for an additional fee of $13 per person.
The GoodComments about this hotel were somewhat mixed, among the reviews used for this analysis. However, there were several aspects of this property that received praise from guests.
The direct access to the beach from this hotel was a highlight for many guests. Several reviewers also appreciated that the hotel's location provided easy access to the I-195 and the Miami International Airport (MIA).
Many guests described their rooms as clean. Several reviewers mentioned that they had spectacular ocean views from their rooms, while a couple of other guests found their rooms generally comfortable. A couple of reviewers specifically mentioned that their beds were comfortable. However, there were a few negative comments about rooms (see below).
The staff were frequently complimented for their attentive and helpful service. One reviewer mentioned that she was greeted by staff throughout the hotel during her stay. However, a couple of guests disagreed about staff (see below).
A couple of guests thought that the room rates were reasonable, while a couple of other reviewers praised the food at the on-site restaurant and poolside bar.
The Bad
As mentioned above, opinions on this property were somewhat mixed, among the reviews sourced for this editorial.
Many guests thought that this hotel appeared old, rundown and in need of upgrades and renovations. A couple of guests noted dirty carpeting, while several other reviewers mentioned an unpleasant smell in their rooms. One guest thought that the smell was a carpet deodorizer, while another reviewer said that the smell reminded him of bug spray.
A few guests were disturbed by noise from neighbouring rooms and a couple of reviewers specifically mentioned that they could hear other guests' conversations.
A few reviewers complained about additional charges for using an in-room safe ($2) and for on-site parking ($26 per day). A couple of guests complained that there were limited on-site parking spaces and that they resorted to parking in a public parking facility (about a 3-minute walk from the hotel).
A few guests found the on-site pool to be small and while many guests complimented the staff, a couple of guests thought that the staff were not friendly.
Expedia.com gave this hotel an average score of 3.2 out of 5, with 68% of 511 guests recommending the property.
TripAdvisor.com ranked this hotel #126 out of 198 hotels in Miami Beach, with an average score of 3 out of 5, from 585 reviews.
The author called the hotel on May 10, 2013 to verify some information.
