OverviewThis waterfront hotel is located right off Miami Beach, making this a good choice for those looking for a view or those who want easy access to the major tourist area.
Each room features individual climate control, an alarm clock, cable TV, a hair dryer, an iron and ironing board, a mini-fridge, a security box, free local calls and free Wi-Fi. Suites include a separate bedroom in addition to the standard room amenities. Some rooms feature a private terrace.
Parking is $30 per night. Pets are not permitted at this hotel. A $20 nightly resort fee is added to all room rates.
Other hotel features include an outdoor pool, a poolside bar (Kon Tiki Bar), an on-site lounge (Deauville Lounge), an on-site restaurant (Cafe De La Mer), a fitness centre, an on-site spa (Beach Body Spa) and meeting and event space.
Several restaurants are within a 16-minute walk or 4-minute drive of the property, including Cafe Prime Pasta, Tamarind Thai Restaurant and Varanda's Brasil Cafe. North Shore Park is also within walking distance, 12 minutes on foot. The Ancient Spanish Monastery is accessible by a 17-minute drive from the hotel. Shopping is available at Bal Harbour Shops, a 7-minute drive away. (All walking and driving estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with the hotel on June 11, 2013: parking fees, pet policy and free Wi-Fi.
The GoodOf the reviews consulted for this analysis, the majority were negative. However, guests still complimented the hotel's location and the lobby.
The location was the biggest draw for the hotel among reviewers. Several guests felt the location was the sole reason for booking there and liked that the property was beachfront and close to amenities.
The lobby, according to some guests, was well maintained and beautiful. They also felt the lobby was clean and pristine.
The Bad
As mentioned above, the vast majority of reviews sourced for this analysis were negative. Guests were not impressed with the rooms, the prices or the staff.
The rooms, according to several guests, were outdated and worn. Some guests claimed the rooms were smaller than expected, while others felt serious upgrades were in order.
Several guests felt the room rates were too pricey, in part due to the age and condition of the rooms. The lack of amenities, the resort fees ($20 daily) and the parking rates ($30 a night) were all contributing factors to the perceived lack of value to reviewers.
The staff received poor reviews from some guests. They claimed the staff were rude, unhelpful and had language barriers, which became a source of frustration for those guests.
TripAdvisor.com ranked this hotel #137 out of 199 hotels in Miami Beach with an average rating of 3 out of 5 and a recommendation rate of 41% based on 1,488 reviews.
Expedia.ca rated this property 2.8 out of 5 with a 57% recommendation rate based on 1,557 reviews.
On June 11, 2013 the author called the hotel to verify some information.
