Howard Jonhson Plaza Hotel Dezerland Beach And Spa, Surfside

Taking Bad business practices to just plain stupid, Local Russian Bath House "Nirvana Spa" Chasing away loyal local clients in the down season... The price of the average Gym/Spa membership monthly in Miami Beach is 50.00, LESS then it would cost to visit Nirvana Spa two times in a month, at $30 a visit. Yet some long time spa clients visit Nirvana once a week or more! Leading to a "off the books' hierarchy of guests whom receive various discounted rates ranging from $10 to $20 a visit. This Discount has always extended to guest brought in by a Loyal Client, especially if Client is paying for the guests. This has encouraged Loyal "Discounted Clients" to invite guest and bring new clients to Nirvana Spa. This also is a win/won for Nirvana because by paying for additional guest, the discounted member is still spending an average of $30 per visit! As of recent; however, Nirvana spa has began charging there loyal clients Full Price for any guest brought for a visit, and not telling them until leaving the spa and it is time to pay!! I complained about this and was told, by an employee "Well, times are tough around here..." Given the current financial climate, and the fact that it is "Slow season" in Miami Beach, dosn't it make more sense to offer Loyal clients further seasonal discounts, and incentives to bring new clients to a Business? In a time where People are spending less, and Gyms and Spas are lowering their prices accordingly, and offering NEW GUEST free Weeks, or in some cases FREE MONTHS, Is it wise to chase loyal local clients away? At one time when "The Castle" was closed, and before the Standard spa, and SPA at Canyon Ranch, residents of Miami Beach had no choice but pay the High Rates of Nirvana Spa; however, now with several other Bath Houses on Miami Beach, and with High End Gyms equipped with Steam and Sauna.... Nirvana Spa starts too look a little "less kept" and "Not-so-Clean" and more DIRTY and UN-Friendly to Locals.

I made a reservation for my brother who went from Peru to Miami first days of August 08. He stayed in the Hotward Johnson of Collins Ave. for 9 nights. One day He left his kangaroo (the thing you put in around your waist with pockets) in his room, then he went to the beach across to the hotel. For his surprise when he went back, his kangaroo, along with cash, passport, driver license which was inside was missing. He complained to the guys in the reception, but they told him that they don't take responsabilty for missing Items (hotels policy), at the time another lady was complaining about a digital camera missing from her room. That's horrible, they ruin my brother's vacation, he was sad for some days. You feel fustrate with people that don't offer an apology at least. I talked with Howard Johnson Customer Care and they were rude, they hung me up. Jason Libby Manager of this location doesn't give me any explanation neither. Saty Away from this Hotel, they don't punish or at least call the attention of the Housekeeping workers, which I think are the responsables. Staying in this Hotel for my brother was like a nightmare, sad he was planning this trip so much for a happy time with his babies and wife.

Customer service does not exist at this hotel. What was promised to us when we booked the room and what they gave us were totally different. The staff were rude, their practices were shady and the service was unacceptable. They charged us a "resort fee" even though we had told them we would not be using any of the "resort" accommodations as we were getting in late and leaving early. They tack on charges in fine print when you sign in so be careful if you go here. The room was expensive ($220 in total for 2 people), yet uncomfortable and shabby.

This place has FLEAS in the beds. Skip if it at all possible. I thought perhaps it had mosquitoes in the bathroomn, but think it was just the bed... my legs are covered in bites and now I need to make sure nothing traveled home with me!!!

The hotel is outdated! The rooms are outdated and smelled terrible of cleaning solution! The bathroom was TINY and old! The mattresses were terrible! We complained to the front desk and they let us out of our reservation with no questions asked. I would say they were used to complaints! It is a cheaper hotel, but for a little bit more we checked into another hotel and enjoyed our stay at the beach! We travel alot and this was one of the worst hotel rooms we've seen in a very long time!

This year was the first year we decided to go somewhere for spring break, and we wanted warm and a beach. Miami isn't cheap for college kids, so we decided to stay here. Definitely was great for students (we weren't the only young people there!), cheap, room service, and right on the beach. All the necessities for kids wanting to get a tan and have fun. Good restaurant a block off the beach and up a little ways, Flanagans, a Subway, and a Saks Fifth Avenue were all pretty close. The drive to South Beach was a pain because of traffic and construction - Florida drivers are horrible! But other than that, it was a lot of fun. We even had our room upgraded to beachfront for free! The staff wasn't around much - well not seen anywhere anyway, but you could tell they were there. The only thing that could be better would be more direct beach access..

I see another reviewer had the same issue I had - maids barging into your room unannounced. I was coming out of the shower/bathroom into the room, naked of course when all of the sudden I had the daylights scared out of me as I was met with a maid staring at me! She seemed quite unphased by this 6'2" male towering over her completelyh naked and was not at all apologetic. I will never stay at this place again!

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this hotel. We were offered an upgrade to an ocean front room w/ balcony which was a great deal. Staff was very friendly. I loved this place. Larry Clapper

If you can't afford to go anywhere else I guess this hotel is ok, just don't expect anything nice. The bathroom was dirty, no stable water, take quick showers so you don't have to go throught the burning one second then freezing the next routine, it's really bad, no exageration! The fact that it has a nice view and is beach front is nice. The restuarant is horrible, the food is gross and the cashier was rude. The front desk help was also rude. The guy who sells tour tickets right there in front of the front door seriously started yelling at us for using the luggage cart. He wanted us to wait until he was done with all of his customers so that he could take our luggage out. He still had 2 more couples in line, we didn't have time to wait we needed to get to our cruise ship, he just wanted the tip and told us that we weren't allowed to us the luggage carts! The hotel is ok, barely, if you have a little more money go stay somewhere else.

The service that I received was the worst I have ever received from a hotel. There was a lot of unexpected expenses that wasn’t displayed on the website. For example: you have to pay for towels, beach chairs, spa, weight room, etc. The hotel states that everything is considered as separate from the actual hotel and this is not made known when booking. The quality of the hotel is poor and the service was worse and I would not recommend it to my worst enemy.