Old World charm in hectic Miami!!
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 07/27/09
If you want the same old tired middle American decor and the same stale wrapped danish for breakfast then go to the Holiday Inn. But if you want something off the beaten path with a polite staff and warm eclectic decor with a cozy breakfast of fresh muffins, coffee and juice then this is the place you've been looking for. I had a choice between generic and unique for the same amount of money and I chose Hotel St. Michel.
From the moment I walked in the door I could tell that this was a class act. The man at the reception desk was friendly and helpful. The parking in the garage across the street was $9 for a 24 hour period. The room was small but decorated with antiques and modern pieces with a king size bed and euro pillow top mattress. Unfortunately, there was a leaky faucet in the tub that I could not turn off so I went to ask for another room. That was no problem at all and the second room was even better. Large soundproof windows with wooden frames that opened up to experience the sounds of church bells that rang every half hour. The streets were empty on Saturday as it is a neighborhood of banks, office buildings, some retail shops and restaurants. The air conditioner was silent and worked GREAT!!! The room had a fruit basket waiting for us which consisted of an apple and an orange, also bottled water and a bucket of ice. The bathroom was tiled and had old gold faucets and a variety of french milled soaps and shampoos. The shower and the plumbing worked just fine considering the age of the hotel (circa 1927) and everything was immaculate.
Checkout was at 12 and I was told that it could be later if I wanted. All in all I am so glad that I chose this hotel. It was in a great location (central to most of the best of Miami), it was quiet, romantic and the staff was super helpful. The breakfast was free and just enough to start the day and the price was the same as any other hotel with no personality and zero charm. I would have paid double for this experience, but luckily I got a great deal!!!
