Think Twice Before Staying Here!
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 5/20/09
The ads you see on line for this hotel are misleading. We booked through Expedia another no no, and requested an ocean view but didn't get it. The front desk at the hotel said that they can't do any thing about it because we booked through Expedia. We got into our room and our view was, facing the adjacent hotel, and looking down on the hotel roof. Walking into the hotel main entrance you would think that you were in a 5 star hotel but once we got into our hotel room, the carpet looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years, the windows were very dirty and disgusting, and the floor wasn't cleaned. It was more like a two star hotel. We had to get hotel assistance with opening the bedroom door because we couldn't open it. Then we needed assistance with the television because IT wasn't working. The towels were gross, they looked worn out, gray looking and were rough on my skin. This also includes the beach towels. (if you go bring your own lawn chairs for the beach, there is a charge of $6 US a day until 5 pm for the chairs. You have to give the chairs back at 5 PM). The fridge door was broken and dirty. The drain in the tub was back logged and debris would travel up and in to the tub. At this point we requested a second room, which was no better.
The hotel has a major problem with cockroaches which I can understand as being a part of a populated and hot city as Miami. BUT it doesn't HELP to leave food on the floor, and to leave open plates of food in the service galley. I was shocked to see the trays of food from their room service delivery on the shelf in the service galley. A buffet for the cockroaches!!!
We had problems with our keyless card and had to see the front desk several times for new keys. Other guests at the hotel had the same problem, and they had to use our phone to call down at the front desk to get help to let them in their room. The safe was a problem, we had to get assistance with it as well, as it wouldn't lock and unlock. This was a monumental waste of time!
Don't even bother to ask for recommendations or ideas about what to do in Miami. You are sent to the concierge who talks your ear off, and has very limited knowledge of the events going on. We got the sense that they get paid off to recommend certain restaurants etc. We did our best to avoid speaking to them due their verbose manner and lack of knowledge. This was very annoying. We were NOT interested in seeing the Everglades which were pushed on us to visit.
The cost for room service is exorbitant, don't bother ordering coffee. I asked for ice at the pool bar and was refused by the rude bartender, saying to me that they don't give out ice. I needed the ice because I hurt my knee in their poor excuse for a gym. Don't believe what you see in their ads. The gym is dirty, the equipment must have been purchased from a junk yard garage, it smells, moldy.
This hotel has some good points but the staff needs better training, the rooms need to be cleaned and fixed up.
If you go be prepared for getting to know their maintenance man who is very nice btw.
Think twice about booking in this hotel.