6/10 Rating
Good location, average hotel
The hotel is in a great location, right by the Art Deco District and just off Washington Avenue (14th Street). It’s only a 7-minute walk to Ocean Drive, Lummus Park, and South Beach.
This hotel operates very much as a self-service property. Depending on your check-in or check-out time, you may find a member of staff at reception who can assist where needed. They help with setting up your check-in and providing the access codes for your room and the main entrance. However, there is no porter service, so you will need to carry your own luggage to your room. Depending on which floor you are assigned, this could involve climbing between one and three flights of stairs. If you have limited mobility or struggle with carrying luggage up stairs, I would recommend considering another hotel.
The reception area is basic but easy to access. My room was a good size, clean upon arrival, and equipped with all the essentials. There was plenty of storage space for luggage and personal belongings. The bathroom was also clean, and towels were provided in the room.
As the hotel is located on Espanola Way, it can get quite noisy during the evening, throughout the night, and into the early hours of the morning. The hotel provides a white noise machine and earplugs for guests who are sensitive to noise. Personally, I had no issues sleeping despite the activity outside. The room also included air conditioning, heating, and a mini fridge for storing food and drinks.
One disappointment was that my room was not serviced at all during my 7-night stay, nor was I provided with fresh towels. With reception often unattended, I wasn’t sure how to request additional towels and ended up using the beach towels instead. I wasn’t expecting daily housekeeping given the nature of the hotel, but seven nights without any room service was disappointing. I would have expected housekeeping to visit at least once or twice during my stay, or for someone to check in and ask whether I needed anything.
On one morning, after a late night, I was trying to rest when the fire alarm began sounding throughout the corridors and guest rooms every 10–15 minutes. Unfortunately, there was no prior warning, and it was impossible to tell whether it was a scheduled test or a genuine emergency. No staff members were visible to reassure guests, which made the situation even more frustrating. Having a fire alarm repeatedly sound between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. when you’re trying to sleep is far from ideal. This continued for approximately an hour.
Overall, the hotel and rooms are average, but the location is excellent and very convenient.
I would recommend reading a good number of reviews before booking. I can imagine this hotel suits some travellers very well, while others may find aspects of the hotel and its operational functions disappointing.