My recent stay at Beach Haus Key Biscayne (Unit BH105) in the newly renovated building was marked by significant maintenance issues, missing amenities, and highly unprofessional management behavior. While the property is marketed as a "fully functioning home," my experience was far from seamless.
Maintenance and Cleanliness Issues:
Upon arrival, I discovered a group of large ants swarming on the bathroom floor. The unit also suffered from a slow-draining sink and lacked basic supplies, including a toaster, dishwasher, and onsite laundry facilities. Despite being a rental unit, we initially had to request basic essentials like bath towels, hangers, and eventually even toilet paper. Furthermore, the heated pool was unavailable during our stay.
Communication and Amenity Discrepancies:
Communication with property management was difficult because their office is closed over the weekend, which is highly inconvenient for guests checking out early Monday morning. There was a significant discrepancy regarding the welcome email; although management claimed it contained all necessary details, I never received it and had to call to obtain the initial door code.
Other notable issues included:
* WiFi: Instructions and passwords were not provided in the unit.
* Beach Access: We never received a fob for beach access. While management pointed to a public pedestrian walkway, the Key Biscayne Beach Club was restricted, and the Grand Bay Club was only available Tuesday through Friday.
* Appliance Use: There were no instructions provided for the convection oven, requiring a staff member to come to the unit to explain its operation.
Disturbing Payment Dispute:
The most concerning part of the stay occurred on our final night. Due to issues processing my credit cards and my inability to pay in person while at a festival, the property manager sent a photo of police officers in the building hallway, stating, "The police are here" and "I need the payment today". Management also appeared to withhold access to the unit, stating they needed a photo of an authorization card and ID "for me to open the door". I was eventually forced to send a text authorization and payment confirmation for $2,375.02 while away from the property just to resolve the situation.
Conclusion:
Given the pest issues, lack of basic kitchen amenities, and the high-pressure tactics involving law enforcement over a payment timing dispute, I cannot recommend this property. I requested a credit of $100 per night due to these many discrepancies, but management's response remained unprofessional throughout the process. read more