Overall, I think Andaz Miami is a beautiful hotel with excellent service, but there were a few…read morethings that prevented this from being a truly great stay.
Starting with the positives, the service throughout our stay was amazing. Every staff member we interacted with was friendly, professional, and helpful. The bell desk took great care of our luggage, and the valet team provided great service and even gave us some casino recommendations (although unfortunately we did not have much luck). We ultimately decided not to use valet because it was around $50 per night and chose to park somewhere else for much less.
The hotel itself is very clean and well-maintained. The rooms were nice and comfortable, and the pool area was one of the highlights. Having both an adult pool and a kids pool was great, and the direct access from the pool area to the Miami Beach boardwalk was a fantastic feature. The gym was also one of the best hotel gyms I have used--very spacious, clean, and well-equipped. I especially appreciated the cold towel station with chilled towels available after workouts.
Housekeeping was also excellent. They consistently kept our room clean and organized. They even folded clothes that we had left out and neatly placed them aside, which was a very thoughtful touch. Room service was also great and always handled professionally.
However, there were a few things that were disappointing.
First, the room assignment did not meet expectations. Before arrival, I requested a higher-floor room, but we were placed on the 5th floor on the side of the building. I understand that requests cannot always be guaranteed, but I was hoping for a better placement given the request. There was a room directly in front of ours facing the beach side that appeared to be unoccupied during our stay, so it was disappointing that we were placed behind it instead of receiving a room with a better outlook. Again, I understand room assignments depend on availability, but at a resort of this level, the room placement can make a big difference in the overall experience.
The biggest issue was the resort fee and the lack of clarity around what was included. The resort fee was around $75 after taxes, and one of the benefits we were most looking forward to was the advertised "two complimentary welcome signature non-alcoholic drinks upon arrival." However, when we checked in, we received nothing besides our room keys. When I later went downstairs to ask about the welcome drinks, I was told that the two complimentary drinks were just the two bottles of water in the room. That was very disappointing and felt misleading because it did not match what was advertised.
We also never received the advertised "Andaz custom beach bag gift." Throughout our stay, we only used the pool and fitness center once, so unfortunately we did not get much value from the resort fee.
For anyone staying here, I would recommend asking about and taking advantage of everything included with the resort fee, including:
* Beach chairs and umbrella
* Beach food and beverage service
* Poolside refreshments and surprises
* Daily fitness and wellness classes
* Two-hour daily bicycle rentals
* 24/7 fitness center access
* Two welcome drinks
* Souvenir beach bag and water bottles
* Local neighborhood attraction discounts
* Local house car service
* High-speed room Wi-Fi
Also, keep in mind that drinks have a 21% service charge, in addition to resort fees and sales tax.
Overall, Andaz Miami is a great property with fantastic staff, beautiful facilities, and a great location. The service and cleanliness were top-notch, but the unclear communication about resort fee benefits and the room assignment left us disappointed. With better transparency and attention to these details, this could have easily been a 5-star experience.