I stayed here for a quick 2 day trip to Miami. The location is close to the beach and away from the…read morecrowds of south beach. The building is old and the rooms are not well maintained. You aren't offered a lock for the locker in the communal bunk rooms. The air conditioner is very load and does nothing to prevent the moisture in the room. Sharing a small bathroom that is in unit with 3 others is a nightmare. There are bugs in the bunks! And this is not a quiet hostel by any means there is an onsite restaurant/bar that blasts music until way past midnight. I will not recommend this place to anyone that actually values cleanliness and relaxation.

Stayed there several times over the past decade, and absolutely loved the place. Fantastic deal for…read moretraveling on a budget, saving your $$ for actual sightseeing instead of blowing it on overpriced hotels in the area, which can cost THOUSANDS ... Well, no more. Some asshole company bought them out, 'upgraded' the place, and now charges, you guessed it right, hundreds and even thousands for a so called 'luxury hostel'. As the gentrification and out of control profiteering reaches endgame levels, every last motel, hostel, BnB and trailer park these greedy motherfuckers can get their hands on is being flipped for profit, and FreeHand is no exception. So basically, if you're a solo traveler, you're FUCKED. Might as well just rent and sleep in an RV instead.

I had a prepaid reservation through Booking.com and arrived on time for check-in…read more I was willing and able to pay the required security deposit, but the hotel denied me accommodation because I did not have a physical payment card. I presented the same card used for the reservation through my banking app, showed valid identification, and offered to pay using Apple Pay. These options were refused. The Booking.com information available to me did not clearly state that a physical card was mandatory. It stated that the card used for the reservation had to be presented. I requested a refund because I was denied the prepaid accommodation, but the hotel refused. Future guests using virtual cards or digital wallets should confirm the physical-card requirement in writing before booking.

Stayed here for about a week it was pretty decent on the pockets but having to pay for parking adds…read moreup after a minute, dose have a nice pool an roof top seating tho

I've stayed in hostels around the world. This place is hands-down, the worst run, sketchiest,…read moredirtiest one I have ever run across. Unbelievably, horridly run place. Why five stars? So this review would stand and be read. Bikini Hostel deserves one star, or less. In fact, shut it down. It was free for me because they tried to use my credit card to buy pizza and Bank of America refunded all my money due to fraud. The police might as well be on staff - the cops come at least twice a night. I was there 3 nights. Each morning they locked me out of my room, and once took all my stuff. The lockers didn't work either - that was part of the CC fraud case. And don't bother asking for your deposit back. It's so messed up I saw the receptionist take a drunk guys money, give him beer, then call the cops to haul him away for being drunk. He was yelling "PUSSIES!!!!" As the cops shoved him in the car. Unreal. For real, everything is so upside down I'm not sure the experience WAS real. That said, I met some great folks staying there just looking for a good time. I'm gonna stay in touch with a couple. A lifetime of stories in 3 days. Absolutely whacked place. I left yesterday and have already forgotten some shit. It's super cheap and overpriced.

I was there since October 2023. Not clean, not a place for families to visit, Restrooms are dirty…read more Better to have a restroom in your own hotel room rather than sharing in the hallways. Downhill management. Never go back to those places. If you see that hostel. Do not spend your night and waste your money there. That place is a waste. They charge for your luggage and locker. I don't care for that place. When you drive by, do not stop at that place. And find a better hotel somewhere or another place around there. Like I said. Stay away from that place.

As a man passionate for great customer service, I had low and REASONABLE service expectations being…read morea hostel. After two nights in a premium private room, spending over 400+ in 24 hours, I regret every single penny spent here. After my first experience and night, I wanted to give them another chance. Boy did I regret it. I'll never return. Certain staff have a nasty arrogant service approach. If you want a great location with rude and indecent staff, sure, stay here. When you try to do the right thing to express your dissatisfaction, 3x, in a single stay, yet no-one takes responsibly, don't be surprised. I have reasonable expectations, but I certainly didn't expect to return for a SECOND night in a private room, to be treated the same way. They'll state the bar management is separate than the "hostel" management/owners, which is likely true, but there's no excuse for the REPEAT rudeness and disrespect from staff within the SAME building. The sad part, I liked this place for a whole few hours, until I started spending more money and MORE inexperienced staff, who clearly are UNDER-trained to deliver average service. For my second night in a private room, approx 150 dollars again, I nearly waited 10 minutes at an empty desk. Then, I went to get a drink, only to experience the same as I did earlier in the day when I left, only to give them another chance due to location. That is when I tried to express my suggestions and calm feedback, only to be told my one of the managers/owners (of one of the establishments) that it was my fault. No, this is where wrong becomes more wrong. It's no surprise that the waitress and bartender came at me with negative comments, right infront of one of the manager, the same one who practically blamed me. I had to ask that he get me a drink, because of the CHIP on the shoulders here. No surprise that they're sitting at a table together, drinking together. So yes, if you want a cheap place to stay, with 1 star service, even for a private room, then stay here. Highly disappointed. I appreciate and think Christina is great, Sofia was one of the rude employees of the bar, but not the hostel I guess. Yet they're sitting together and I tried to make things right earlier today, by trying to make things right, as the CUSTOMER. Nope. I think I've only written 2-3 YELP reviews, ever. But this experience called for it 100%. The only positive experience I had was with Christina, who took my ID my first night while a transfer from one account to another for business occurred. It's one thing to not understand decent service and be from aboard, which my parents are as well, but the name of "international hostel" is no excuse for ridiculous and disrespectful service. Hopefully this review will make things better for them and I hope others never experience what I did. The place is clearly popular but I can't settle decent human respect for cost, even at paying cost and spending hundreds here.

The bartender is very nice and super friendly. Great prices for drinks. Especially for south beach.read more

I'm giving this place a 4 out of 5 star for these reasons: the location, hospitality, and price. A…read morehostel will be a hostel but hospitality isn't given. Here is why, their night staff was nice to help one of our friends back to her room without hesitation, being she was out from all the partying. He was such a gentleman to assist one of my friends back to the room without complaints. One room can fit up to 8 people. This is not a co-ed hostel, there are girls and boys bathroom/showers. There are bunked beds, happy hour drinks for 30 minutes (HAHA!) like literally 30 minutes (be aware there is a server there that will beg for tips), and they have continental breakfast (bagels, fruit, OJ, coffee, and water) not bad actually. Safety: You feel safe here. Transportation: Uber, Lyft, walk, or take the bus

I needed a cheap, safe, and clean place to put my stuff and lay my head on a 5 nights, 4 days trip…read moreto Miami Beach. SoBe surpassed my expectations. SoBe prides itself on being clean, safe, having a sense of community, free shuttle from the airport, free breakfast and dinner. For $22 a night, SoBe had me two blocks away from Ocean Drive and Miami Beach. Atmosphere: Yes, there is a very young crowd -college students or early twenties - taking advantage of these benefits. SoBe appeals to them for a no hassle experience of getting into some great clubs and meeting other people. If you don't like being in that kind of atmosphere, that you probably should skip SoBe. Because I work w/ college students for my day job, I didn't mind much. I would not book this place if you're traveling children or want a modern, adult-like stay. My roomies of early 20s were respectful, clean, and understood the notion of getting sleep! It did appear those staying got older (30+) during the weekdays. Noise level: It wasn't bad as I expected. The front desk sales earplugs. I use them, as well as an eye mask, every night. With the earplugs, I didn't hear anything. The only time the noise level was high was probably from 9 p.m. till 12 p.m. when SoBe has free drinks and free pick up to advertise whatever party they're going to for the night. After that, it's very quiet since people party till 3 to 4 in the morning. Now, I visited during the end of February, so the bar was not jumping as the reviews prior had talked about. My flight came in pretty late so I wasn't able to take advantage of the shuttle. But the city bus #150 actually stops right in front of it and it was only $2.25. I took it back to the airport as well. On the other corner is the free Miami Beach bus rider. Uber is around and I used the "Freebee" app and system to ride around the area by providing a tip only, which also comes around SoBe often. Food: Breakfast is always been a good, free opportunity to take advantage of that. One piece of fruit and some kind of bread item - a bagel or full waffle - plus juice or coffee. Really can't be bad. I took advantage of the breakfast to cut costs. Dinner: an area of improvement SoBe could improve if they wanted, but hey it's free! They could upgrade by serving Hamburger Helper. Thus I usually passed on dinner. However, what I did once was eat SoBe's dinner as a snack before I went out to a restaurant to save money to not getting too much food later. Especially on Ocean Drive, this is helpful as most restaurants are going to add 18% service gratuity. Big Pink is just a block away if you need it. The communication from management via Airbnb was excellent and consistent. Customer service at the front desk, bar, and cleaning staff were friendly, positive, and pleasant. I plan to come back and book more days soon! Thank you for a great stay!

Mixed feelings about this place.. Got a great deal on Hostelworld but sometimes you get what you…read morepay for. Was kicked out early and had the cops called on me for packing my bags before a flight.

A friend of mine stayed here and had extended her reservation…read more When she returned later that day, her belongings had been removed from the dorm and she was told she would need to leave due to alleged rule violations. She disputes the claim and was not given a meaningful opportunity to resolve the situation before being asked to leave. We reached out to management afterward but were unable to resolve the matter. Travelers relying on clear communication during their stay may want to keep this in mind.

The staff was not only friendly and accomodating, they took my concerns about a middle of the night…read morecommotion in the women's room very seriously. The safety and comfort of their guests is of paramount importance and I will be returning in the event I choose to visit Miami again. I love the outdoor vestibule configuration. Close to Publix, Target, Ross (Or maybe it was Marshall's) if you need a last minute outfit and short bike ride or 1/2 hour walk to the beach. They also provide towels not only for showering/bathing but beach towels for the beach. Yay! Miami has Citi Bike so getting around town is fun and easy.

It's a good place if you are on a budget and just want a place to crash and sleep super early and u…read moredont plan on making friends outside the hostel. i'll take my son here if we are in Miami (because of their strict rules concerning non-guests), but not sure if i'd come back for ultra weekend. The location is a few blocks away from alot of the fun parts of south beach, but you can still walk for 5-10 minutes to Lincoln Mall and South Beach. This is another plus for people who want just a place to get a good night's sleep and don't care to party. Noise is not allowed after midnight. The clerks are nice but they are very strict. i couldn't even bring a female friend into the room at night. She was allowed to stay sitting down outside after i introduced her to the clerk. But my guy friends had to wait outside the gate even in night hours. This is good for weeding out people who dont belong here but it's a major sucky thing if you want to invite friends to hang with you for a bit. My phone was stolen at the festival and the staff were sweet enough to let me use the office phone to make important calls. The other guests at the hostel were a bit odd. Not as friendly as the ones at the other hostel i stayed at but my roommates were angels. I stayed in a room for 12 people, but only 5 or 6 roommates were there. There were two bathrooms connected to our room. The breakfast of bagels was not very good; but on my third day, they made delicious burgers in the evening. There are three computers provided free of charge if you need to use the internet. I get cold very easily and the blanket they provided was not warm enough, so make sure to bring an extra blanket if you get cold easily. By the way, some clerks speak Turkish, so I got to practice a bit. :)

So many places in South Beach made us feel like we were simply fulfilling a need to eat…read more Not so at the Pelican! We were served by Santiago who was so personable and attentive to our every request. We shared the Angus Ribeye with mashed potatoes and asparagus, prepared to perfection! In addition to Santiago, Giovanni who seemed to be managing the front part of the restaurant, made sure that my partner, who was celebrating her birthday, had an exceptional experience. I am so grateful. What a wonderful experience and place to have celebrated her birthday! Great food, exceptional service and hospitality. Highly recommended, 5 stars

Food was good but the paella was far from authentic. Our…read moreserver had a problem with simple English. She messed up a simple salad order. What pissed us off the most was our bill. Wondering why it was so high and no details provided. We requested a detailed receipt. Well there were two of us and they added a 20% service fee. Like WTF two people never saw this blatant attempt of inflating a bill. It was Christmas Eve our tip would have surpassed the amount added but this move just pissed us off. Merry Christmas I guess

First time in Miami from Texas and found this place by chance! I can only rate the food and drink,…read morebut we will definitely keep this place in mind for our next trip to stay! Walking by looking for something to eat and someone walking down the street recommended this! Honestly, vibes were awesome. And without doubt the best burger I had in a long time! Can't remember the name of the burger but it had bacon jelly! Sold. Haha Planning another trip in 2026 and we will definitely be staying here!

Terrible employees - liars, rude and not helpful!!!…read more Lee was nice at first, telling me where I can park and checked me in right away but as soon as I walked into the room, it smelt like strong marijuana. I can't do any strong smells, especially MJ and this is supposed to be a completely smoke free zone. I told him that there is no way I can stay there and would like a new room and mentioned that I thought it was smoke-free there. He said he would put me in another room but wasn't going to be ready for hours. I agreed to wait When I came back Lee was gone and Mayena was there to give me the same stinky marijuana filled room. I told her that Lee already gave me this room and he said he would give me somewhere else. She said they got rid of the drug smoke and I knew there's no way you can get the stink out fast or at all. Smelt like they had been smoking in there recently when I went the 1st and 2nd time. She then got on the phone with Lee and he said that he never gave me that room - He is A LIAR and I told him that he was! Bc he sure did! He said no, I'm wrong - went back and forth but I actually had proof that he did because I took a picture of my key before returning it and showed her the proof. He then shutted up! After that argument, she looked up another room and gave me a new card FINALLY! The manager at the time, Julius, walked by and never helped even when asked for assistance. She also never handed me my luggage and told me to just go behind their desk and get it myself with everyone else's luggage all around. There was no protection for people's luggages whatsoever Then going to the new room, water dropped on my head while trying to work the faulty key for my room but luckily housekeeping helped me in. I saw that the bed was in an all sun side, beaming on the bed while there was a lil bit of a view so I needed a new bed and new key. Now she's just messing with me bc she gave me a key card that didn't even work! This day was never ending of continuous bad events Had to go back down and get a new key and bed. After the 4th time going back up - I finally got a room! It was still pretty filthy all over, door locks didn't work, showerhead just turns the opposite way with the pressure pushing it away and making the whole bathroom floor soaking wet with no drain

Excellence! Location superb! Small- friendly and very…read morehelpful staff. 24 hour service. Can't book in line for some reason. Will tele call.

Not to be confused with Deckerwalk, which is when Harrison Ford ambles around in Blade Runner…read more Lovely little hostel in Miami which was where I stayed for one night when I last came to Miami and the most recent time when I crashed in the car for all three nights that I was here. Or 4 nights if you count sleeping in a rest stop an hour north. And five nights if you count sleeping in a rest stop 3 hours west. In any case I love this hostel and it has decent prices and a wonderful view of South Beach - and they offer dinner which isn't particularly great, but service is nice and rooms are okay, and they have plenty of good stuff that makes this the best hostel destination on South Beach.