HotelChatter - Miami

New Year, New Hotel Gimmick: $20.10 Rate at Miami's Hotel Urbano

Heidi Atwal — 2009-11-20T09:36:13-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/32083/hotelurbano.jpg" class="top"> <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Miami%20Hotels">Miami</a>'s soon-to-be-opened <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Urbano/ian/326150">Hotel Urbano</a> is pushing a Grand Opening gimmick that ranks low in creativity but high on the savings-o-meter. Originally slated to open in October, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/5/20/102631/862/hotels/Downtown_Miami_Slated_to_Welcome_Another_New_Hotel_This_Fall">as we reported</a>, its unveiling will now take place in late December, just in time to receive an onslaught of travelers in the new year. The themed deal offers guests who book two or more nights in January 2010 a rate of $20.10 for their first night. That's good enough for those who want to kick off 2010 in a snow-free climate, but just remember--the hotel is located in Brickell which is downtown Miami as opposed to Miami Beach and its party scene. But with regular room rates

The Viceroy Miami's Illy Espresso Machine Will Make You Happy Morning and Night

juliana — 2009-11-17T12:04:42-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/illyviceroy.jpg" class="top"> We are continuing to geek out over <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/In-Room%20Coffee%20Makers">in-room coffee makers</a>. Yesterday, we showed you how the folks <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/11/16/152252/38/hotels/The_Richardson_Hotel_s_Nespresso_Machine_Helps_The_Down_Under_Jet_Lag_">Down Under</a> do it and today we're including an in-room coffee maker that we forgot to include in our <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-photos/full/25/The+Best+of+In-Room+Coffee+Makers">original round-up</a>--The Illy Espresso machine at <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Viceroy+Miami/local/1403">Viceroy Miami</a>.The Francis Francis X8 espresso machines from Illy are found in all rooms at the hotel and there is no grinding of beans or scooping of ground espresso to deal with here. Just plop in a pod into "Frank" (we can call it that, right?) and steaming hot espresso is yours in a matter of seconds. There is milk and as you can see, oranges to accompany your drink as

Droppin' It Low at Hotel Victor's 'Frost Bite Thursdays'

globetrotting gourmet — 2009-11-12T09:28:14-05:00

Temperatures may be dipping in some parts of the country, but the scene is still steamy in South Beach, where Hotel Victor the forecast is always cool on Frost Bite Thursdays.

Since its July launch, the weekly event’s been such a smashing success that the hotel recently added Garden Zen Thursdays for low(er)-key party hoppers. The way it works is Frost Bite goes on downstairs in the lobby, while Garden Zen takes place on the Vue Terrace right across from the pool. Feeling pepped up or played out -- there's a party for whatever your Thursday mood at Hotel Victor.

Yet Another Bad Music Video Filmed at a Miami Hotel

juliana — 2009-10-14T09:48:37-05:00

<![CDATA[<object width="448" height="374"><param name="movie" value="http://videos.onsmash.com/e/ebqF7DDLSShGJDLU"></param><param name="allowFullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"></param><embed src="http://videos.onsmash.com/e/ebqF7DDLSShGJDLU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowNetworking="all" allowScriptAccess="always" width="448" height="374"></embed></object>What is up with Miami and bad rap videos? First, there was Pitbull's "Hotel Room Service" at the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/8/13/141925/247/hotels/Pitbull_Films_Hotel_Room_Service_Video_at_Miami_s_EPIC_Hotel">EPIC Hotel.</a> Then John Legend, Kanye and Consequence filmed an unexciting video at <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/9/30/23112/2557/hotels/Kanye_John_Legend_and_Consequence_Do_Whatever_You_Want_at_The_Fontainebleau">The Fontainebleau</a>. And now we have Rick Ross and Robin Thicke b-boying it all over the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Viceroy+Miami/local/1403">Viceroy Miami</a> and the Icon Brickell complex with their new video, <a href="http://videos.onsmash.com/v/ebqF7DDLSShGJDLU">"Lay Back."</a> Everywhere they go in the video, there are skimpy girls in bikinis and high heels--chilling at the Viceroy's super long pool, doing a sexy strut in the spa, getting cozy in a (faux) guestroom and making out in the

Miami's Epic Encourages Guests to Read With Wine

MsRebecca — 2009-10-08T11:03:15-05:00

Plenty of hotels are pushing books onto guests these days, adding in-room libraries, Kindles or Sony eReaders to their list of amenities. We’re quite fond of reading by the fire or the pool at hotels but book club events, which are also on the rise, sound a little, well, earnest. Unless, of course, wine is involved.

Perhaps that’s why Miami’s Epic Hotel was smart enough to combine their ongoing literary series with their daily guest wine-hour program—and special room rates that make hitting the books totally worth it.