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Gansevoort South, Two Months Into Soft Opening

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 2399 Collins Ave [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139-1619
June 3, 2008 at 8:46 AM | by amandak | 0 Comments

The Gansevoort South has been in soft opening for a couple of months now, and there's still plenty of facilities guests are waiting for. The long-promised David Barton gym still doesn't seem to be open and there are a few teething problems if the reviews from early guests are anything to go by.

To start with the good news, though, everybody seems to like the pools. And most early guests have been pretty understanding that a soft opening means their stay might not be perfect, and agree that the hotel looks fantastic enough to make up for that.

On the bad news side of the equation, we've heard that eating near the pool is too windy (until everything opens, the alternative is in a hallway), promised toiletries aren't provided, and the lack of guests and finished facilities means that the potentially hip vibe is totally missing.

Yet most early guests are preparing to come back and stay again when the Gansevoort South is operating in full swing--so they must be doing something right.

[Photo: jessesq]

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Top Hotels in Miami Beach: We Wanna Try the Impala Hotel's Spaghetti

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 1228 Collins Ave [map], MIAMI BEACH, FL, United States, 33139
December 17, 2007 at 9:32 AM | by amandak | 1 Comment

We don't have anything personal against the Miami Airport Hampton Inn and Suites, but we were a bit skeptical about it being the #1 hotel in town according to Trip Advisor. So we're glad we've finally found TA's slightly hidden list of best Miami hotels where it turns out that Angler's Boutique Resort comes in at number one, just edging out the Hotel Impala in the South Beach Art Deco area.

We've mentioned Angler's before, but want to tell you more about the Impala. It's just a small place, with 17 rooms, but a special atmosphere. The Impala is furnished in a no-expense-spared style and everybody compliments the friendliness of the staff.

And then comes the Impala's restaurant, an Italian masterpiece called "Spiga". It's not only the winner of several awards, but apparently celebs including Julia Roberts, Mick Jagger and Puff Daddy have eaten here, which gives it a bit of cred (or an expensive menu?). The surprising thing is that room rates are very reasonable; in summer a basic deluxe room starts at $145 a night, rising to $215 in winter, plus taxes.

[Photo: tommy_grrrl]

Related Stories:
· Hampton Inn Near Miami Airport is the Best Hotel in Town? [HotelChatter]
· Inside the Angler's Boutique Resort Hotel [HotelChatter]
· Miami Beach Hotel Reviews [HotelChatter]

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WTF News: Hampton Inn Near Miami Airport is The Best Hotel in Town?

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 777 NW 57th Avenue (Red Rd) [map], Miami, FL, United States, 33126
September 19, 2007 at 9:13 AM | by jnaw | 0 Comments

People go to Miami for two reasons: The music and the heat. For those types of trips, luxury is the only route. But it seems a lot of people traveling through either get stuck at the airport or are awaiting cruise ship departure. That's the only reasons we could think of as to why the Hampton Inn & Suites: Miami Airport/Blue Lagoon is rated #1 on TripAdvisor.

The hotel is not viewlicious in any way, it's a drive from any of the happening Miami nightlife and there's no Blue Lagoon in sight. And did we mention it's by the airport?

Still, recent guests staying here must love sending reviews to TripAdvisor and the ones for this place cite the hotel as having new rooms with reasonable prices and a nice staff.

We got stuck in Miami for two days and we only had the clothes we stood in. The guys on the front desk were fantastic and any problem I came up with was no problem at all.

Ok, we get it. This is probably the best hotel in Miami to check-in to should your luggage be lost or your flight home is delayed for a few days. But we still don't think it's #1 in Miami.

[Photo: Trip Advisor]

Related Stories:
· Miami Hotel Reviews [Hotel Chatter]

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South Beach Hotel Rates Head South

June 19, 2007 at 3:20 PM | by barbarab | 0 Comments

Heading to Miami this time of year involves an element of throwing caution to the wind. Wind as in those high gusts associated with a tropical storm or hurricane. Of course historically the big whoppers tend not to whip up until later in the summer. Nonetheless, South Beach hotels are already dropping rates to lure the stormy-weather risk-averse among us. Last week, we looked at The Standard Miami's 'Summer Lovin' deal. This week we got three more hot hotels and their hotter deals after the jump.

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'Summer Lovin' Deal at the Standard Miami

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 40 Island Ave [map], Miami, FL, United States, 33139
June 15, 2007 at 12:44 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

The Standard Miami is offering a two-night summer stay for $149.99 a night which includes continental breakfast for two each morning, complimentary valet parking and limitless use of indoor and outdoor baths.

We checked the deal for next weekend June 22 and June 23 and lo and behold, the "Summer Lovin" package came up for both nights which is a sweet deal for off-season Miami.

Enter code 'Lovin' (no g) at StandardHotels.com for the promotional rate.

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Gasp! 'Extra Pounds' Seen at the Fontainbleau Suites in South Beach

Where: 4441 Collins Avenue [map], Miami, FL, United States, 33140
March 26, 2007 at 9:30 AM | by pbb | 0 Comments

How 'bout that: The New York Times must've cast an eye or two on our coverage of Miami Hotels. (Thanks for reading, Pinch!) This week, writer Mary Billard checked into The Fontainebleau Suites. So how did Mary enjoy staying in the Suites while the rest of the hotel is under renovation? Eh:

This is the anti-South Beach. Short on celebrities, hot bodies and buzz. Instead, people with a few extra pounds, as well as families. On the plus side, no pulsing bass from a sound system outside your window at night, a hazard at chic hotels with nighttime lounge areas by the pool.

The rest of the review lacks about as much pizzaz as the hotel does. (Though the Times does manage to sneak in a reference to Scarface, which is--yawn--de rigeur in any travel article about Miami Beach.) We're not ones to brag, but if you want the full scoop on the hotel, check out our Miami Beach Hotel Guide.

Related Stories:
· Check In, Check Out [NYT]
· Miami Guidebook Piggyback: The Fontainebleau Review [HotelChatter]

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Valentine's Day Hotel Packages: Four Seasons Miami

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 1435 Brickell Avenue [map], Miami, FL, United States, 33131
February 7, 2007 at 9:15 AM | by pbb | 0 Comments

Not content to spend a mere $1,000 on a Miami hotel room during the Super Bowl? Have the kind of lover who's not content with a box of Russell Stover? Woo your avaricious amore at the Four Seasons Hotel Miami, then, for maximum effect this Valentine's.

The hotel's Five-Diamond Package is what you need. Start by checking into the top-floor Presidential Suite. From there you can dig into some vintage Dom Perignon before an in-room massage. Last on the night's official agenda? Room service delivers a two-carat diamond for your sweetie. You get it all for the if-you-love-me-it's-worth-it price of $50,000. All of a sudden, those Super Bowl rates don't sound so bad.

Related Hotels:
· Miami Beach Guidebook Piggyback: The Four Seasons Miami Review [HotelChatter]
· Jessica Simpson and John Mayer Heat it Up at the Four Seasons Miami [HotelChatter]

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Deadspin's Super Bowl Hotel Review

Where: 1825 Collins Ave [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139
January 30, 2007 at 5:55 PM | by markj | 0 Comments


Down in Miami it is Super Bowl XLI Media Day.  No idea if the folks from Deadspin are credential toting, or, more likely, party crashing, but one thing is for sure, they are on the scene. AJ Daulerio, who if we aren't mistaken, filled us in on the Detroit festivities last year, will get to hang out in a place people actually want to go to this time around--Miami.

Of course Gawker Media sprung for a hotel right on Collins--Royal Palm or the Raleigh right?

Hardly, AJ checked into the Continental OceanFront Hotel and here is what he found:

*No parking
*No internet in the room
*Lots of Indian fellas dressed in hip-hop gear.

Plus, the room itself, although equipped with a double-bed and most of the amenities suitable for halfway house poshness, comes with a television that has three working channels. It's not as bad as "cheese or snow," but Telemundo and ABC, which are only minor upgrades. Tonight, I shall shower with lye and dry myself off with the sanitary strip covering the toilet seat, which will be much more effective than the towels provided.

In our opinion he went easy on the place, but we are enjoying his Super Bowl coverage, as always.

There are still plenty of decent rooms to be had in Miami, check our latest mumblings on such rooms here.

Related Stories:
· Deadspin at Super Bowl XLI [Deadspin]
· Continental OceanFront [TripAdvisor]

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Miami Guidebook Piggyback: The Mandarin Oriental Review

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 500 Brickell Key Drive [map], Miami, FL, United States, 33131
January 15, 2007 at 10:24 AM | by Michael de Zayas | 0 Comments

Travel writer Michael de Zayas is in Miami on an assignment--30 Miami hotels in 30 Miami nights. You will be able to find his detailed travel musings in Miami and Miami Beach books later this year. HotelChatter asked Michael to let us know his minute-by-minute thoughts on the Miami hotel scene during his guide book mission, which he will be doing over the next two weeks. During the fortnight, Michael will share with us every bed, maid, drink, pool, henhouse and outhouse that comprise the Grove, Gables, Sunny Isles, North Beach, South Beach and the Key Biscayne hotel scene in 2007. If you wish to ask him a question during his jaunt, shoot it our way.

I'll be talking about Miami's "best" hotels over the next couple weeks. Ultimately this is a subjective determination, but here's what I perceive as the main ingredient for the Mandarin Oriental's place on the ballot: it is a gentle hotel.

I stayed at this wonderful hotel on Friday. The Mandarin invented luxury, as it's defined today in Miami, when it opened this hotel about six years ago. There had been no five-star luxury hotels in Miami at that time - as incredible at that seems today. Of course, there's no shortage of luxury hotels here now. There are a dozen now in the market - and they owe a debt of gratitude to the pioneer.

There must be a formula to it - the incense, the exotic music, the orchids, the use of woods, its Asian je ne sais quoi - but the sway of the Mandarin works to soothe.

More on the Mandarin Oriental after the jump.

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This Budweiser Select's Art Basel Party is For You

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 1200 Collins Avenue [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139
December 5, 2006 at 1:08 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

The Art Basel news keeps on rolling in. Today we learn that The Marlin Hotel will be hosting the Budweiser Select Art Basel parties this week. (Who knew Bud was the art lovers drink?) On Friday and Saturday from 12 to 6 pm, artist Steve Keene (pictured above in action) will be live painting as part of  the Budweiser Select Porch project which will also have an open bar/lougne and Budweiser Select girls.

Then on Sunday at 10pm, the Budweiser Select people and aNYthing will feature A-Ron the Downtown Don's (aka Aaron Bondaroff) showcase along with other artists Chris Johanson and Dash Snow, art collective Paper Rad, and performance artist Brendan Fowler (BARR).

Remember, if you still need a room to crash in this weekend, the Villas @ Cafe Milano is offering up rooms for three lucky HotelChatter readers.

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Last Minute South Beach Art Basel Hotel Rooms Available

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 850 Ocean Dr [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139-5826
December 5, 2006 at 10:35 AM | by markj | 0 Comments


HotelChatter Exclusive Reader Deal:
If you are looking for a hotel room during Art Basel in South Beach during the 11th hour (that would be now). We feel your pain. We are always planning last minute.

However, Daniel Hidalgo and the gang at The Villas @ Cafe Milano wants to do a good deed for a couple of lucky HotelChatter readers.

If you know of people looking for a nice hotel room on 8th and Ocean Drive in the heart of South Beach, I have 3 units available.

We have no idea how much Daniel wants for his rooms, but we have an email into him and as soon as he gets back to us we will let you know.

In the meantime, if you want to inquire further about one these rooms (December 7-10...yeah that is this week) either send us an email or give Daniel a call and let him know that HotelChatter sent you.

Don't say we never did anything for you.

Hotel room photo after the jump.

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Art Basel Tipster Recommends Circa 39

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 3900 Collins Ave [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33140
November 30, 2006 at 2:43 PM | by markj | 0 Comments



Think we are on a bit of an Art Basel kick? Well here is more.

A man on the scene, who we can verify has spent quite a deal of time in Miami hotel rooms has this to say about where you might want to stay for Art Basel:

Since Art Basel takes place at Washington & 17th, each and every hotel in South Beach is walkable and viable. For those counting pennies, I really like an affordable new hotel on the wrong side of Collins Ave at 39th called Circa 39. It's the poor man's Delano.

There is a good chance you will be hearing more from our Miami tipster, all in due time.

Of course at this late date you are going to need to call and pray to god for a cancellation, most Miami hotels are booked solid.

Anyone else have any last minute Art Basel hotel tips--do tell.

Related Stories:
Circa 39 Reviews [TripAdvisor]