Four Points by Sheraton, Miami Beach

...& I went to the Four Points Miami Beach for a few nights post cruise. After having an exceptional holiday on the Freedom of the Seas we found ourselves "dumped" in the hotel from hell.

Upon arriving at around 9am we were told our room wasn't ready as it was still occupied. We did book the hotel 10 months in advance so we didn't expect that. We had to leave our luggage in a little storage room and find something to do so we ...
...queue at the computer was four or five people deep. I did have to pay for wireless access. I seem to have forgotten but I think it was around $10 for an hour.

Later that day the second of the three lifts was apparently repaired so we used it as the other was very busy with the maid service. I told you the service lift was dirty didn't I? Well it wasn't as dirty, dented and rusty as the second one and it didn't make a loud screeching ... more

Three words to describe this hotel, "Oh my God!!"
Want more? OK, here we go,

Upon arriving at around 9am we were told our room wasn't ready as it was still occupied. We did book the hotel 10 months in advance so we didn't expect that. We had to leave our luggage in a little storage room and find something to do so we went to have a look around outside. At the back of the hotel is Miami Beach just beyond a boardwalk. Nice as it looked, there was no one around to deal with deck chairs and parasols. It doesn't matter anyway because our room wasn't available to get changed into suitable clothing. To the right of the hotel was a building site, very noisy and lots of shouting. Out front was a car park full of construction equipment and machinery. I don't know but I think we should have been told about this when we spoke to the hotel direct after arranging the room. We could have went elsewhere.

When we arrived back at the hotel around 2pm our room was still not ready, in fact it was another two hours before we finally got to check in. We had a room on the "Preferred Guest" floor which was the 10th floor and wait for it, the lift was out of order so we had to use the service one which was the dirtiest lift I've ever been in. Opening our room door it smelled a bit funny, like a fridge that had been off for a month with the door closed. I opened a window and saw the lovely view of the front car park and its "contents". Directly below our window was two huge AC fans which sounded like jet engines, I knew right away I was going to have trouble sleeping. There was no other room available, hence our long wait so there was no point asking to be moved. The room itself was a bit run down with stains everywhere on the furniture and carpets. There was deep scratches on the kitchen surface which looked a bit dodgy with the discolouration in them. The cabinets were shabby and chipped. The bath tap was dripping quite heavily and despite trying to tighten it, no use. The bed appeared to be clean which would have been the last straw had it not been.

Facilities at the hotel were nothing special, a pool outside with recliners and nothing more. Inside there was a gift shop selling the usual stuff and a little room with two computers and pay as you go internet. One of the computers was broken. I had my netbook with me (see my review on that) which was a godsend as the queue at the computer was four or five people deep. I did have to pay for wireless access. I seem to have forgotten but I think it was around $10 for an hour.

On one occasion I used the toilet in the main lobby and an employee left without washing his hands. I went out to just catch him going into......yep...THE RESTAURANT KITCHEN....ewwwwww. I did my duty and complained at the desk. They replied, "OK". I waited around for a while and they done nothing. Needless to say I didn't go near the restaurant again.

One thing I should point out is the hotel location or if you book a hotel nearby you would be excused for thinking Miami was a dump and a grubby little hole but it isn't. Get away from the hotel and do a tour like we did. Our tour lasted over 8 hours and it was amazing. So much so, we forgot about the hotel. There is lots to see and do if you plan ahead, if you stay near the hotel area you will come home disappointed and might never return. We saw stars houses, visited a turtle farm, learned history, good and bad and the tour included a sail on a yacht or to visit the Everglades. We did the Everglades as we just got off the biggest ship in the world, :).

One more thing, the hotel had a cheek to have a plasma screen up on the wall boasting about its constant renovation and improvements. I'd say an improvement would be to flatten it and start again.

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