HLS2002
Mar 27, 10, 3:35 pm
I spent the past week at the "new" Hotel Indigo on South Beach. It consists of 4 small art deco buildings and has been operating as the Hotel Bel Aire. Although I found the hotel through the IC web site, the timeline for the transition to being an Indigo isn't entirely clear. The Indigo logo above the reception desk was still covered. Indigo haiku was spread around the room, and there were Indigo notepads, pens, phone placards, etc.
As a Platinum Ambassador, I received an upgrade to a suite they said was the largest in the hotel. It was on the second floor of the "Bel Aire" building This isn't the main building with the reception and bar areas; it has exterior corridors. The room had a large living room with a big flat screen tv. The bedroom had a smaller flat screen tv and a king bed with 4 pillows featuring Indigo "curl up" logos. The floors in the living and bedrooms were wood (carpet would be a disaster in the humid climate). The room was newly renovated, including a modern bathroom -- although, curiously, the floor in the bathroom was not new. The windows looked original and weren't the best for insulating from the considerable street noise.
Bathroom amenities were Aveda. Housekeeping never replaced them. I only received a newspaper 1 out of 4 days, but it's just USA Today anyway. Service is consistent with a friendly motel, not a full-service hotel. I encountered a very large bug in the room, but I don't think that's necessarily a reflection of a cleanliness issue. There was free wireless, and there's also a free business center with PCs and copy/scan/fax capabilities. I understand there's a gym, but I didn't see it.
I picked this hotel for the location, which is perfect for South Beach partying. Unfortunately, I was in town for a conference, and I got more spring break partying than I anticipated: there was constant revelry from about 11 pm to 5 am -- not necessarily from the hotel guests, but from the whole street scene. The people watching was first-rate.
Indigo is trying to be a W knock-off, but it's not in the same league -- at least comparing the two hotels in Miami Beach. I'm not complaining, though. The prevailing rates at the W (and the other nicer hotels on the beach) were about 4 times as much as I paid at the Indigo.
As a Platinum Ambassador, I received an upgrade to a suite they said was the largest in the hotel. It was on the second floor of the "Bel Aire" building This isn't the main building with the reception and bar areas; it has exterior corridors. The room had a large living room with a big flat screen tv. The bedroom had a smaller flat screen tv and a king bed with 4 pillows featuring Indigo "curl up" logos. The floors in the living and bedrooms were wood (carpet would be a disaster in the humid climate). The room was newly renovated, including a modern bathroom -- although, curiously, the floor in the bathroom was not new. The windows looked original and weren't the best for insulating from the considerable street noise.
Bathroom amenities were Aveda. Housekeeping never replaced them. I only received a newspaper 1 out of 4 days, but it's just USA Today anyway. Service is consistent with a friendly motel, not a full-service hotel. I encountered a very large bug in the room, but I don't think that's necessarily a reflection of a cleanliness issue. There was free wireless, and there's also a free business center with PCs and copy/scan/fax capabilities. I understand there's a gym, but I didn't see it.
I picked this hotel for the location, which is perfect for South Beach partying. Unfortunately, I was in town for a conference, and I got more spring break partying than I anticipated: there was constant revelry from about 11 pm to 5 am -- not necessarily from the hotel guests, but from the whole street scene. The people watching was first-rate.
Indigo is trying to be a W knock-off, but it's not in the same league -- at least comparing the two hotels in Miami Beach. I'm not complaining, though. The prevailing rates at the W (and the other nicer hotels on the beach) were about 4 times as much as I paid at the Indigo.