Four Points by Sheraton Miami Beach [Master Thread]
 

I have read mixed reviews on this property and have two upcoming reservations there. Any recent reports? Treatment of Platinums? How far is it from the Hilton Fontainebleu...same area? Whats the best way to get downtown without having a rental car?

Thanks!

Last winter, pre-cruise: no upgrade tho' city-view room was not bad, really cheap as I recall, and about 3 buildings down from the Fountainbleu. Still too far to walk from SoBe but we had a rental car.

I've been there a couple of times since it opened: I can honestly say it's not bad for the money. The Sheraton on Biscayne Bay is about the same for more money and - for us, anyway - a worse location.

Not sure if you are talking about downtown Miami (across the causeway) or to the heart of S. Beach. Either way, cabs are plentiful, although a trip to downtown Miami will be expensive.

4 points SB is almost next door to the Fountainbeu. Easiest way between them is to walk out back to the beach boardwalk

This hotel is a dump. I stayed one night because I had to be at a meeting early in Miami one day. I got the SPG preferred floor. Most hotels in Miami Beach are terrible. Very worn out room, not worth more than 40.00 a night if that. The Fountainbleau has the great name. I believe they have some decent rooms there, however my brother stayed there last year and got the typical run down Miami room. He never complains. He told me the room was the absolute worst. Miami Beach is known for the poor quality of their hotels. The exception would be the Lowes which is very $$$. This might change as some new players get in the market. The Diplomat in Hollywood is a good example of a new quality property...rob

Have to agree with the fact that most Miami Beach Hotel are Dumps. The Loews is nice, as is the Marriott, or if you want to go off loyalty-plan, the Delano and Sagamore are nice, but these all are very expensive.

I wish a W could make it's way to SoBe.

I was here, the staff was pleasant and was upgraded to a suite "Zarkyntos" (?) on the 9th floor. Nothing special but nice enough, white furniture. Then again most Miami Beach Hotels are nothing special.
Annoyingly there was no reception on my Sprintphone so had to go down to the lobby to answer the phone...(if you have Sprint- do not stay here!!)

Sheraton Biscayne is OK there are no non-speciality suites (no suite upgrades here) so Plats get upgraded to top floor. The Starwood manager told me there was a lounge but it was currently shut down. They did offer status recognition though- when I checked in the agent yelled to the bellboy "We have a Platinum Guest here"...

What is wrong in Miami? Most Starwoods AND Hilton properties are rather low. Surprisingly the Holiday Inn downtown across Bayside Marketplace is very nice, upgrades to large suites, complimentary drinks, etc at very good rates. I would also recommend Inter-Continental Miami.



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KLM PE,HHonors Diamond,SPG Plat,PC Plat,SAS Silver

You receive a $10 certificate for either breakfast or evening drinks. Both the restaurant and the bar/lounge are located in the lobby.

I thought we were talking about Club level lounge? That is the one that was closed anyhow. Did not receive any certificate- because you are supposed to get complimentary breakfast in the lounge- only it was closed for renovation. It might be open now though?

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KLM PE,HHonors Diamond,SPG Plat,PC Plat,SAS Silver

checked-in. there was a spg line but it was not staffed. that was fine, since there was more than adequate staffing in the regular line and there was no wait. checked in before 10 AM. my platinum status was recognized and amenity proactively offered. since it was early, all that was available was a smoking executive suite. i went up for a sniff test and it was fine. the room overlooked the pool and ocean. it was fine.

i wasn't offered the executive floor and it may have even been closed since i checked in on thanksgiving for my one night stay.

i needed to cash a check and the woman at the front desk told me it was capped at $100. when i pointed out the $300 promise for platinum members, she had to get a front office manager to come out and do it personally. but, once the manager came out it was completed promptly.

by the way, the cheapest rate on spg.com for this property was $109. i found a $95.95 rate on hotels.com, so starwood matched plus 10%.

hotel is fine, nothing at all special. but, service was good. at the end of the day, i can't help but think starwood could have a nicer property in south beach.

Still A Dump
 

I must say that as far as SPG treatment goes, the upgraded room was nice - 9th floor suite, facing the ocean and pool. Other than that, it goes downhill:

SPG Gold and Platinum line was not staffed - waited in line for over 30 minutes. Got to counter at 2:30 - checked in with a co-worker. His room was ready - mine wasn't but they said that the room would be worth the wait. I take my bag to my co-workers room - awful hole in the wall, air conditioning barely functioning and hi-speed internet didn't work - also he had phone issues (dialing noises anytime he called anyone or anyone called him). And, the neighbors next door talking sounded like they were in his room. They finally moved him the next day after calling maintenance twice.

My room wasn't ready for check-in until 6:30 p.m. Decent size room - nice view, great sunrises. The whirlpool tub didn't work and wasn't repaired even though I reported it on my first day. All furnishings were extremely worn except for the new bed.

I had originally booked this room in order to make certain that I hit Platinum this year. I'm hitting platinum easily and tried to change my stay to the Loews Hotel where my conference was being held. Hotel block for conference was sold out....and their room rate was only $10 more per night. The Loews Hotel is absolutely incredible. I saw a couple of the rooms, beautiful with nice and plentiful amenities (instead of my Pantene and Jergens), the staff members that I dealt with were incredible, the grounds and common areas were beautiful. Of course, food and drink was extremely overpriced - but it would have been worth an extra $10 per night to not be in the dump that I'm in right now. :(

stayed twice over the last two years, last Jan 05
 

both times, at least one elevator out. Both times, nobody works at the loby bar, both times rooms were old and tired............It should not be a catagory 3 hotel..............................99 bucks is about the most it is worth

I am a die hard SPG Platinum I have stayed at this hotel before and you get what you pay for, but you are oceanfront, for the money not the worst place you can be, I love Bal Harbour, its a shame that Miami realestate has gone off the charts so much that a beautiful resort will be torn down to nothing and a St Regis will be there, regular folks will not be able to afford that luxury. One of my personal favorites is the South beach Marriott, SPG has got to get us another hotel on SoBe, soon, this W thing will probably take another two years, the Marriott is great, right next to Nikki Beach and walking distance to everything, but quiet at night, great spot

me, too. the hyatt just built an incredible park hyatt right on ocean drive next to the versace mansion. that could have very easily been a W. i couldn't imagine a location on this earth that screams W more than that one. i guess the economics didn't work for HOT.

but, guess where i will be staying this thanksgiving. :)

Four Points Miami Beach (Consolidated thread)
 

I need a couple more stays this year to keep my platinum status and I was wondering how the Miami Beach Four Points is? Is it nice?