Shelborne South Beach Hotel

My review is a few months late, hopefully the closure is due to the all the feedback they have received and are in the process of implementing changes for the better. I stayed here towards the end of 2023. It was a family vacation. Apart from the location and access to the beach, there was nothing else to praise about our hotel stay. The rooms were average, the room where father stayed in has the AC unit right next to the bed above his head and it made the loudest racket. The bathroom in the room was just a bit bigger than an aircraft washroom. Phone in the room wasn’t working, elevators kept breaking down and the washrooms in the pool area were filthy. I decided then I would never go back here.

The hotel itself looks dated upon first site. The lobby was nice and well maintained and the cafe there was great. Upon getting to my room, however, I was incredibly disappointed at how small and dated it was. The bathroom was so small and the shower-TINY!! And it leaked out/flooded into the bathroom. Paint chips and dents and stuff all over the walls/vanity. The pool area was good, bartenders nice. Beach service was pretty bad too, rude guys and there were fees for umbrellas. For how expensive it was, it was a huge disappointment. Made the best of it, but I would not stay here again and would not recommend.

First time staying at this hotel. Loved the location, the grounds were nice. The rooms were what you would expect in South Beach, small but not a big deal since we didn't spend much time there. We were excited to have a balcony, however, the lock on the balcony was broken and could not be locked which was a bit concerning (safety). Noise from construction of the hotel next door was somewhat annoying. The reason for the low rating was due to the staff service -- they were not friendly or welcoming. When we went to ask questions, they acted as if we were bothering them. However, I'll give the beach staff a shout out because they were very cheerful, inviting and happy to help. In general the vibe was off at this hotel. For the price, there are other 4-star hotels in the area that I'd prefer to stay where I've had better experiences.

This place is average. The rooms are terribly put together, the beds are passable if you're drunk but certainly not great if you aren't. My television is in the corner, by the window, and it's actually angled toward the window, so you get that perfect sunny glare. The bathroom is trash with tons of dust in the vents, my sink didn't drain (had to call someone), the shower handle spins around so you have to find the right spot for hot water and to turn it off, and the outlet is above the mirror, where there are two open light bulbs without a cover, which I can't deal is an actual "look" or just ugly. There are few outlets in good areas, and there's no way any vacuumed this floor. The ironing board is like the tiny one you use in a dorm, so there's no where to actually use it. Plus, I asked for a king bed and instead got two queens. The good part is the pool is nice, the location is great, the staff is friendly and seemingly helpful, and the restaurant isn't too bad. Some nice bars in the place. You don't mind being trashy in the room because they don't seem to care either. I paid a low price of like $179 for the room so it's not the worst deal. I only did this because I try not to expense too high for work. But had I come with my wife she'd not be impressed at all, and would like be grossed out by this place in general. Oh, the bolt lock on my door also doesn't work.

While in Florida, we decided to visit Miami and stayed at the Shelborne Hotel. It is a lovely hotel, but we did have a few issues during our stay. We had reserved and paid for the Ocean View Room. When we arrived at our room, it was a Partial View room, not the room we had reserved. We had to spend about 30 minutes dealing with the room issue at the front desk. When we finally got our proper room, it was right next to the elevators, and you could hear them running up and down all night. The room was adequate but not in the best of condition, and it had a musty odour. The toilet paper holder in the bathroom was broken, and the shower water was only lukewarm at best. We called ahead of time to confirm the price of valet parking and were told (and according to the website) that it was $40, but when we arrived, they told us it was $50. We spent some time in the pool and enjoyed the short walk to the beach. There were numerous restaurants and things to do at night, and the overall location was excellent. Our reservation included a delicious breakfast buffet. We're not sure we'd stay there again, but it was okay for our first visit to Miami.

I recently had the unfortunate opportunity to stay at a hotel that was meant to be the highlight of our trip, but it turned out to be a complete disappointment. My experience was marred by the hotel's refusal to return my holding deposit of $300 US, despite numerous attempts to contact them. First and foremost, it is important to note that it has been over a month since my stay, and I have made multiple calls and sent several emails requesting the return of my deposit. However, to my dismay, I have received no response from the hotel's customer service team. Instead, all I have received are empty promises that someone would contact me, which has never materialized. This lack of communication and disregard for my concerns has caused immense stress and frustration. It is extremely disappointing when a hotel, which is supposed to provide a luxurious experience, fails to fulfill its basic obligations. The fact that the hotel refuses to provide a valid reason for withholding my deposit only adds insult to injury. Customer service plays a pivotal role in the hospitality industry, and in this case, the hotel has demonstrated a severe lack of professionalism and courtesy. Their complete disregard for my repeated attempts to resolve this matter reflects poorly on their commitment to customer satisfaction. It is disheartening to have such a negative experience, especially when the expectation was to have a memorable and enjoyable stay. The hotel's failure to address my concerns and provide a reasonable explanation for withholding my deposit has left me with a bitter taste and a strong urge to caution others against choosing this establishment.

I liked Shelborne. Most of the people that worked there were very nice, except for a few people who worked at the front desk. The rooms looked good, but were smaller than their on-line pics represented. Not a lot of room to move around, especially for a couple. They have a couple of lounges, and a sizable pool, with cabanas for rent. The cabanas are $600.00 for the day, which is approximately 12 hours. There's a beach behind the hotel, which only hotel patrons can access. It's a decent beach, but only decent. The hotel is located within South Beach, Miami. Every business charges a %20 service fee, and the hotel is no different. Everything you could want can be found in South Beach, but the cost is high because the whole of South Beach is a tourist trap, and that's coming from folks who live in other parts of Florida, and avoid the area whenever possible.

We did a reservation for 4 days and they had given me a total price and on top I had to pay a $100 deposit (says on website). When I arrived, the asked me for a $300 deposit! Which I did not mind until I got back home and realized that they overcharged my card over $100!. Yeah I know it’s not much, but it’s not cool that a “luxury” hotel is doing this to their guests! I spent over $400 in their spa for 2 massages, bought a lot of food there and tipped the workers good. Yet they still overcharge my card. Never going back! Beautiful lobby, but outdated rooms for sure! Lobby doesn’t match the rooms at all, I’d rather stay in the lobby that my room. Too expensive for what they actually offer. (Room wise) Always waiting on valet parking to take my keys or give them to me. I believe they scratched the side of my car without telling me. Too bad I seen all of this when I got home. I would have loved to talk to the manager.