Sofitel Miami - Miami

We have all heard that ' the camera lie'. So true when it comes to photos of the Sofitel Airport Miami. The hotel staff were rather unwelcoming and bored. Hotel room was large but a bit stuck in the 80's. The pool, albeit small, was pleasant and the terrace at sunset is impressive. The price of dinner was expensive and then one had to pay 19% gratuity plus $2 delivery charge so a pizza cost >$30! (best to take the free shuttle and deliver it yourself from the numerous restaurants there). The place is really in the middle of nowhere so don't expect to find much outside the hotel grounds. If you are really stuck use it but my feeling is you are better off downtown or south beach - the taxi fare is less than the pizza!♠

The courtesy hotel coach will take you the few minutes trip to the hotel which we found to have a pleasant modern feel. Much better than many airport (overnight) venues we have stayed in.

Rather than wait for the shuttle bus (could'nt locate the pickup point-courtesy phone we found was dead) we took a ten minute $14 taxi. Hotel is in a nice setting and the immediate area is landscaped commercial office blocks. The lobby, as are all the public areas, was nice, quite classy in fact. All of the staff were pleasant and courteous. However, we were disappointed in the state of the corridor areas and our room (but we did have a nice lagoon view and, one of a new building going up next door). These areas both showed advanced signs of wear, but were not dirty. Our room was opposite the the airport side but we were disturbed by aircraft noise- be aware. We ate an evening bar meal in the spacious relaxing bar area and then had breakfast in the very nice restaurant. Prices were typical of, what you would expect in an airport hotel never mind Miami. There is a Publix supermarket four or so blocks away, but not much else to walk to. We took advantage of the hotel arranged shuttle to the cruise port at $10 a head, but bear in mind a taxi should only be about $24 anyway.