Claridge — Hotel Review Rating: 2.5 Pearls

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Oyster Hotel Review

Reporter: Dipayan G.
Updated: October 5, 2009

 Scene

The Claridge does a commendable job at echoing its Mediterranean architecture -- a large archway at the entrance, terra-cotta tiles, intricate wrought-iron and wood-work -- with beachy items like rattan furniture and bright accent colors and textiles. But obviously fake imitations of over-the-top antiques can make the hotel feel dated and a little tacky.

"Cute" is the term most often used by guests on TripAdvisor to describe the hotel's style and its simple but clean rooms.

The hotel attracts a wide variety of guests, many of whom are international and therefore have slightly lower expectations for amenities than many Americans. There's very little going on in the neighborhood, and even the on-site restaurant is depressingly empty. For the price (as low as $89/night in summer), you could do MUCH worse. The Claridge is comfortable, clean, and a block away from the beach, but the money guests save by staying north of all the action ends up going toward transportation to find restaurants, bars, or any type of lively scene.

 Service

Highlights include a 24-hour reception desk, and a concierge able to provide guests with free passes to South Beach nightclubs. The front desk also gives guests beach towels free of charge. Yet the general sentiment seems to be that, while the staff doesn't detract from the Claridge, it doesn't add much to it, either.

"For the four nights we spent there, I don't recount ever seeing any staff member smile!" writes one TripAdvisor reviewer. "Worse still: When one asked for assistance, they made it seem like you were bugging them. I just think it's a waste, given that the hotel itself is not at all bad."

 Location

The hotel is along busy Collins Avenue, and the area is known to attract a transient population (translation: there can be bums around, but that's pretty common anywhere in Miami).

On the downside, the Claridge is across the street from the beach, and in fact faces a parking lot. On the plus side, this means most of the hotel's rooms have great ocean views since there's no building in the way to block the water.

There isn't much around in the way of amenities. Creature comforts like a 24-hour Walgreen's and Starbucks are each about a mile south, and there are few restaurants within walking distance. Things may be changing, though, as the ultra chichi Cipriani Ocean Resort and Club Residences recently opened just two blocks away. Soho Beach House, nine blocks north, is slated to open in 2010. In the meantime, the action is still a 15-minute, $7-$10 cab ride south in SoBe.

 Beach

Generally, the shorefront in Mid-Beach is less densely populated than the coastline farther south. It also lacks the flat hard-ground component that more than doubles the width of the beach down there. But Mid-Beach is not crowded. There's room to stretch out and relax, but far fewer bikini babes and macho bodybuilders.

 Rooms

Standard guest-rooms, at about 290 square feet, have one or two queen beds and a view of either a nearby canal or other buildings in the area. Terra-cotta tile floors help create a feeling of airiness, but might seem sparse to some. Standard room amenities include mini-refrigerators, 350-count sheets (beds are often praised among TripAdvisor reviewers), iHome iPod docks, and both wired and wireless Internet (at a cost of $5.99/day). Rooms have old TVs (though the hotel says it's upgrading to flat-screens before May 2010) with 75 satellite channels, but no HBO or other premium channels.

Not all rooms have proper desks (mine had only a small vanity table), so guests who intend to work during their stay should ask the reservationist for a room with a comfy work space.

Sinks are separate from the bathroom, in a corner across from the bed. While I know this feature's not uncommon in Miami hotels (and can even be convenient), there's nothing romantic about flossing or taking out contact lenses in front of one's partner.

The bright, blue-walled bathroom is a little narrow, with just a toilet and an unexciting shower/tub. The hotel touts the Tarocco toiletries, which include shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, and soap.

For about $40 more, guests can upgrade to a deluxe-view room, some of which offer balconies (for the same price) and all of which have beautiful views of the ocean across the street. These rooms have the same square footage as standard rooms (and also offer the choice of one or two queen beds), so guests are definitely paying for the view.

"We had a seaside room with a big balcony, but no chairs or table. Having breakfast there would be wonderful," laments one disappointed TripAdvisor review. Other common guest comments include a few mentions of paper-thin walls, and occasional complaints about mildew via the shower curtains and air conditioner.

In addition to the 42 guest rooms, there are six junior suites that, at 350 square feet, include a separate queen bedroom and a pullout couch. There are also two penthouse suites.

 Features

And the award for the dumbest use of lobby space goes to the Claridge for its "spa pool" at the far end of the area. The smell of chlorine and dampness emanating from the dark corner permeates the entire building. The pool is not particularly large; in fact, the hotel's website touts it as "Miami's largest indoor Jacuzzi." At the very least it is clean and visually interesting, with its Mediterranean tile and stained glass windows.

There is a small fitness room in the basement for those who need more cardio than the one-block walk to the beach. The room consists of nothing more than a stationary bike and one treadmill, but at least it's free.

Parking at the Claridge is a frequent headache for guests. "Be prepared to wake at 8:00 a.m. each morning to feed the parking meter at the lot across the street, or pay the hotel charge [$15/day]. The hotel garage includes no valet, and you must open and close a heavy gate each time you enter or leave the hotel parking," warns one reviewer.

"The parking is a gated lot under apartments behind the Hotel. You can't get to the lot from the hotel and must walk on the street. A fair number of bums were hanging around," writes another.

Business travelers are often disappointed with the Claridge's services. "The hotel advertises that one of the amenities is a conference room, complete with phones, fax machines, and printers. It's a room with a table. I had to find a Kinko's to get documents printed," writes a disappointed traveler. The hotel does have a small business center in the lower lobby with a PC, printer, and fax machine.

 Family

For those who don't mind doing a lot of driving, the Claridge does offer a number of rooms with two queen beds (as well as six suites more suited to sleeping a family of four). Forget about walking to any family-friendly attractions, though. Yes, the Mediterranean restaurant has a kids' menu, but the hotel has very little to offer kids (no swimming pool, just a Jacuzzi). The beach is right across the street. However, there are plenty of other family-friendly places that also have a beach.

 Pets

Owners must notify the hotel about their pets in advance of their stay. Pets are expected to be well-behaved, quiet, and leashed in all public areas. Pets more than 20 pounds are not allowed, without exception.

 Cleanliness

There was the distinctive smell of Doritos in my room. I couldn't decide whether it was Cool Ranch or Nacho Cheese but, unless it's in chip form, it's not a welcome scent! In fact, smells are the worst thing about the hotel -- strong, sweet, floral air-freshener at the entrance, overpowering chlorine in the lobby near the pool...and then nachos.

Other than that, the rooms and common areas are tidy.

 Food

The restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner, and also provides room service to guests. The broad menu includes Caesar salad, baked brie, lobster bisque, and mahimahi.

 Bottom Line

Across the street from a quiet stretch of beach and 20 blocks from South Beach partying, the 50-room, Mediterranean-style Claridge stands out amidst Mid-Beach's sea of condos. But the old rooms could use revamping, the indoor wading pool just makes the lobby smell like chlorine, and the vacant restaurant can be depressing.