Aloft Miami – Brickell

Aloft Miami Brickell is a chain outpost with its own point of view. The hotel, a Starwood property, is trendy and modern, with a touch of industrial decor and nightclub-style lighting throughout, even in the guest rooms. The vibe is relaxed, not cookie-cutter chain, and the hotel’s design and features encourage guests to go downstairs to work or socialize in the common areas. Toward this end, there's no room service, and while the bar serves food, guests must come down to the lobby to pick up their burgers if they choose to eat in their rooms. The idea is that they will stay and mingle. One small miscalculation, though: The lobby music tends to be too loud and driving for casual conversation. At times, the lobby feels like a shared workspace, packed with guests glued to their laptops. A good share of business travelers are drawn to the hotel's location, near the business and financial district, and the lobby features a combo stock ticker and LED news zipper sign, so that no one misses any crucial news. There is a lobby pool table, a busy bar and lounge area, and a 24-hour snack shop. All in all, the Aloft Miami Brickell is a hotel with nightclub aspirations -- fun and youthful, with hip (but busy) clientele, and a thriving social scene.

The Aloft Miami Brickell is conveniently located for business travelers -- it's on the edge of the city’s financial and business center, about three miles from downtown Miami, an 11-minute drive away. The James L. Knight International Center, an entertainment, convention and exhibition space, is within a five-minute drive, and the American Airlines Arena is about a 10-minute drive away. The immediate surrounding area is being rapidly built up (which means lots of construction sites and unspectacular room views). About a seven-minute walk from the front door is Mary Brickell Village, with plenty of shops and restaurants, and a full-size supermarket. Also a block away is the metro, which takes riders anywhere in the city. The Port of Miami, where the cruise ships dock, is about a 10-minute drive away (the hotel offers shuttle service for a fee). Sites of the annual Art Basel shows and glamorous South Beach are within a 15-minute drive. Other nearby sites include the Frost Museum of Science and the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, both about 10 minutes away by car. Miami International Airport is a 15- to 20-minute drive, depending on traffic. 

Rooms at the Aloft Miami Brickell are clean and spacious, with decor inspired by loft-style living, with light-wood furniture, colorful pillows, wall-to-wall carpeting, and bright urban prints on the walls. Each room has lots of open space and large windows, and many have balconies, although the views are nothing special. Beds are either king- or queen-size, and because so much of the clientele consists of business travelers, there are substantial work areas with ergonomic desk chairs, and charging stations with both USB and tablet ports. Bathrooms are sleek and attractive, with rainfall showerheads and luxe Bliss toiletries in large dispensers in the shower. All rooms come with 42-inch flat-screen TVs with cable, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and safes. Connecting rooms are available upon request.

The Aloft Miami Brickell features a small, peaceful outdoor pool surrounded by a pretty stone deck, shielded from the city by a wall of palm trees and tropical plants and daybeds -- the pool area is especially nice in the evening. The fitness center has a handful of cardio machines, free weights, physio balls, and other equipment, with a large TV on the wall. Guests get a free continental breakfast, and for lunch and dinner, the WXYZ Bar and Lounge, with a bank of TVs along its walls, offers a gastropub menu and a happy hour featuring signature cocktails. Re:charge is a 24-hour snack shop with a variety of food and drink. Despite its hip decor and business amenities, the Aloft also appeals to families by including children's programs that give kids playful bedding and games. The Aloft provides a shuttle to the cruise ship terminal for a surcharge. Wi-Fi is available throughout.