Crowne Plaza Miami Airport

Comprised of six floors and entirely bland and box-like from the exterior, the Crowne Plaza Miami Airport is elegant inside, albeit in a classic, somewhat old-school sort of way. Ceilings are low and most rooms -- including the lobby -- are dimly lit. The chairs and lounges in the lobby are not especially comfortable but the Buena Vista Lounge is bright and has several pairs of tall, comfortable armchairs in front of the windows. The pool is clean with plenty of lounge chairs and the fitness center is expansive with brand new, state-of-the-art treadmills and stationary bikes, most face out the glass wall for views of the pool.

Situated less than two miles from Miami International Airport, it’s about five minutes by car or shuttle to the terminal and the hotel is at Le Jeune Road close to the intersection of 836 Dolphin Expressway. The surrounding area is mostly commercial and not very attractive for tourists. There are a few local restaurants -- mostly Cuban -- within a 10-minute walk, but the best bet for interesting surroundings is the two-mile, 10-minute drive to the nice shops and restaurants of Coral Gables. The Port of Miami is about 15 minutes away and South Beach about 20, depending on traffic.

Although most of the Crowne Plaza’s 308 rooms are rather dimly lit with low ceilings and heavy orange curtains, the beds are enormous and super comfortable. Each room is equipped with free, reliable Wi-Fi access and large flat-screen TV, a desk and rolling office chair, armchair, floor lamp, coffeemaker, safe, and rather loud air-conditioning unit. Only the Executive Rooms and suites come with a mini-fridge. Suites are spacious with a separate living room outfitted with a couch and armchairs, as well as a counter and bar area with sink and mini-fridge. Bathrooms in all rooms are clean but narrow. Some have large stand-up glass showers and others have shower tubs. All include long countertops, cosmetic mirrors, and hairdryers. 

In addition to the free shuttle to and from the airport that runs every 20 minutes, the Crowne Plaza Miami Airport offers free standard Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel. Business travelers will appreciate a large banquet room, board room, business center, and several meeting rooms. There's a spacious outdoor pool, huge, bright fitness center with new equipment and a cafe serving a full breakfast buffet (included in some room packages), then sandwiches, steak, and seafood for lunch and dinner. The lounge with full bar is open from late morning to late night. Ample parking is subject to a daily fee.