Hampton Inn Miami-Airport West

This value chain property isn't high style -- it's cream stucco exterior and swaths of parking lot are familiar to many a Hampton Inn regular -- but few hotels this close to a major airport offer a stylish sun-and-shade outdoor pool. The lobby has the requisite patterned carpet and large, inexpensive light fixtures, but it also has a perky lounge with communal tables where a free breakfast is served daily. All-day grazing with free coffee, flavored waters, fruits, and other snacks is also available in the spacious lobby, where a TV is always on and clusters of cushy sofas and chairs provide seating. Overall, this Hampton Inn isn't glamorous, but it gets the job done for travelers in transit.

The hotel is about a 15-minute drive to Miami International Airport, and it operates a free shuttle service. It's also a quick drive to a variety of popular tourist destinations, such as the Mall of America Miami (six-minute drive), the Miami Springs Golf Course (eight-minute drive), and the Frost Art Museum (15-minute drive). South Beach is about a 20- to 25-minute drive away, and Sun Life Stadium, home turf to the Miami Dolphins Football Team, takes about the same time. The American Airlines Arena, where the Miami Heat Basketball Team plays, is also a 20- to 25-minute drive, as is the University of Miami in Coral Gables.

Rooms are spacious, with relatively formulaic -- though pleasant -- chain-hotel decor that wobbles between traditional and contemporary. Walls are painted various neutral hues with the occasional periwinkle- or celery-hued accent. Beds have wooden headboards in a cherry finish and white linen duvets. The rest of the decor is a mix of patterns, from swirly contemporary designs on the carpet, to traditional checks or stripes on draperies. All rooms have 42-inch flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, air-conditioning, irons and ironing boards, and lap desks for working in bed. The bathrooms are big and brightly lit, with wall-spanning granite counters surrounding sinks, tub/shower combos, hairdryers, and Neutrogena toiletries. Travelers should note that some guests complain about cleanliness issues, and noise might be an issue due to thin walls.

Though there's no restaurant or bar on-site, breakfast is free at the Hampton Inn Miami-Airport West, and it's served in the lobby at small round or long communal tables. There's also a small mini-mart that sells snacks and other essentials, while free coffee, flavored water, and fruit is available all day in the lobby. The property has a large outdoor pool surrounded by a pleasant sundeck dotted with palm trees and lined with loungers and umbrella-shaded tables. Business travelers are catered to with a 9,038-square-foot conference center and a meeting room, as well as a business center with computers, a printer, and a fax. A small fitness center is equipped with a couple of machines and free weights, and coin-operated laundry facilities are also available on-site. The hotel offers a free shuttle to and from the airport, and free luggage storage. Wi-Fi is free throughout, as is parking.