Bel Aire South Beach Hotel

, Miami Beach, United States
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Bel Aire South Beach Hotel

, Miami Beach
3 star

Rooms: 135

1050 Washington Avenue - Miami Beach - Florida - 33139 - United States Hotel Website | 3056741930
399 Traveller

Reviews - Bel Aire South Beach Hotel

1/10
Terrible service and staff
Submitted by: Jamie in 26/07/06
  • Age Group: 26 - 30
  • From: United States
  • Traveller type: Mature Couple
The valet parking staff stole my car stereo and damaged my dash board. There was no forced entry into my car. I know the dirty valet attendants stole my stereo because they had my car keys for two days. The hotel managers did not compensate me in any way or form, not even an apology. The hotel smelled like urine, the staff working at the desk was very unfriendly and housekeeping never showed up.
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1/10
Terrible Service, don't trust room service!
Submitted by: Andrew & Czarina in 12/12/06
  • Age Group: 26 - 30
  • From: Canada
  • Traveller type: Family Traveller
So after spending $18 a night on top of my room rate for valet service, they made me wait 45 minutes to get my car. This is our second visit to this hotel, I would rate our first visit an 8. The staff were great and our experience was fantastic. Our second visit is a 1.....and I'm being nice about the 1. Like I previously stated the valet service was terrible, the valet employees were rude. To make things worse, my mother and mother in law had their jewelry mysteriously go missing from their luggage on the last day of our stay. My wife asked one of the employees at the desk as to why he was so crabby and his answer was, " I just finished a 12 hour shift and now I have to close." Which means he was working 24 hours straight, hey Best Western isn't there a law against that! My advice to you Best Western is: hire new staff, improve your valet service, replace your dated elevators and most of all run criminal background checks on your Room Service and Valet staff, because I'm sure Police reports coming from your establishment would be bad for business.
8/10
It Was A Real Pleasure Staying With You!!!
Submitted by: Maria-Julia in 05/10/05
  • Age Group: 41 - 50
  • From: Spain
  • Traveller type: Family Traveller
Our vacation in South Beach was actually fantastic, the location, the area, the communication to other places was the best that we could wish then. We certainly would stay there again in the future.
2/10
Not The Best Western ! ! ! !
Submitted by: Paul in 05/10/05
  • Age Group: 41 - 50
  • From: United Kingdom
  • Traveller type: Mature Couple
Well where do I start ! !
Staff poorly trained and using the ' we don't speak English' get out. Little did they know we were watching them take directions and give replies, in English.
The reception staff/day manager was told a number of times that the security door at the back was left open with a wedge. Was there anything done about it, of course not. The breakfast service was poor, at best, with many items, such as orange juice running out daily. Many other guests were complaining constantly. A mental handicapped, early morning, person used the pool every morning for a wash. Nothing was done about this and the Police Station was on the other side of the road. The hotel needed a good clean. Do I keep going, well just one more thing. We complained, in writing, and had no reply. When we wrote again and attached a copy of the original letter, the response was the offer of a free days stay next time we book in. As if we would !!!!!!
The only plus was the exterior of the art deco building itself, at night.
2/10
Never More
Submitted by: Marie Staihar in 03/11/05
  • Age Group: 51 - 60
  • From: United States
  • Traveller type: Family Traveller
After our disappointing stay at the B.W. in S.B.--we dubbed this hotel as the WORST WESTERN! Our pitiful hotel room looked nothing like the website pics or their brochure! Worn-out and dark with our window overlooking a courtyard that looked like it would be a great place for the filming of a horror movie. We were placed in the next door tired building and though I pleaded with the desk staff to move us (I volunteered to pay extra) they stated that that was the room reserved for me thru the internet booking agency. I got the impression that the staff found this to be humorous. So we were stuck there for 5 nights (you pay up front to the internet agency) even though I saw other rooms that were/or became vacant. NEVER MORE will I book thru an internet travel/hotel-find agency. And as far as this hotel goes...again, NEVER MORE!!!!!!!!!!!
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Historical Traveller Reviews of Bel Aire South Beach Hotel

Had a great time

from A TripAdvisor Member
Was in Miami/South Beach in May for the first time, having booked online. Arrived at this truly horrible hotel at first, and the online service helped me arrange for another hotel. I'd seen this one earlier and suggested it. I was pleased from my arrival to my departure. I've staying in several hotels in the U.S. and abroad, and this was a positive experience. The neon lit interior was cool and the staff members were friendly -- mind you, I generally am not looking to make best friends with the employees at these places. My room was clean and faced the police station. The secured weight room needed a little work, but at least the hotel had one. I felt safe at all times. The best was my late night (5AM) swim in the 24-hour pool. This hotel is not The Ritz, and I'm not looking to stay in The Ritz when I'm in a cool place like South Beach. It is, however, a decent hotel for a decent price. Hope to stay there again.

a bit shabby

from Tigerlilly2006
I stayed at this hotel in July 2004. I found one of the receptionist extrememly rude both on the phone and on arrival. We were then given a room which was in a separate building to the main reception. try to avoid taking a room in another building as the rooms are damp in comparison to the rooms located in the same building as the reception. When we got into room, we found the carpet really wet from the damp and everything just seems muggy, there were ants in the bathroom and rust. I asked a different receptionist if we could change rooms and he was very kind and allowed us to, as well as this he gave us lot of sightseeing advice. the new room which was in the same building as the main reception was more fresh and clean and out of 10 i'd rate it a 5. Breakfast was fine. The location was good and i was never disturbed by anyone from the nearby club as mentioned in a previous review. overall it's an average hotel and some of the rooms are a bit shabby.

Dreadful

from Cla73
We stayed at this "hotel" in September 2003. We were originally impressed by the reception area but I think it was cleverly lit (in neon) to disguise the general shabbiness of the place. We were first allocated a room in the block furthes from the reception block. I have never seen such a disgusting room. There was mold all down the walls and the bathroom was even worse. It was disgusting. Stupidly we asked for another room (we should have left altogether). The next room they offered us was in the middle block. It was a bit better than the first, in that there was no mold, but like someone has already said, there was a very strong lemony chemical smell that never left the room. We stayed for two nights then left. Would go back to South Beach but spend a bit more money and not stay in a flea pit. It makes my stomach turn to think what might have gone on in some of those rooms!

Mixrd feelings

from A TripAdvisor Member
I have very mixed feelings about this hotel. The location is almost perfect, shopping, clubbing and the beach very close, but the hotel itself needs some improvement: Our room was small (but average compared to other SoBe rooms), with almost no daylight and a rahter chemical smell. After heavy rain the water came through the wall above us. The staff is ok, friendly but without a smile and the breakfast in the lobby is not too bad. The hotel has 3 different houses, we have been in the central one, maybe the others are better. Conclusion: Not too bad for the price (USD 79,00) and the location is perfect, but if you are looking for some charme or hipness, choose another one.

Get The Corner Rooms!

from A TripAdvisor Member
Have just returned from a week at this hotel- The pictures may fool you a little as it is a small hotel. Please ask for one of the corner rooms as they are much bigger at the same price-I found that $ expidites this. Otherwise the rooms are tiny in that you can't pass each other. It is old, well maintained and very convenient art deco-formerly the Taft motel-never saw the exercise room but the lobby is about the size of my living room. Nic ely maintained though-would stay again IF I got a corner room. Next door to police station but quiet.

good average hotel

from A TripAdvisor Member
Stayed 6 nights march 29/04. After reading reviews was not looking forward to arriving at hotel but was pleased to find the hotel was perfectly adequate. Stayed in the main hotel bathrooms could do with a bit of updating but everything else was ok, maybe not the ritz but i didn't pay those sort of prices! The gay bar was not that close to the hotel only heard them twice. The breakfast wasn't that great but it got us going in the mornings and it was free!staff were ok and parking nearby was only 6 dollars a day 8 at weekends. Would stay again.

What a blast !

from A TripAdvisor Member
Having spent two glorious weeks in South Beach in October 2003, I could not think of a nicer place to stay than the Best Western, South Beach.
The staff provided a professional, friendly service at all times and went out of their way to make sure our stay at the hotel was an enjoyable one. Days and nights by the landscaped, uncrowded swimming pool will linger in my memory for a long time to come. Having fallen in love with South Beach, I will head straight for the Best Western upon my return. Fantastic value for money.

No Ritz Carlton, but Not Bad at All

from A TripAdvisor Member
You get what you pay for. I read all of the reviews about bad service, here, bad breakfast, bars on the window, etc. I just got back from my stay, and things were fine. The hotel is two blocks from the beach, and the rooms were clean and very nice. Service was great. After we checked in, the front desk called and asked us if we needed anything. When I told them that I forgot my shaving cream, they brought some right up.
When you are in South Beach, you primarily use your hotel to sleep, shower, and change clothes. If the previous reviewers were expecting the Ritz, then they should pony up and stay there next time. I thought the place was clean, good service, and it is in a great location.

embarressment for B.W.chain

from A TripAdvisor Member
Over past several yrs have stayed at this property 3 times.. never again.. don't know why it is called a Best Western because it is far from B.W. standards.. Good location if u wanna party at Twist (gay niteclub) across the street all nite and come to the hotel drunk and pass out.. dumpy rooms and expensive even for what u get.. last time had a mouse in the room who visited us every nite and climbed all over the counter and furniture.

A fine hotel for price/location

from A TripAdvisor Member
After booking the Best Western South Beach from hotels for $68 (about half the price of the other hotels in the area), I discovered this website and was dismayed by the reviews others gave this hotel.This is an honest opinion -- it's a fine hotel for the money. My boyfriend and I stayed there for a Friday and Saturday night in mid-December of 2003 and were very pleased with our experience. I would certainly stay there again. This isn't a fancy hotel by any means, but we found the check-in AND check out to be easy and quick, and the staff were pleasant. Considering the bad reviews of this place, maybe we caught them on a good weekend? The hotel itself was clean and well-maintained, and not even CLOSE to as bad as other reviewers seemed to think it was -- there ARE NOT bars on the hotel windows, like one reviewer said, in fact that's just the style of window on most of the hotels in the area.Our room was in the Taft Building, one of four buildings the hotel is made up of. It had interior corridors, a must for me (only the Bel-Aire building has the outside doors, so if you aren't into the whole motel vibe, request another building!)The room was well-appointed, which new carpeting, a very comfy king-size bed, a nice-size shower (with no tub, which I prefer), and a larger than usual fridge (perfect for bringing back leftovers from all the great restaurants in the city!)Location-wise, this hotel is a great choice if you want to be close to all the restaurants, bars and beach, but it's far enough from Ocean Drive that you can get a good night's sleep. We were in by 1 a.m. or so, and found the hotel quiet and comfortable at that time of night.Other reviews have said that safety was an issue, but to me, South Beach was like any other tourist city. Have your wits about you, but there's no reason to be fearful (especially with the police station right across the street). There are also tons of police out on weekends all over SoBe, so I felt very safe the entire time. I'd skip the walk down 11th Street to get to Ocean Drive however (it's a little sketchy, with tattoo parlors and such) but if you walk just one block down to 10th Street, it's just FINE.So, if you're looking for a budget hotel with a great location, this hotel is a fine match.

Top Local Tips for Miami Beach

Restaurants and Tipping My tip is to remember that most restaurants have already added a 17 % tip to your bill so if your bill seems a little high that's why and an additional tip is not necessary. Secondly, be sure to ask the price of "specials" if you are on a budget as I accidentally ordered an $85 dinner at a mid priced restaurant! It was yummy though.

Get a free apetizer Restaurants want you to eat at their establishment!! And boy do you have some great ones to choose from! And a LOT of them! You can get a free apetizer most times by hesitating to go to another place.

Get There Early!!! If you want to go to any of the clubs make sure you get there really early or you could stand in line for hours!!! (No exaggeration)

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Other names for Bel Aire South Beach Hotel

  • best western south beach
  • bel aire south beach miami
  • bel aire south beach hotel
  • Address: 1050 Washington Avenue - Miami Beach - Florida - 33139 - United States
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