If you are looking for spacious, comfortable rooms for a family, this hotel is a good choice. For competitive rates, you can get a "suite" that has a little pull-out couch and sitting room divided from the double beds by the bathroom area, but not by actual walls. There are also nice little balconies overlooking the ocean where two people can sit at a bistro table.

The pool area is pretty, with comfortable lounge chairs and a lot of palm trees. Unfortunately, both the pool and the hotel's beach area are shady from the early afternoon on, due to the height of this hotel and its neighbor to the south. On some parts of Miami Beach this wouldn't be as much of a problem, but the actual beach area is a little narrow in front of this hotel.

Which brings me to location: this hotel is in an area of Miami beach that does not have any shopping or restaurants (other than in other hotels) that are a walkable distance. In addition, this beach area is a little difficult for beach walking or swimming because it is narrow and quite pitched down to the water. There is a lot of sharp coral here as well so swimmers might want to bring water shoes.

While we were in general quite happy with this hotel, a couple issues were disappointing. On our first day, our air conditioning wasn't working at all, and unfortunately it took several calls to the front desk and management to get this fixed to our satisfaction. It was finally working by late afternoon on the second day. We also had some issues with housekeeping not giving us enough linens (e,g., it seems they think four people must share one washcloth), and while the front desk staff always seemed enthusiastic about helping us, they only followed through about half the time. The concierge and parking valets were knowledgeable and helpful, though.

There is a nice little coffee and gelato shop in the lobby, and the gelato is delicious. A luxurious little perk was the fruit-infused water always available and free in the lobby and at the pool. The flavors were different each day, and all were refreshing and good. We were not as excited about the food from the restaurant. It was just okay.

Like another reviewer of this hotel, we had a discrepancy on our final bill upon checkout. We had been promised a reduction in the first night's rate because of not having air conditioning, but the adjustment hadn't actually been made to our account. (Another example of the front desk staff acting helpful but not really following through.) Luckily we noticed, and the adjustment was cheerfully made.

Stayed there for five nights during the holiday season.

There motto is "affordable luxury", which lead us to expect a little more than we got.

Basically everything was good, just not luxury. The room rate was pretty high, I don't normally pay this type of rates myself. I guess that the season was the reason for this.

The hotel is located quite far from everywhere, so if you plan to dine somewhere else than the one restaurant the hotel provides, the only options within a walking distance are the restaurants in the neighboring hotels. So you need a taxi to South Beach. Take that into consideration when booking here !

The hotel has a pretty nice pool area, although it was in the shadow for most of the day. The pool bar was also nice, although would have preferred the option to drink in actual glasses when not in poolside.

The hotel has private access to beach, which was also nice. However the big minus was that they wanted to charge extra for using their sun chairs. I would have expected that service to be included in the hotel price just as well as the sun chairs at the pool side were included.

The room was big enough for two, even perhaps spacious, but since we were a family of four on the move we were a little crammed. This was one of the drawbacks, the word luxury had us hoping at least a little bit more.

The hotel has some other services, one dinner restaurant that doubles as a breakfast restaurant, poolside bar, sandwich bar and a lobby bar and then one additional bar on the 7th floor. Also a pretty nice gym on the 7th floor. Since there were no 3rd party dinner options near by, I would have hoped the hotel to have at least one or two more dinner options.

The staff was nice, in particular the bartender on the poolside bar.

Just checked out today. Booked due to decent reviews on TA. However here's what happened.

Drove from Orlando, requested an early checkin for 1pm, we arrived at 2pm.

It's on 48th street, so quite too far to walk down to Ocean, valet parking went great.

At reception our english visa card was blocked by the bank, the guy just threw it back at me and said it doesn't work and he walked off. So I call the bank and it's now working. After driving for 4 hours with kids, I did expect the room to be ready. The girl just said no rooms are ready for checkin until 4pm, here's your towel cards and off you go. (just wait for 2 hours.. I guess ?) The kids go to bed at 6pm.

I then point out I asked specifically asked for an early checkin, I booked direct. She said no rooms are ready. At no point did she bother to check with housekeeping. The check out is 10am so yes of course some rooms would be available.

Then, she informs me they have a smoking room available, so I take it. Rather than walk about after a long drive, needing a shower with two young children.

Ocean front room, clean and tidy. Few things wrong and shabby but what a view.

Start putting the cash, cards and laptop into the safe, It doesn't work.. An hour later and two calls to reception and a guy arrives to fix it.

Off to the beach, which is steps away.

Evening meal, ok. Steaks good, tuna not so much. Cost $140, not so bad for south beach.

Off to bed, early. Its very noisy, it's like a party door slamming contest, shouting, not great for the kids. They needed milk, asked for a litre on room service. In a shop that's about $1, arrived costing $14 lol. Yes I think they are taking the PXXX.

Then at about 1am, knock knock. open the door in my pants (not a good sight) two young girls, hi can we come in ? eeerrr no. I think you may have the wrong room. strange stare for 10 seconds of silence, she says Can I borrow some hair gel ? ok this is getting really odd. I then pointed out I don't actually have any hair (skinhead) She smiles then looks downstairs..

Anyway, back to bed. The other half asks if I'd ordered the prostitutes. So I pointed out that I couldn't actually afford them here..

Another odd thing is the towel cards, they hand them out like it's the most important thing in the world. Then at the back of the hotel, there's the towel guy. Just ask for as many towels as you want and he hands them over, doesn't bother asking for cards. I asked him what are the cards for, he says "there towel cards" I then point out that I he doesn't ask for them. SO it's pointless giving guests cards in the first place.


Ate out for the other days/nights and got some milk around the corner at a wallgreen for $2, big bottle.

Leaving morning, walk up. And there's a very strong smell of weed. Normally wouldn't mind however I'm here with the children. I call reception to complain and he's basically saying he doesn't know what weed/dope is. I then inform him that I'll call the police if he doesn't sort this out. Few minutes later another guest gets a knock on his door. Dope smell goes away.

Checked out, left the bill signed in the express box. Why do people wait to stand over the key cards and collect the bill in an envelope ?

Valet parking, hand over the card. It takes them 25 minutes to find the keys to the rental car, it's busy but it's not rocket science, you have a car, key and ticket number. Useless. Lot's of other people waiting and everyone's getting annoyed.

Wouldn't stay again, Infact I'm not. I'm booking a hotel called Breakwater on Ocean Drive for early feb, staff actually do care about their guests. I stayed there last year, also I'd recommend EPIC which is on Biscayne Bay.

Overall, not good at Grand Beach Hotel. It could be so much better, sack the staff, bring in some new management with some training. Cost $1500 for a couple of nights stay and food/drink.

Wifi free and good coverage everywhere, login "guest" password "welcome", yes they hand that out too at reception like its a big secret. I bet the reply from the hotels says we are delighted you liked our WI-fi.

Stuck without luggage, the staff was very accommodating and friendly...
I would stay here again in a heartbeat!!! beautiful location!!!!
The staff made us feel like royalty...with the ultimate service with a smile and were genuinely happy to work there. Would have liked to stay longer since the rooms were perfectly comfortable for our family of four!!!