We stayed at Hotel Victor in South Beach for our wedding anniversary and oh my god what a disappointment. I paid $700 a night for a "Bungalow Room" as a suprise for my wife. The room was advertised as a pool/ocean view and there are huge obstructions that block your view of anythin (They build solid walled day beds around the pool that effectively wall off the bungalow room's view.

We are avid readers of the reviews here at Trip Advisor and think the site is a GREAT resource. Believe us when we say BUYER beware. What you think you will get at the Victor is not what you will get.

I felt the staff at the Victor, with few exceptions, was more like what you would encounter at a Days Inn. The facilities are great, and so is the design. However, the services that they claim to give, which in theory are a good idea, as simply not there.
The "Vibe" director or concierge was never available. The people at the front desk seemed like teenagers on their after school job. At a hotel that cost $815 per night plus tax, I was advised by the front desk manager not to take a taxi to the shops at Bal Harbor because it cost $30 bucks. PLease, know your customer! That is what the Victor charges for an sandwich. And instead of offering me a car, he said, "well I would not do it", take a taxi to the shops that is. Great, that made me feel good. They were so out of symphony with what a luxury hotel must offer. The only people doing their jobs were the bell staff and room service, who were charming and enthusiastic. The rest get an F. The hotel needs to get with the program literally. The concepts are fantastic, they just need someone to whip them into shape. I will surely not stay there again until they address some of these issues with their undertrained and lethargic staff. However, I will for sure eat again at the VIX and perhaps have a drink at the bar. And note check in is at 4pm, which seemed very late to us. At least the check out time of 12 pm is not to strictly enforced. We left the room 45 min after. And I have to admit they have the best and fastest room service in town. I really hope they get it together, it has the potential to be a great hotel

Overall not a bad experience, but the Victor should understand that competition at this end of the price range leaves the Victor with quite some way to go. Will not be staying at the Victor again as others in this price range offer more.

Positives

Location is good with easy access to most of South Beach. Interior decor is funky, offering a stylish alternative to the "all white" style of minimalism. Staff were friendly - although Colin at the pool was the best. Also liked the dog friendly Happy Hour. Hulk Hogan was at the pool - a living legend!

Negatives

Whilst staff were friendly, didn't always seem to know what they were doing - was especially unhappy with the failure of the concierge arranged airport limo that failed to turn up. Breakfast (and most other meals) was overpriced, we are used to paying premium prices for upscale restaurants/hotels but the Victor failed to meet the standards of the prices they ask for. Rooms were also on the small side for the money - even by South Beach standards.

The room was small, but funky - overpriced. The overall decor was nice. The spa was great - reasonably priced. The location is great.

Now for the negatives:
Check-In at 4PM? No, try waiting until 5:30PM with a business meeting at 6 for which no time was left to get ready. They comped the drinks at the bar during the wait, but who drinks heavily before a business meeting?

3 am each night, we were awakened to squeals & running through the halls or drunks yelling around the pool. It IS South Beach, so I didn't mind, but my wife did.

Service at the bar/lounge & pool was way below average. Expect wait staff to take a break after every order you place.

At one point, my drinks took 20 minutes - at the 15 min point, my wife went looking for the waitress and found our drinks melting at the bar. She found the waitress and told her, and the waitress came to us empty-handed to deliver a weak apology - but not the drinks just yet.

Mid-day at the bar/lounge (about 8 customers there) a half-full drink was removed after I got up to hit the bathroom. I came back and was told to tell them when I am coming back, otherwise they'll just take it away. Out of an area for 60-80 people, they needed the space?! Maybe I needed a hall pass for the bathroom?

For the $600+ / nt we were paying, this was a horrendous experience. If they can get their act together on service, this could be a great hotel.

For this price/service combo, stay at the Casa Grande, Bentley, The Hotel, or even up the road at one of the bigger, fancier ones.