Blu Vacation Rentals — Hotel in Miami Beach

Rented unit 1131 thru VRBO. Everything in pictures was pretty much accurate. Look up the history of Castle Beach Suites Miami. You will see it was owned by Hugh Hefner at one time. Haha! But read the history and the issues the building has had over the years. That being said, unit 1131 was pretty decent, cannot complain, really. The bathroom is not spectacular, but it has a newer toilet. The tub was fine... it's really just a shower because you can't fill it up. The shower rod is old, it's quite rusty, so I just couldn't look at it. The kitchen is very small but had about everything needed, except a stove. It has a 2-burner hotplate. The faucet at the little sink needs some more chaulk to hold it down. Besides that, everything else was fine. The living/dining area was fine. No carpet, which is nice. The couch is a hideaway bed, but I didn't need to use it, so I didn't pull it out. The closet in that area has 2 beach chairs & a beach umbrella, and 6 beach towels, which all were nice to use. I didn't have to supply my own. The bedroom area has plenty of room with a big closet. The king-size bed was comfortable and had no signs of bed bugs (believe me, I checked!). We stayed 5 nights and my back or neck did not hurt, which was a huge plus. I used the provided pillows, and they were also fine. The windows are big, and shades worked. You can not really open the windows a lot, even though they open some after you figure it out. Probably for safety reasons since no screens, and that we are on the 11th floor. THE OCEAN VIEW WAS AWESOME! The 2 ceiling fans are good and quiet, work nice. Overall, the unit was good for 2 people, and IF you aren't expecting fancy. Oh, the only thing it does lack in... are plug-ins. Because of the age of the building, the building/safety codes back then aren't the same as now. Bring a few electric cords.

As for the hotel/building itself... again, read the history of the building. It could definitely use a more current upgrade in decor. I also think the building is for sale again, or under contract. The WIFI worked fine, no issues. The elevators worked fine, the valet people were all very nice, the front desk person was nice for check-in & check-out. I'm not prejudice against people from different backgrounds, because that's what makes the world go around, but I felt we were the only ones who could speak English, so at times it was hard to communicate. So have your Google translate ready! The pool was NOT in working order, which was okay by me because I can swim in a pool in Texas. I came to Florida for the beach! The beach is right there, and it was beautiful all the days we were there. The beach entrance has a shower area, so you can rinse off sand before heading back into hotel area. There is a restaurant, but we didn't eat there. There is room service too, but we didn't take advantage of that either. The prices didn't look bad.

Overall, it was nice. We couldn't complain. We...

I have stayed with Blu rentals now 3 times. We stayed in L1 last summer and the room was perfect for my family of 5. We actually got stuck during Hurricane Ian and she made sure to find a place for us. Vanessa came and showed us her other units and also gave us some fun information about the buildings history, so we have stayed in PH3 as well for a few extra days. This year I've stayed with her twice in a spand of 2 months in units M16 and Tropical618. All units have been beyond clean on all stays. All the staff from valet, guest services and security are all very helpful and friendly. The location is PERFECT you have a private entrance to the beach which is great because the beach is never too packed because public entrances are pretty far so only people from the hotel are usually down there. My favorite thing is to go walk the beach at night ,which is hard for a female to feel comfortable doing but I haven't had any issues. The balcony rooms all have amazing views. The pool and little bar they have outside is also a fun time(right now they are remodeling this area so I can't wait until they are done) Also if you stay here don't forget to go get coffee and empanadas down at the lower lobby store. All the workers in there are also very helpful and nice. I will not rent anywhere else, which I'm sure Blu knows that by now 😂 If you are considering staying with them, just book it. You won't be...

From the moment we booked our stay with Blu Vacation Rentals in Miami Beach, we knew we were in good hands. The entire experience—from booking to check-out—was absolutely seamless and delightful.

Check-In & Communication The team couldn’t have been more helpful and communicative. We felt informed and supported at every step, making check-in feel effortless and welcoming.

Accommodations & Cleanliness Our rental was immaculately clean, beautifully furnished, and fully equipped. It felt like a home-away-from-home with thoughtful details everywhere—from plush linens to a well-stocked kitchen—that made the stay ultra comfortable.

Location & Amenities Located right on the beach, it offered incredible views and direct access to the sand and surf. The building’s amenities—like the sparkling pools and relaxing outdoor spaces—were top-notch and added a luxurious touch to our vacation.

Overall Experience Everything exceeded our expectations. It was a stress-free, enjoyable, and memorable stay. Blu Vacation Rentals delivered exceptional service and comfort—truly worthy of 5 stars! We can’t wait...