Loews Miami Beach Hotel — Hotel in Miami Beach

First time in Miami and my stay at Loews was not great. I booked through AMEX using AMEX Points, so I was limited to properties that were apart of the AMEX portfolio. This was one of the only properties in the area that was affordable and I have a friend that frequents South Beach and has visited here before. He had positive things to say, so I figured it try this place. I booked through AMEX FHR and when you do so, you are given certain benefits with your stay. One of those benefits was “Guaranteed” late 4pm check-out. I contacted the hotel several weeks before my stay to confirm that I still would receive all of my benefits. I was assured that I would. When checking in, I brought up the concern again and was once again assured that there was nothing to worry about. The evening before I checked out, I received a text message that mentioned my departure in the AM. I mentioned that I booked through AMEX and I should have 4PM checkout. I was told that the latest they could accommodate is 2PM due to occupancy. Not the biggest deal, but still leaves a bad taste in your mouth. It’s not my fault that you guys overbooked the hotel. Next the bigger issue here is the construction that is taking place. I will be fair and say that I was warned that it would be taking place, but the noise and vibrations were extremely excessive. They started every morning at 8:30AM on the dot and continued until at least 5:30 as scheduled and some days as late as 6PM. This pretty much made the room inhabitable from sun up till sun down. If you’re the type that likes to eat and then come back to your room for a mid-day nap. Understand that it ain’t happening. I was on floor 5 and it felt like construction was happening on the floor directly above me. If you read other reviews, you’ll notice the recurring theme of a jackhammer like noise. It was very bad. My 3rd gripe, umbrellas on the beach. Chairs were included with your room, but there is a $29 a day fee if you would like an umbrella. Over a 5 day trip, that adds up to $145 in umbrella usage. Either that or bake in the 90+ degree Miami sun. I ended up only visiting the beach once because of this. Of course I had to do so when the sun went down, very disappointing. 4th, the breakfast and dinner at Bistro Collins. The food was just underwhelming. I had access to free breakfast at the Buffett for the 4 mornings i was at the hotel. I believe I only went twice. I got dinner at the bar from Bistro Collins, drinks were great, but the food was meh. I wanted to use my food and beverage credit at Rao’s but it was not honored there. I wouldn’t stay here again. If you are considering it, I would at least wait until they are finished with construction. Two upsides to this place are location and staff. The hotel sits on Collins Ave and you are a very short walk to Ocean Drive and plenty of great restaurants to eat at in any direction you walk. There’s even a Walgreens right down the street for anything that you might need. Every team member that I encountered here was very friendly and helpful. I will stay somewhere else next...

Frustrating…. To say the least, currently staying here the madness at the pool is ridiculous and I would never return. They tell you when you check in that you have 4 pool chairs per room well I have 2 rooms that would mean I should have 8 but of course to be fair I would never take the full 8 but it seems simply asking for 4 is bother and impossible unless you want to wake up at 6am on your vacation and plant yourself in your chairs to watch them like a hawk. Pool attendant helped me this morning at 7:30am find 4 chairs he put the towels out and told me they are mine. I went back to my room to change came back out 15min later and the another person took 1 of my chairs and threw my stuff off the chair….. pool attendant no help wouldn’t say a thing to her the icing on the cake is she put the umbrella up between two of our four chairs that we didn’t want up!!

Rooms…. Are on the smaller side and tired in both the old tower and “newer” tower had to change rooms a couple of times to find rooms that didn’t look like motel 8’s.

Food…. It’s good (only ate at the pool and cafe thus far) but very expensive.

Beach service…. Slow and hard to get. Expect the same lunacy as far as chairs people lined up at 9am for the towel/chair shack that opens at 9:30 or you’ll find people “camping out” on chairs around 8am when I looked. Update…. Took an hour and two different lines to get chairs and towels on the beach.

Main entrance and Lobby are beautiful and well appointed. Curb appeal is stunning. Unfortunately this does not carry into the rooms.

Pool… as I said above too small for the resort with not enough seating. And they run around dropping red cards on your chairs even if your right there in the pool with a time on it in which they will strip your stuff off and leave it god knows where. In my opinion the pool was good for the original tower but when they added the second tower they did not account for the many extra chairs and people needed for the pool. A second pool should have been added and or the main pool should have been expanded. There is a area called “soak” that has day beds, cabanas and a private hot tub that should be for adults only and free to use since they clearly do not have enough space at the main pool but of course they put their greed in front of the needs of the people and charge a minimum of $250 to enter and get two chairs!! Even after someone “threw up” in the pool and they had to close it all afternoon! This area should be free for adults only that are staying at the resort as this would help greatly as I watch the area sit pretty much empty the past 2 days which are weekend days that you would expect it to be the busiest and most used.

In closing I would not return the negatives out weigh the positives unfortunately. Vacations are supposed to be relaxing.

Update…. Still waiting for a call from the concierge it’s been 2 days!! And the Pool closed two days in a row at 4pm for a child puking...

Check-In Process Our stay at the hotel exceeded our expectations, starting with an effortless check-in process. The staff provided ample assistance with our luggage upon arrival, a service that is rare at most hotels. We received a complimentary upgrade to a beach view, which was a delightful surprise. The help desk staff were incredibly helpful, and we immediately knew we would love our stay.

Cleanliness and Room Service The rooms were exceptionally clean, and housekeeping ensured that they were tidied every day with fresh towels and amenities. If you wish to utilize the mini bar or fridge, you need to request a key from the front desk.

Amenities The hotel boasts a beautiful pool area with ample assistance for seating and towels, as well as a pool bar where you can order drinks and food.

Beach Experience The beach area was another highlight of our stay. Guests can enjoy free beach chairs, and umbrellas are available for a reasonable fee of $28 per day. The convenience of being able to order food and drinks directly to the beach enhanced our relaxation experience. The beach is easily accessible from the hotel, making it effortless to switch between the beach and other hotel amenities.

Family-Friendliness As a family of four with two young children (ages 6 and 4), we found the hotel to be extremely family-friendly. Guests of all age groups from around the world were present, and the atmosphere was very decent and welcoming.

Dining Experience We had breakfast at the hotel's Preston's restaurant, which offers both buffet and à la carte options. The selection was impressive, with a variety of cold cuts and hot breakfast items. At $42 for adults and $21 for children, the value was excellent. The omelet station allowed us to customize our eggs, and waffles were also available upon request. The breakfast staff ensured we were well taken care of, starting our day off right. Special recognition goes to MJ and Andrea at Preston's restaurant, who were amazing. MJ took great care of our kids' breakfast orders and was exceptionally attentive and professional.

Kids Club We utilized the Kids Club for a half-day, where Neila and Angel took excellent care of our two energetic boys. They kept them occupied with various themed activities, allowing us to enjoy the pool and have some couples' time. The Kids Club had a well-planned schedule, guaranteeing the children had a great time.

Check-Out Process The check-out process was not as smooth as the rest of our experience. We had purchased a family package that included several discounts, such as a Kids Club discount and complimentary breakfast for children with paying adults. Unfortunately, these discounts were not initially applied, and I had to review the charges and request adjustments. The staff were very friendly and promptly corrected the errors.

Overall, our experience was exceptional, and we highly recommend this hotel for families and travelers...