Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach — Hotel in Miami Beach

I recently stayed at this hotel and had a mixed experience. The location was excellent – within walking distance to many places to explore, shops, cafes, and areas to relax, which was definitely a highlight.

The room was small but decent for a short stay. However, there was a lack of shelves or storage space, making it difficult to keep things organized, especially if you’re staying for more than a couple of days. The cleanliness was good, with daily housekeeping, and you could tell the staff was trying their best. That said, the room itself was showing signs of age – some parts appeared to have been touched up or repainted, which gave it a bit of a worn-out feel.

The pool was small and shallow but seemed to be well-maintained. My child enjoyed it, and the staff was quick to accommodate guests and manage the space.

The beach was beautiful, with a stunning ocean view. However, the process for getting a beach chair and towel was confusing and time-consuming. You had to stand in line to register your room number, then wait for a staff member to bring you towels and guide you to a chair. Once there, they would set it up and leave, which felt overly complicated. It’s also unclear why the beach umbrellas cost $30, while the shade by the pool was free.

As for the food and drinks, I found them to be average at best. The cocktails had mediocre alcohol quality, and the food was underwhelming. We ordered food for our child by the pool, and it was fine, but when we had breakfast and ordered pancakes, they were incredibly dry, heavy, and not even syrup could save them.

I also had a few unpleasant situations during my stay: At the beach, after coming out of the ocean at 5:45 PM, I discovered that the staff had removed our towels from our lounge chairs, even though my belongings were still there. Meanwhile, the people next to us were left undisturbed. It was frustrating, especially with a child to dry off. At breakfast, the waiter repeatedly told us that coffee was free, so we ordered it based on that information. However, when the bill came, we were charged for it. When we asked about it, the waiter explained that it was only free if you ordered the buffet, which was not mentioned clearly. It left a bad taste. Lastly, at check-out, we were charged for minibar items that we never used. They quickly removed the charges, but it left us feeling like they may try to charge extras to those who don’t notice.

While the hotel aspires to be premium, it falls short in terms of service, amenities, and the overall guest experience. The recreational area near the pool also needs attention – everything there felt outdated, with broken equipment, and the ping pong rackets were not in good condition.

Overall, I wouldn’t consider this hotel to be a luxury experience and feel it doesn’t quite live up to the expectations set by...

Good: -Staff -Amenities (beach access, pool, gym, bar, etc.) -Location Bad: -DANGEROUSLY SLIPPERY TILE FLOOR -Cost -Small - horribly designed rooms that was taken up more by a chest full of items they want you to buy. See through bathroom door -No shower door - causing water on the floor -Dark hallways that are hard to see in -Thin walls that you can hear anything next door -Bikes were never available or they were broken or missing our entire stay -Some weird stains on my pillow the first the night Limited drinking water

If you are older DO NOT STAY HERE. I traveled for a wedding with my parents (60s/ 70s), as well as my aunt. The amount of times my parents (even me) almost slipped on that white tile floor and had a full painful crash on the hard tile was scary. Added to this the bathrooms do not have a shower door so the entire floor gets drenched with water making it even more dangerous than it already was. My aunt did end up falling and hurting her tail bone from the floor. We saw in the photos online there should have been a runner/ rug but none of us received one. Honestly a death waiting to happen. The bathroom door is also that fog glass, which is super awkward if you are traveling with your family (or anyone) as you can see more than you'd like into the bathroom. Such a bad design. Our room was super small. We barely had space to put our things as they have taken a large chunk of the room for a ‘have to buy’ chest of food and drinks instead of just giving us needed space or our own fridge. It was a waste an entire section of the room (my aunts room was bigger than ours even though it was the same price). At 4 am our neighbor started BLASTING his TV (not the hotels fault) but we all woke up and it felt like we had it blasting in our own room because the walls are so thin. I tried to call down to the hotel staff and the phone was broken. I had to walk down and inform them. From here the staff handled it wonderfully and the entire hotel staff was professional, kind, and quick (one of the best parts of the hotel is the staff). The hallways are SO DARK and cold. I have decent eye site and it was still hard to see in those weird cave like hallways. My mom wanted to bike ride with my dad. Everyday she checked and the bikes were either broken or missing. The beach access and pool are amazing! If you are going here just spend the day on the beach or out of the hotel. Also the bartenders were great! Overall the design on this hotel is bad (to the extreme of physical danger) the nice staff and amenities are really what you are paying for. Finally for one room you only get 2 bottles of water a day. And their water fountains in the hallway do not work. I dont mind tap water but hopefully it was ok drinking water. I was just shocked if they didn't have access to drinkable water why they would be so stingy with...

Nautilus Sonesta is a fantastic choice for a Miami South Beach getaway, offering plenty of highlights with just a few minor drawbacks. Here’s a detailed breakdown based on my experience:

Pros: • Prime Location: The hotel is perfectly situated close to Miami South Beach, with numerous restaurants and attractions within walking distance. • Dining and Bar: The on-site restaurant and bar are exceptional, offering delicious options for breakfast and dinner. The pool area bar serves a wide variety of cocktails and mocktails, and the live DJ by the pool creates a vibrant atmosphere. • Beach Access and Amenities: The hotel provides direct access to the beach and includes complimentary beach chairs and towels, adding to the convenience. • Great Facilities: The pool area is excellent for relaxation, with an adjacent space ideal for chilling out. There’s also a well-equipped gym on the second floor with free weights and multiple machines. • Security: The hotel’s security is impressive, with room keys required for all access points, including elevators and the beach gate. • Comfort and Quiet: The beds are very comfortable, and we experienced no noise issues. Even with guests in adjacent rooms, it was pleasantly quiet throughout our stay. • Construction Noise: While some reviews mention ongoing construction opposite the hotel, we were pleasantly surprised that it didn’t bother us during our stay. • Excellent Service: The staff truly stand out. From the front desk to the doorman, bartenders, and restaurant servers, everyone was extremely courteous and professional. Pico at the front desk was particularly friendly and made our stay feel personal. Housekeeping was always on time and efficient. • Views: The hotel offers stunning panoramic views of the ocean, which add a luxurious touch to the experience.

Cons: • Room Size: While decent, the rooms felt a bit small. • Oceanfront Rooms: For a full ocean view, make sure to request a room on the 5th floor or higher, as the views from lower floors may be obstructed by coconut trees. • Room Issues: Some maintenance challenges were disappointing. The bathrooms lacked exhaust fans, and the electric-operated blackout and sheer curtains didn’t always work. We had to change rooms twice—once due to curtains not functioning and once because of the view. • Plumbing Problems: There were issues with inconsistent hot water and occasional reductions in water flow in the shower.

The TV remote was not working , but we were not watching it anyways.

Overall: Despite a few minor inconveniences and the nearby construction, the pros of staying at Nautilus Sonesta far outweigh the cons. The excellent location, top-notch facilities, and courteous staff make this hotel a standout choice for visitors to Miami South...