Claridge Hotel

03/21/07

Not worth the money. They need to be taught customer service.

by chele_102 at Citysearch

The web photos of the hotel are amazing, the actual hotel itself was very generic looking, I felt like I was on a movie set filled w/props. It is not located in the Art Deco District of South Beach. The locks didnt work for our room, we had to get 5 different key cards and help from housekeeping who taught us to shake the handle and blowing air into the lock itself in order to open the door. The front desk staff was rude and lazy, the only one that was helpful was the younger night crew members, the other man at night w/the gray hair was rude. When he parked other people's cars he smokes in them, I saw it with my own eyes; when you speak to him he ignores you. The bellman and one of the housekeepers was very helpful, the other housekeeper rolled her eyes and sized me up. Back to the actual hotel itself, the hot tube needed to be cleaned, the "gym" was a closet located in the basement, the hotel smelled like smoke. It is not located on the beach, which was disappointing. We asked for towels twice and it took almost 3 hours to receive them. There is no where within walking distance to go eat, not even a Walgreens for snacks. I would never stay there again and I recommend this place to no one.

• Cons: view of alley, bad customer service

05/18/04

Small, elegant, Old World Spanish details in a beachfront location.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
This yellow, four-story hotel with a Spanish tile roof offers understated beachfront elegance. Its attention to detail is beautiful, with tiled floors, arched windows, distressed yellow walls and stone columns. Renaissance and Spanish paintings hang on the walls. An à la carte continental breakfast is served around the fountain in the enclosed atrium.

The Details
The 50 spacious Mediterranean-style guest rooms and suites are filled with amenities, such as mini bars, safes, refrigerators, CD players, bathrobes and data ports with DSL lines. Some have lovely private balconies. Although there is no swimming pool, the hotel does have a large, colorful, tiled whirlpool for relaxation and socializing with fellow guests. The house dining establishment, La Spiaggia Ristorante, serves up Mediterranean-Italian cuisine for breakfast and dinner. It also provides room service.