My Return Visit to the Confidante Hotel in Miami Beach

photo: Hyatt.com

Some trips just don’t go as planned. Or maybe just not as swimmingly as envisioned. The fault is often the confluence of many factors, rather than just one.

I had a Florida trip to Miami Beach (3 nights) and Fort Lauderdale (3 nights) planned for some time. For Miami Beach, we would be staying at the Confidante Hotel (part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt – but soon to be revamped into an Andaz).  I reserved the hotel on points before it changed from a category four to category five property, and also used a suite upgrade certificate.

I visited the Confidante hotel two years earlier and enjoyed that stay (see, Hotel Review).

Our day started off well enough, with a voluntary bump on our flight from NY LaGuardia to Miami airport (and receiving generous vouchers in compensation). With a few hours to spare, we spent extra time at the American Express Centurion Lounge at LGA. My compliments to the chef, Cedric Vongerichten, for the delicious shrimp dish at the lounge!

We arrived in Miami in the evening rather than the afternoon. We took a taxi or Uber to the hotel. We were checked in at the front desk and proceeded to our room. We were given this informational sheet.

I’m sorry to say that our suite, a Miami Suite, although nicely decorated, was not to my liking. It was like a railroad apartment, with a narrow windowless living room leading into a nice bedroom. Somehow I assumed (incorrectly) that a suite at this oceanfront hotel would have a balcony. It did not. I love the hotel’s mid-century decor, but the suite felt dark and claustrophobic. On top of that, the heat was blasting in the bedroom.

View of Collins Avenue.

It was after 11 pm and everything was closed in the vicinity of the hotel for a drink or a bite to eat. We ended up having last call overpriced mediocre drinks at a place called The Tavern a few blocks from the hotel.

I nicely told the employee at the front desk that I was unhappy with the suite. I was given a choice of two rooms to move to the next day. One was described to me as a small room with a large balcony, the other a large room with a small balcony.

I chose the large room with the small balcony, called the Vista Balcony Suite. Interestingly, it is characterized by the hotel as a room, not a suite.

I was very happy with the new room. It was spacious, bright and airy, and didn’t feel at all claustrophobic like the Miami Suite had felt. The balcony was small, and the view was limited – but it was fine with me.

Breakfast was buffet style in the Ambersweet restaurant. Both indoor and outdoor seating was available. In addition, you could order a breakfast item, such as eggs, from the waitstaff. It was a busy weekend, and we often had to wait for items in the buffet area to be replenished. I liked the fresh cut fruits and melons. As a Hyatt Globalist, breakfast was complimentary.

On a daily basis, we took walks on the boardwalk that runs up and down Miami Beach. One morning we walked instead on the other side of the intercoastal marveling at the incredible mansions hiding behind the gates and shrubbery.

The hotel pool is lovely, but it was always very crowded. Instead, we opted for chaises on the beach one day.

Only two days into the trip, I received a “come home” call from my family. My father’s condition had worsened and end of life was imminent. I canceled the Fort Lauderdale portion of the trip and changed my flight home to Saturday evening, instead of Tuesday evening.

Overall, it could just be me and everything that was personally going on in my life at the time, but I just didn’t feel the connection or love for Miami Beach or for the hotel during this stay, most of which seemed permeated by attitude and high prices.

I asked for a late check out for Saturday, but the hotel staff said the best they could do was 1pm. I know that resorts are not obligated to give late checkouts, but their rigidity still left me feeling less than enamored with the hotel.