Ethan T.
Google
We booked a room at the Novotel because it appeared to offer luxury-style amenities in the area of Miami that we wanted to be close to. Visiting for Lady Gaga's concert, the hotel was close to stops for the Metromover (to get to the arena) and the Metrorail (to get to and from the airport), making commuting a breeze. That is one of the only positive parts of our experience that I will note.
I confirmed our check-in via email the night before we arrived, noting that the booking stated: "Amount already paid: $574.40" and "Remaining amount to be paid at the hotel: $0.00." Imagine my surprise upon check-in when I was asked to charge an additional $974.40 to my credit card. When I asked the hotel clerk the reason for the charge, he told me it was for incidentals and would fall off my credit card should nothing be charged to the room. When visiting the rooftop bar, we paid everything via cash or credit card and charged nothing to our room. Upon check-out, the clerk confirmed that no incidental charges were charged to the room. Two weeks after our stay, the additional $574.40 remains on the card, for which I am now having to fight to have removed.
The rooftop bar offers a lovely happy hour during weekdays: $8 cocktails, $5 glasses of wine, and $4 beers. However, you must remain vigilant that the bartender charges you the correct price, and that if they don't, they refund you the correct amount. We ordered two glasses of wine during happy hour, which should have totaled $10. After handing us back the two glasses of wine, our card, and the receipt, the charge was $20 (before any automatic gratuity and taxes). I informed the bartender of the mistake, and he poured two more glasses of wine and apologized for charging me the wrong amount. I told him I did not want two more glasses of wine; I wanted a refund for the difference in the amount. A customer should not have to essentially "beg" a business to refund them the money that is due to them for an error on the business's part. It is poor business practice and just poor taste, in general.
The amenities were less than satisfactory. The bed itself and the quality of the bedding are not very luxurious. The pillows especially are quite hard and uncomfortable, making for long and unrestful nights. The water temperature in the shower can be quite temperamental. During the day, it's easy to regulate the temperature to a manageable warmth. At night, however, a scalding heat is all that can be attained, resulting in sponge baths from the sink.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the workers at the front desk. They were all very friendly and very accommodating with any questions and requests. That said, we learned a valuable lesson from this trip and will consider all other options before booking again with Novotel.