Claremont Hotel

We arrived around 11:40 PM, but access problems, slow replies, and trying to find somewhere else to stay meant we didn't get to sleep until about 4:00 AM. The room was so dirty that we slept in the clothes we'd traveled in, to avoid getting our clean packed clothes dirty. The whole arrival was stressful and exhausting, not the relaxing start we expected. We eventually left instead of staying, and wouldn't recommend this place. Getting in was a mess. The door key didn't work, support took about 30 minutes to respond, and then the lockbox was extremely hard to open. The instructions and support didn't explain the technique needed, so a passerby who wasn't connected to the property had to help. There was no on-site help outside the limited 9 AM to 4 PM desk hours, leaving guests to rely on delayed remote support. The lobby was unmonitored, and anyone could walk in. Our prepaid parking fob also failed, so we had to pay ourselves. The garage attendant said it had happened before. Inside, the floors were so filthy we kept our sandals on. The fold-out pad was stained and dirty, barely a mattress at all. There was mold and buildup on the shower head, hair in the shower and on the towels, dust on surfaces, and an oily kitchenette. Walls and doors were badly scuffed and damaged. The bathroom door was swollen and warped from moisture, and the lighting was poor. Food and debris were piled in the lobby and hallways. The online photos gave a misleading impression and didn't show the condition of the accommodation.

The air conditioning failed three times during my stay. On the first occasion I had to move rooms, then maintenance fixed it a few days later, but it broke again. On my last day it stopped working and stayed out for the entire day. My first room also had water damage on the ceiling from a leak. I couldn't get into my unit on the first day because no one answered my repeated calls. I waited about an hour for maintenance to arrive with a spare key. Then, around 3 AM, a fire alarm woke me up, and I was accused of setting it off by smoking, which I hadn't done. Some staff did try to help, but all these problems had a major effect on my stay. I wouldn't choose this property again.

The rooftop pool is small, about 4 feet deep, but beautiful at sunset. The hotel is less than a five-minute walk from the beach, with lots to do nearby. The attached restaurant is really good, doubles as a hookah bar, and the people at both the hotel and restaurant were very nice and answered my questions. Rooms were clean and nice, with a microwave and mini fridge but no coffee maker. The restaurant plays music, though you can't hear it once you turn the corner toward the room. Some people say the rooms are hard to find because the restaurant is the entrance, but the stairs and elevator are visible when you walk in, and staff tell you where to go. I'll definitely stay here again when I come back to Miami.

The room stayed stuffy and humid because there was no ventilation and the windows wouldn't open. At night the AC blew right over the beds, and the bed covering was just a sheet, not a comforter. Towels were stained and were either little hand towels or beach towels, not proper bathroom towels. The shower head was disgusting, with pink mold and corrosion that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years. Service replied to texts, but getting the things we asked for, like extra towels or blankets, was difficult. Between that and the room's cleanliness and comfort, the stay wasn't pleasant. I wouldn't recommend it or stay again.