Freehand Miami

Maybe I'm just not used to hostels, but that one night was rough. The service was okay and everyone was nice, though there were a bunch of dead bugs along the side of my bed. I don't know what kind they were, but it was ridiculous. The girls sharing the room told me the cleaning wasn't great and that they “don't even mop the rooms floors.” I showed the bugs to the front desk and they kindly moved me to another room. Unfortunately, it was freezing, and a sick girl coughed all night, in bed and in the bathroom. I know that part wasn't their fault, but the whole experience left me feeling sour. I stayed in the lobby until I decided to check out 4hours early. They offered another room, but I was only there for the night and had had enough. The service was still nice. I'm sure other people could have a better time than I did. The outside was very nice, and music played almost all night. I wish the first night of my trip had gone better, but honestly I didn't enjoy the stay.

We were stuck with the stay because the $410 we paid for a private king room was nonrefundable. The room was dank, smelly, and depressing, and the whole place felt like a flop house. We tried to salvage the evening with a drink and meal at the restaurant, but that was worse. The crowd was a mix of slumped, lonely travelers and anxious young twenty-somethings trying to look cool, while the waitstaff seemed resentful of everyone. The service was aggressively rude, and we were made to pay a 20% gratuity that didn't feel consensual. It felt invasive. Don't stay here, you'll regret it.

I loved the mix of simple rooms and small extras at FreeHand Miami. The beds were comfortable, and there were showers and charging ports, with just what we needed. The pool was fun, and both bars served delicious drinks. It was a short walk to the beach, shops, and plenty of restaurants. Meeting people was a bonus, and I even spent a day adventuring with my really nice bunk mate. I had the best time and will absolutely stay again when I'm in the area.

Lovely hotel, great food, and the reception team were friendly. My service score is only for the bar. I ordered four cocktails after being told they were $15 each, but the bill came to $74. I'd ordered two drinks earlier at the listed price, and no one had mentioned extra charges. When I questioned it, the male bar staff member said, “Do you want them or not?” I didn't like his customer service, so I said no and walked away. Fifteen minutes later my wife ordered a drink without any extra charges or trouble. Keep an eye on your bill. This has nothing to do with tips, which are always a choice and weren't an issue for me.