Sanctuary South Beach

After a relocation, we ended up at the San Juan Hotel, and I'm so glad we did. The staff were welcoming, friendly, and helpful, which made a stressful travel day much easier. Our room wasn't big, but it was comfortable and had everything we needed. Breakfast was lovely, too. The small pool area was a hidden gem, sheltered from the wind and a nice spot to relax or get some work done with complimentary coffee. The beach setup had loungers, umbrellas, towels, and more. It's a charming, peaceful hotel in a fantastic central Miami Beach location, and we'd happily return.

The hotel is in a great spot, a short walk from the beach, and has a nice shaded pool. But our experience went downhill from there. Our first room faced a shaft packed with AC units, so we couldn't open the windows. There was also a strong air freshener odor throughout the hotel. After about an hour in the room late at night, it became overwhelming and gave us headaches. Around midnight, staff were helpful and showed us several other rooms when we asked to move. Every room on that side had the same smell. The only room without it had two beds and was across from the elevator, so we took it. Once inside, we found dozens of discarded insect wings on the furniture and beds, then noticed TERMITES. Staff didn't seem surprised when we reported it and recognized the problem straight away. The location is excellent, but termites in guest rooms are unacceptable. In hindsight, I suspect the strong smell in the rooms may have come from pest treatment, with air fresheners used to cover it. Be aware before booking.

The location makes it easy to get to the beach, shopping, and restaurants, and service was mostly good to excellent. My room was relatively comfortable, with hard floors and an okay shower, but the furniture was dated, the TV was small and old, and outside HVAC noise carried into the room. For me, this doesn't rate four stars. There's no restaurant or room service, no pool service, a small dark pool, and no ice machine. I asked for a razor after forgetting mine, and they didn't have one. If it were advertised as a three-star hotel, I'd have rated it higher.

I spent two nights here and won't be back. Everything felt dated and underfunded: chipped furniture, a wobbly desk chair, and a tiny old TV. The platform bed let the mattress slide around, the internet was painfully slow, like dial-up, and the shower had the worst water pressure I've ever dealt with. Two stars at best. Calling it a four-star hotel is a joke.