The West Gem

The area was quiet, the rooms were roomy and comfortable, and having free parking right next to the apartment was great. The keys were advanced. Two things kept it from being a five-star stay: we were given just one garbage bag, and only got more after asking, with a reminder that extra bags weren’t included. Also, water often escaped the shower and spread across the bathroom floor. There’s no drain to collect it and no mop to clean it up.

We were there for a weekend in April, and the location was the strongest part of our stay. Everything was easy to reach on foot, with plenty to see and do. The price was reasonable, but the condition of the apartment matched it. Getting inside took more effort than it should have. We thought our family’s early check-in request, made because of our flight time, had been approved. Once we arrived, though, we waited a few hours for entry instructions, then had to call again because the instructions were missing when we were told the room was ready. The flooring was in rough shape, with broken and raised sections and soft spots near the sink and just inside the bathroom. One bedroom TV was dark across more than half the screen, and the colors weren’t coming through properly. The beds and linens were average. The king bedroom’s AC didn’t work and got very warm, though the other bedroom was comfortable.

We spent four days at the hotel and went to South Beach to enjoy the sun. The last night was awful. From 1 a.m. until 3 a.m. I woke up to what sounded like a goat screaming, and my family thought it was a video. It kept going until 6 a.m. That was the worst night we’ve had.

The beach is an easy walk away, and the bus into downtown stops just one street over. Check-in and checkout were simple, and the accommodation was great.