citizenM Miami Worldcenter

The location made Monday’s roughly $120 rate feel like a good deal. The rooms are small, but the in-room technology is really cool, and I had a great view of the Miami Heat Arena and Liberty Tower. Staff were nice. There’s a bar inside, though it’s very pricey, and the food costs a lot for the quality. They don’t provide or reimburse parking. There’s a nearby garage, where I paid $37 for the night.

Would I stay again? If I were going to a concert at the kebaya center, absolutely. But the room size would probably put me off otherwise. I stayed at the citizenM during the SOBEWFF. It’s a Marriott property focused on compact, tech-heavy rooms in busy areas, and the hotel fit that pattern. The location is the big draw, especially across from the Kaseya center where the Miami heat plays. I’d highly recommend it for a concert or sports event. There’s a small strip mall with restaurants nearby and a CVS within two blocks. The lobby bar and sitting area are spacious, luggage storage is free, breakfast costs extra, and the rooftop pool has lots of seating and spectacular views. The soundproofing was good. I occasionally heard a revved-up car, but not much else. The room is cruise-ship small, and I’m unsure two people would fit unless they’re a couple. The website shows the rooms all have the same design, except the accessible room, which seems larger. It took me a couple of minutes to figure out the room controls on the iPad, but I liked them once I did. Check-in is electronic at an iPad, and the tiny front desk points you onward once the screen says whether your room is ready. It’s cashless, including at the bar and for food. The dark hallways could use more light. They felt a little spooky, and I’m not usually bothered by that. I also don’t like that the bathroom sink is in the room instead of the bathroom. Most of the outlets didn’t work, and the ones that did were too far from the bed. The bathroom itself was cruise-ship sized.

The staff were friendly and clearly trying hard, but it seems management needs to hire more people. On what was probably one of the busiest days of the year, New Year’s Eve, just one person at the front desk was handling calls, helping guests, and juggling several check-ins. He did an impressive job. Housekeeping also seems short-staffed. You have to schedule room cleaning on the iPad a day ahead, and same-day requests aren’t allowed. I asked at the desk for a quick clean during my stay and was told the team was fully booked. I’ve never stayed at a hotel that couldn’t manage basic room cleaning; even budget motels usually can. It makes me wonder how many housekeepers there are, and whether they’re stretched so thin they can clean rooms thoroughly. The rooms are small, but the beds are comfortable. The blackout blinds work really well, and the modern lighting controls are fun to use.

The pool area is spacious, with terraces around it and on the floor below. The gym is on the 11th floor. It’s small, with two treadmills, a rowing machine, two bikes, some mats, dumbbells, and a bench, but enough for a basic workout. We spent our first three nights in Miami in a classic King Room on the 8th floor. It was 14m2, small and clean, and stayed quiet despite people continually coming and going. The location is handy for downtown and the bus stop near Kayesa center. Bus 100 goes to Miami beach, and everything was an easy walk. The elevators were super fast. Staff were really friendly and helpful with service and communication. We enjoyed the breakfast enough to go every morning. It was about US $ 20 per person, served from 6-11 am, with good coffee, especially the iced latte. There was a nice variety, including fresh fruit, avocado, and smoked salmon, with big serving pots so they could offer plenty to guests. One small downside was that none of the staff seemed to have time to clean the tables. The room was soundproof and the bed was comfortable. The board around the sink was a bit small. The AC was okay, but we couldn’t adjust it, even on the tablet. WiFi was weak. If you need to work, the ground floor’s work community wifi is a better option. Check-in is on a tablet. Avoid paying through the booking com app.