Holiday Inn Express Miami Airport Blue Lagoon Area by IHG

We booked a day room after getting off our cruise because our flight wasn’t until the evening, and it worked out perfectly. The room was ready when we arrived at 9:30am. We spent a few hours at the pool, then went back to shower and nap before taking the free airport shuttle. The shuttle can also take you to a shopping area with restaurants. Staff were super friendly and accommodating.

The lake views are incredible, and the hotel is in a convenient spot, about 10 minutes from the airport and 20-30 minutes from Bayside, the beach, and other places. It’s a lovely place with great staff, and we had an AMAZING experience. Breakfast is provided every morning. I’d HIGHLY recommend this hotel!

The shuttle service was the main problem. My family arrived at the airport and I was told one would be sent right away, but we waited an hour. The airport is just over two miles away. The driver had said they could take us to local restaurants and shops, so we went to eat and shop at Publix. They told us to call and they’d come right away. I called, heard the same promise, and waited an hour again. When I called back, they said the driver was 10 minutes away. It was 85 degrees, and with a six-year-old and groceries, walking the little over a mile back wasn’t an option. Later we needed an extra comforter. There were eight people ahead of us and just one person at the desk. We were told it would be brought to the room shortly, but after four hours it still hadn’t arrived. We went back and said we weren’t leaving without it. The breakfast was mediocre too: the pancake machine was broken and the food looked like leftovers from a few days before. The rooms and hotel were very clean, which was about the only good thing about my stay. The hotel would be much better if its service matched the cleanliness.

In our three-week trip around Florida and Puerto Rico, this was the best hotel we visited. It’s a wonderfully quiet place about 20 minutes from Miami International Airport, with very friendly staff, perfect service, and a reliable, well-run shuttle.