La Quinta Inn Miami Airport East

The morning buffet is too small for how busy the area gets, and there was no food in the bar or seating. We ordered dinner from a local steakhouse instead. People from random companies also walk through, putting menus under doors. Our first room had no AC, the next had keys that didn’t work, and the third finally worked out. The elevators were both sketchy and really dirty, especially from the 4th floor. The rooms felt run down and dirty too. The sink faucet was loose, the sheets were inside out, and the king bed had only 3 regular-sized pillows. I’ve stayed in nicer Red Roof Inns.

The rooms were average, but clean and comfortable. When I had a small problem with my first room, the staff moved me to another one quickly and without hassle. Later, I realized I’d left my beloved Jordan sneakers behind. The General Manager and team made several calls, found them, and arranged to ship them back to me. I really appreciated how helpful they were. My sneakers are now on my Christmas list, and I’m looking forward to staying again.

The shuttle was the reason we booked, and that seemed to be the main thing this hotel offered. Nobody told us the trip to the airport would still take 20 minutes because the shuttle stops at another property first. The facility had strange smells throughout, and our new room, 317, was intensely musty. Before that, we were assigned another room but couldn’t get its key to work, even after trying three new keys. When we got into room 317, bugs scattered across the floor. The sink and mirror had old toothpaste sprayed on them, and the tub was covered in hair that wasn’t ours. We texted and went to the desk to ask for extra pillows, since the king bed had only 3 and the industry standard is 5, but none arrived. The elevator buckles and felt incredibly unsafe. At checkout, nobody was at the front desk to address any of this. I worked in hospitality for 5 years, and I plan to call the corporate office. Charging $200 for one night here seems criminal.

It’s close to both the ship port and the airport, which is hard to beat for convenience. We stayed just overnight for a Virgin Voyage. Late check-in was allowed at no extra cost, and we were glad late checkout was an option too, even though it came with a fee. It’s okay for the price, but planes fly right overhead, so bring earplugs.