Smart Brickell Hotel

The hotel offers a distinctive experience with its apartment-style accommodations, providing guests with spacious layouts and kitchenette facilities that create a comfortable, home-like atmosphere in the vibrant Brickell area. Guests frequently highlight the hotel's modern design, overall cleanliness, and its highly central location, which places them within easy reach of key attractions. A notable feature is the inviting rooftop pool, offering a pleasant space for relaxation. This hotel is particularly well-suited for families seeking ample room, business travelers on extended assignments, and sightseers looking to explore the city with convenient access to public transportation. It also serves as an excellent base for cruise travelers due to its proximity to the port. To enhance your stay, be mindful of the ongoing construction in the vicinity, which might affect views and cause some dust, and consider inquiring about the availability of full kitchenware if you plan to utilize the in-room cooking facilities.

Facilities & Amenities
Guests frequently praise the hotel's recreational offerings, particularly the inviting rooftop pool, which provides a refreshing escape with pleasant views and is equipped with chairs, towels, and a water cooler for convenience. Some reviews mention the presence of two pools, including one that is covered. The fitness center is also well-regarded, offering a space for guests to maintain their routines, with some noting the inclusion of a sauna. The apartment-style rooms come equipped with a kitchenette, often featuring a microwave, dishwasher, and coffee machine. However, many guests express disappointment regarding the lack of essential kitchenware such as plates, cutlery, and wine glasses, which limits the practical use of these facilities. Many rooms also include balconies, though some guests found them lacking furniture or dusty due to nearby construction. Free Wi-Fi is consistently available, ensuring connectivity, and some units offer the convenience of an in-room washer/dryer. While TV channels can be limited and some units lack a television in the living area, the overall amenities contribute positively to the guest experience.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
The hotel generally receives high marks for its cleanliness, with many guests describing rooms as spotless, new, and well-maintained, contributing to a pleasant stay. The spacious rooms are a consistent highlight, offering ample living area beyond typical hotel accommodations. Guests frequently commend the comfortable beds and quality linens, ensuring a restful night's sleep. However, a significant recurring concern is the construction noise from adjacent buildings, which can be disruptive, sometimes operating around the clock, impacting the tranquility of the rooms. While some units manage to remain quiet, others experience noticeable disturbance. In-room amenities include a coffee maker, which is appreciated, but some guests note a lack of practical features like shelves in the bathroom for toiletries or an iron. Issues with air conditioning functionality, such as cold air blowing directly onto the bed, have also been reported. Some rooms lack blackout shades in the living area, affecting sleep for guests using sofa beds.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel's dining options primarily revolve around its complimentary breakfast, which is served at the adjacent Soca Cafe. Guests receive vouchers for this service, typically entitling them to coffee, juice, and a croissant with various filling choices. While many guests found the quality of the breakfast items to be good and convenient, some expressed a desire for more variety, noting the limited selection and occasional extra charges for alternatives like tea or fruit. The hotel does not feature a full on-site restaurant or bar, which means guests need to venture out for other meal options. Despite the basic nature of the breakfast, the convenience of having a cafe directly accessible is often appreciated, providing a quick start to the day before exploring the surrounding area.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location in the vibrant Brickell neighborhood is a major draw, placing guests within easy walking distance of numerous attractions and conveniences. It is particularly close to the Brickell City Center, offering extensive shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Guests appreciate the excellent access to public transportation, including the free Metromover and metro lines, which provide convenient connections throughout the city and to the airport. For those embarking on cruises, the hotel's proximity to the cruise ports makes it an ideal pre- or post-cruise accommodation choice. Valet parking is available, though it incurs a daily fee, and while generally efficient and friendly, some guests find the cost to be on the higher side. The surrounding area is generally considered safe and walkable, enhancing the overall guest experience.

Staff & Service
The hotel staff consistently receives high praise for their friendliness, helpfulness, and professional demeanor, contributing significantly to a positive guest experience. Many guests highlight the attentive service provided by the front desk and valet teams. The check-in process is generally described as smooth and efficient, though some guests reported delays or unexpected fees for early check-in. A recurring concern, however, pertains to pre-arrival communication and refund processing. Numerous guests have reported significant challenges in contacting the hotel via phone or email for inquiries, and there have been widespread complaints regarding delays or difficulties in receiving refunds for cancelled reservations, even when within the stipulated cancellation period. While on-site service is commendable, the lack of responsive communication for financial matters has been a source of frustration for many.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware of certain operational aspects that distinguish this property. A security deposit is typically required upon check-in, which some guests found to be substantial and not always clearly communicated beforehand. An early check-in fee may also apply for guests arriving before the standard check-in time. The hotel operates with an apartment-style living concept, meaning rooms are often equipped with kitchenettes and separate living areas, offering more space than traditional hotel rooms. As a newly built property, some guests noted ongoing construction in adjacent areas, which can lead to dust and impact views, and some amenities like ice machines were still being installed during early stays. A significant number of guests have reported considerable challenges with refund processing for cancelled bookings, citing unresponsiveness and delays in receiving their money back, which has caused frustration for many.