Hotel Riu Plaza Miami Beach

This hotel is perfect for off season. The beach and chair service is great as long as you are there by 10 a.m. The buffet breakfast is worth it if is included in a package. The dinner buffet is not worth the cost or anything special compared to places to eat nearby. The internet service is satisfactory, but the rooms are very worn. There is peeling paint (particularly in the bathrooms) and the floors are older. The positive is the sinks are located outside of the toilet/shower area. The beds are nothing special compared to American hotel chains. The elevators are extremely slow during peak times. The staff was all nice and the small pool area is perfect for off season. I would image during season, if this place was fully booked it may be a negative experience. We were there in October.

We opted for a known and much loved brand to us for our first time in Miami Beach, having had several memorable holidays in RIU’s before. First negative.. after our taxi driver unloaded our cases outside the main entrance.. not one of the bell boys appeared to offer any assistance.. and they visible and not busy.. First positive .. check in was simple and efficient.. and so we paid our resort tax/fee and were good to go.. the lobby area is pleasant but not wow.. as in many other hotels now you must present your room key to the sensor to make the lift / elevator work.. on getting out of the lift I must be honest and say we died a little inside.. no carpet or anything on the walls to dampen the echoing sound of us and our cases.. it had the feel of a low rent apartment block suddenly and without the odd scenic artwork on the walls you literally could be anywhere.. rooms .. perfect for the price.. enough storage.. nice and functional bathroom even though mastering shower temperature was challenging.. we all agreed however that the bed was so very comfortable .. we used the sun loungers on the beach on our first full day and found them very comfortable and then found we could orders food and drinks which we did and that was great too.. All of the hotel staff were superb.. smiling .. warm.. welcoming.. except one. Much to our surprise.. upon returning our beach towels to the guy in the poolside hut, we were astonished how rude he was. His main beef seemed we hadn’t bothered to shake off any sand before returning them, and we may have done this if signposted to do so, however even when challenged upon his attitude he still maintained his demeanour, entirely ruining the mood in our party some time after. He is the reason we couldn’t give 5 stars on this review.. Everything else was spot on.. the breakfast was fantastic.. all fresh apart from the juices but tasted fine.. again.. attentive and welcoming staff here all deserve 10/10 The fact we wouldn’t return is a personal choice as on reflection we felt other hotels would be better suited, even if we hadn’t encountered the grumpy towel hut guy.. but would otherwise recommend it to anyone asking.