More about Thunderbird Resort Hotel
RUDE staff
by A TripAdvisor Member
The hotel is reasonable for the price, fairly clean etc.
The pool is in need of resurfacing but ok to swim in. The $6 a day myself and partner paid for the use of the sunloungers did not guarantee a smile, and the staff were very quick to take the towel and sunlounger mat back before 5pm every day.
The beach is lovely, quiet, white sand etc.
The hotel is far from main areas of Miami for eg. South Beach, North Beach, Downtown, at least half hour drive. Not much to do locally in the evenings.
Our one BIG complaint is the staff. They are so unfriendly they are rude! We did not get as much as one smile in the 11 days we were there from the reception staff. The whole place felt very standoff-ish.
The place gets very noisy from Thursday to Sunday with the influx of weekenders, partying, shouting, crying children, banging on the walls, running up and down the corridors.
We were not the only visitors to have this opinion. Three other couples approached us with their opinion being the same, with no prompting from us.
I would not go back here again.
Not recommendable
by TripAdvisor Member Sun999
We booked this BW hotel through our travel agency for the last day of our vacation in Florida.
The first impression we got was the sticky, humid smell in the entrance hall. The room (a superior room !) was even worse: dirty (sand and hair on the floor and even in the bed); the extremely low ceiling (styrofoam panels) showed signs of humidity, dirt and was partly fallen down. This list may be continued....
In the end we did not stay in this hotel but booked a room in the Ramada two blocks further north, which was only slightly better. Inferior quality and bad building conditions seem to be typical for Miami and the beaches.
Positiv impressions of the BW hotel:
The concierge was really friendly and ready to help (just the opposite to the valet parking guys).
Bus station in front of hotel; Publix and dining facilities accross the street.
cheap and cheerfull
by A TripAdvisor Member
We found it a pretty typical best western. Have to say I found the staff very helpfull. The rooms are fairly basic but clean and comfortable. The location is good, and it represents great value for money. I have to say I don't recognise the hotel from some of the negatives posted I found it a pleasant hotel. If you pay for a best western you get a best western if you pay for a marriott you tend to get a marriott...it's not rocket science.
Would not return
by A TripAdvisor Member
The saying "you get what you pay for" describes this hotel. Spend the extra money to stay somewhere halfway decent. The hotel itself is broken down and in need of many repairs. The A.C. was broken in our room, along with the shower head and door leading to the outside porch. The bathroom was moldy. The staff was very rude and unhelpful. Be careful while eating at the restaraunt attached, we got undercooked food on dirty dishes. Also, many homeless and sickly looking cats were roaming around outside the hotel, by the pool. The only places to go within walking distance are a grocery store and some fast food places. It would be a very good idea to rent a car. The "free shuttles" to the mall and south beach only operate all day on weekends. During the week they only operate at night.
Wilma got us
by A TripAdvisor Member
me and my partner, when on our 'perfect holiday' to miami last year. the hotel seemed ok when we first addrived, but went downhill from there... we payed for a superior room on the higher floors but got a basic on the botto floor, we were told on the news that wilma might be coming to miami, asking the hotel manager what to do, he said'whats the problem it will only be a little storm. i asked if we needed to stock up he reply was like .. no!, on the monday wilma hit. and hard... during the hurricane no 1 come around to check on any1, my hotel window was smashed and the roof in bathroom collasped. the insurance guys came around,after and said dnt worry your room will be sorted in a day or two.. feeling hungry i went to the hotel resturant only to find there was no water or food in the hotel. this went on for two days untill the virgin holiday reps came and spoke to us and said we have half an hour to be read are we are being left here. we got moved to orlando were we a good time, but wasot the relaxing beach holiday we wanted
Perfect beach location
by A TripAdvisor Member
I loved staying here. The price we paid for beachfront was very affordable & we were very happy. The balcony gave us a beautiful view of the sunrise & sunset overlooking the ocean, that was unbelievable. We much preferred this cozy location than the high towered hotels next to us. We spent the day on the beach & had a great time in the evenings dancing with a fun crowd at the hotels bar, excellent bartender(Carmen) & the Concierge Lionel was very helpful planning or getting us to where we needed to go, he even arranged for a Complimentary Limo to an excellent Italian restaurant in Miami(Paisanos) The other concierges were great too, sorry I didn't get your names. We also were stranded for a couple days because of bad weather in the Northeast, and a quick call from the airport to Andre at the front desk, he was quick to make sure we were accomodated for a couple more days in our same room, while some people had to spend the night at the airport. We plan on going back to the Thunderbird next year, but instead of four of us there will be about 30 of us. Our one time trip has now become an annual trip that all want to join in on. Thanks for a great vacation can't wait til next year!
Terrific time
by A TripAdvisor Member
If you're fussy or luxury is important to you, this isn't the place for you. But the price is right, and you're right...on...the...beach! The room was clean enough, the service was fine, the pool and jacuzzi were fine, breakfast was all right, but none of that was anything special. But it was right...on...the...beach! The bottom line is that we had a terrific time, and didn't have to spend a ton of money to do it.
We loved it
by TripAdvisor Member DaliahToronto_Canada
Have been traveling to Sunny Isles with our two kids and my mum for the last six years. We tended to stay at the Newport, which has 2 bedroom suites, but has become too expensive this year. The Thunderbird was preferable in every way to the Newport, we were delighted. First, we got two hotel rooms and a kitchenette for less than the cost of a two bedroom (small) unit at the Newport (without a stove). Second, the staff at the Thunderbird was friendly and helpful (vs. unfriendly at the Newport), immediately responding to our requests (stove didn't work when we arrived, within five minutes two friendly men had looked at it and it was fixed). Rooms were cleaned early and well by friendly staff. Pool was large, clean and fabulous (although not heated, even though they advertise a heated pool...) Only other complaint about the pool area were the attendants who took their job a little too seriously. Could have been more low key about ensuring one towel per guest and insisting on being the only ones who moved the lounge chairs. Pool area was beautifully quiet and peaceful. Comfy beds. Lovely section of the beach -- all low rise around, therefore sun all day around pool (but not for long, construction has begun two doors down). Loved having a fully functioning stove in the suite. Saved us a ton of money on breakfast and lunch -- across from Publix. Nice large balcony. Totally laid back and un-neurotic -- a dying breed -- soon Miami Beach will be populated by chi-chi hotels and our days of down-to-earth holidaying will be over.
Horrible Experience
by A TripAdvisor Member
The customer service was horrible. The people, espcially, the guy who was the manager, were rude. They had ants on top of the refrigerator! We got sick from the changes of the room temperature we never asked for. I would never recommend this hotel to anyone.
Lesson Learned
by A TripAdvisor Member
The only good thing I can say about this hotel is that the location is right on the beach,other than that it is an experience to be remembered and a lesson learned.My friend and I decided to save some money this time around and stay here for 5 days.We stayed for 3 and checked out.The rooms were filthy,the bathrooms were unsanitary.We had to wash our own blankets and wear slippers in the shower.The tub and sink hardly worked.They charge you to use the safe in the room and the last and final straw was when we saw bugs flying around the room and wondered why we were being bitten the night before,so on the last night we called down to the front desk and they said they will send someone right up to check out the problem.Housekeeping found the bugs in the ceiling light.When they removed the light they told us they were all dead bugs,(like that was going to make us feel better)until he put the light back on and they accumulated again.That's when the front desk admitted there was a termite infestation in the light.Management showed us 2 different rooms,but they had the same problem.Unacceptable..That is when we checked out.All I can say is we were very disgusted and I feel I needed to warn people that looks can be deceiving.I like to feel like I am at home when I am away.Comfortable,Clean and Safe!
Sign in with Facebook
