There are plenty of chain hotel choices around one of the USA’s busiest international gateways, but the Embassy Suites Miami Airport ensures that you won’t go hungry or thirsty when you need an overnight stay before takeoff or after landing.
Miami’s airport hotels get more business than at many others because they serve so many different passengers. You’ve got commuters and travelers from elsewhere in Florida wanting to stay near the Tri-Rail train system before an early flight out. Cruise ship passengers are coming in early so they don’t miss the boat leaving out of one of the two busiest ports in the USA for that: Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.
Then you’ve got people flying in from far-flung destinations on other continents and arriving late, so they need a place to stay before moving on to South Beach or beyond.
I saw these different factions and a few attending concerts or sporting events when the two of us stayed at the Embassy Suites Miami International Airport, one of the most diverse melting pots I’ve encountered at a hotel for a very long time. And you really do mingle with the other guests in an Embassy Suites thanks to two of the factors they all have in common: an evening complimentary happy hour and a morning breakfast buffet.
This Miami airport hotel seemed to be packed to capacity when we arrived in an Uber from the Tri-Rail station and the two overworked front desk agents had a tough time keeping the long line moving. Things went more smoothly after that though and the big atrium-style hotel is well set-up to handle the crowds. There are ample tables and sofas for lounging or working, plus there’s a bar and a restaurant apart from the happy hour and breakfast areas.
The outdoor areas have tables and lounge chairs around a swimming pool and whirlpool. We couldn’t take a dip during our stay because the weather was rainy, so this is one of the hotel’s official photos above. There were also some cornhole game set-ups at the ready.
It’s a welcome site to have all these diversions, as well as a gym, on site at the property because there’s not much else around at this location. Since most guests aren’t checking in for more than a night, few of them leave once they arrive. There is a first-come, first-served shuttle to the airport though in peak periods it can be easier to just call a car service for the quick ride.
Drinks and Dining at Embassy Suites Miami Airport
Most guests take advantage of the nightly happy hour period, with two drink tickets per person to spend on cheap wine, macrobrew beer, or rum punch. (They might slip you a couple more if you have Hilton Honors status.) You can pay a supplement and get “Spirited Cocktails” of a higher grade made with name-brand liquor.
Otherwise, walk to the other side of the building to the full bar, where they have a much wider wine and liquor selection and at least one Florida craft beer on tap. This is more of a sports bar than a place for quiet conversation, with multiple TVs glowing, but you can always order and then move out into the atrium.
The restaurant here, Grill 305, is priced for a captive audience, but we were happy with what came out for dinner. We ordered a Greek salad with shrimp, a side of fries, and their version of a classic Cuban sandwich with a nice side salad. Other options include fried seafood, pizzas, and a Peruvian roasted chicken.
The breakfast buffet is ample and varied enough to please most guests, with a mix of hot cooked items, fruit, and many sugary items. Someone is cooking up omelets and eggs to order. There’s ample seating in the large atrium area.
In between meal times, a small convenience store off the lobby offers a variety of drinks and snacks, including things you can heat up in the suite’s microwave.
A Bedroom and Living Room
If you’ve stayed in an Embassy Suites hotel before, you’ve got a good idea of what to expect chainwide. There’s usually not much variation in the catalog furniture they use or the amenities you’ll receive unless you’re at one of the beach resorts like the St. Augustine Beach one we reviewed. The one nod to where we were was a piece of photographic artwork with some palm trees on it.
People don’t book at the Embassy Suites because they’re expecting cool boutique hotel artistry though: they stay here because they like having the extra room to spread out. The amenities include two televisions,; a kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, and capsule coffee maker; and a sofa that can turn into a bed if there’s a kid along. Our bedroom was quite comfortable, dark with the blackout curtains closed, and surprisingly quiet considering we could see one of the Miami Airport terminals and tarmacs from our window.
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There’s ample room in these suites to get some work down or sit down in the same place for a meal or a snack. It’s nice to sit on a sofa to watch TV instead of having to do it from a bed. Thanks to lamps with built-in outlets, there’s no trouble finding a place to plug in your gadgets for a recharge.
There are several versions of accessible rooms available, this is an easy hotel for anyone with mobility issues to navigate: there are ample elevators and no stairs. Pet-friendly rooms are available with an additional fee.
Parking is $24 per day at the Embassy Suites Miami Airport and there are EV chargers for electrical vehicles. Rates sometimes dip below $120 per night pre-paid, but usually start at $150 before taxes and go up for larger suites. See more at the official Hilton site or compare rates online at Booking.com.
Review by Tim Leffel who was hosted one night at the property for purposes of review. As always, all opinions are his own. Photos by Leffel except for pool shot courtesy of Embassy Suites.
