Miami Airport hotel?

[Hilary]

Next year we're flying in/out of Miami airport and plan to stay the first night in Miami before setting off for the Keys.

We were going to book the airport hotel offered in the Virgin brochure (they call it Hotel Mia, but all I can find on a web search is the Miami International Airport Hotel located within the airport complex).

Has anyone stayed here and can give me an idea of what it's like - purely for getting a decent night's sleep before setting off early the following morning?

 

[thefatman]

The Miami International Airport Hotel is also the MIA

We've stayed there several times, its a short (5min) walk from imigration, (use a skycap to carry your bags for a few $).
We've always found it comfortable and quiet, nice pool and very nice bar (serves some food) on the top floors, the restaurant is nice but pricey. We tend to eat in one of the many airport food courts for more choice. Its not the cheapest hotel but definatly the most convenient. The shuttle bus to the car hire depots is right outside the hotels entrance.

 

[Hilary]

Thanks, Dave

That sounds ideal for what we need. All we need is somewhere convenient, clean and comfortable, and it's nice to hear about it from someone who has actually stayed there.

 

[vernon]

I haven't stayed at that hotel, but I'm booked into the Marriott ( it's on the perimeter of the airport) for next week which I got on hotwire for $45 a night. I've also stayed at a Comfort Suites close to the airport and that was pretty cheap and covered all the needs for a one night stay (i.e. clean, reasonable facilities and easy to find). If your car hire runs from your arrival, then it may be worthwhile to have a hotel that's in the area but not attatched to the airport. I'm certain that through Virgin and being part of the airport facilities it's going to be quite a bit more than $40-50 a night.

 

[Hilary]

Thanks for the info, Vernon

Yes, our car rental does run from the day of our arrival, but we felt we'd like to have a night's sleep before picking up the car - hence the attraction of remaining within the airport at the Hotel MIA.

Virgin's brochure is quoting £65 per night for a room there, which isn't the cheapest, but with my 10% FV discount is okay by me.

 

[BevS97]

for $65, I think staying at the hotel at the airport is a good idea.

We stayed at the Hilton which is off-site, it was £40 through Priceline which was a great price, but by the time we did 2 hours to get through immigration , then get the hire car, which involves shuttle bus etc, then fought our way through traffic to try and find the Hilton, we were absolutely knackered - it would have been much easier to just go to the hotel and deal with the hire car in the morning, also if you are early risers on your first morning, then you should miss any traffic, we were up and out by 5am and in Orlando for 10am, and that included a lenghty stop for breakfast on the way -

Bev

 

[vernon]

Hilary said it's £65, that's $ 104 at the current exchange rate. Still not too bad a rate, but you can save $ 60 (plus tax) for a 2 minute drive.