Fontainebleau Miami Beach

So bad I got a different hotel for the 2nd night of the conference I was here for. Waited in line to check in as the employees rudely herded us through like cattle. My room was ready early (which was great!) so I didn’t have to wait in the luggage check line or the key room line….but then I got to my room- dated is an understatement with a view of a roof. Literally thought I was going to get legionnaire’s disease with the weird wetness in the room and what kind of luxury hotel still has a budget Home Depot shower head. Dirty carpet and beat up beds really put it over the top. Nothing about this hotel is luxurious apart from the prices. Went to the pool at 8:30 am and the “thumpa-thumpa” had already started- if I wanted to spend $1200 for a cabana I could have a chair but otherwise I was told to go past the normal pool and up to a different lawn. Despite being one of the first people at this other “pool” there was already trash floating in the water. When I did finally give up, I called to let them know I wouldn’t be staying in the room the last night- they told me there would be a charge for early check out!! So I just called back in the morning to check out but from a business model why would you not want to just have the room available for another (poor unsuspecting) guest.

Stayed Sept 22. After a long trip from the UK, we proceeded to check-in. There was a massive line and we were informed that all their systems had gone down so check-ins were being done manually, and taking longer than usual. Some guests had been waiting for over 6 hours. We eventually checked-in, and the receptionist took our card details ON PAPER. We were given our room key, and when we arrived at our room it was the wrong room type! We'd booked a room with a balcony. We were not given this. So we had to go back down and contend with the massive queue once again. We were eventually allocated the right room with no apology! Later in our stay, our room fire alarm would go off randomly, and at night. After 2 days reporting this, it was eventually fixed. Finally upon checkout, we informed the reception of the above and they offered to waive the charge for us for 3 of our 6 nights. We settled the balance and left. Forward to Jan ‘23 and a substantial card transaction from the hotel had been debited from my account! I emailed the hospitality manager (LEO ROSSINI) and General Manager (GEOVANY MEDRANO and FARHAN RAFIQ); Leo informed me that the charge was for the remaining balance of our stay. We challenged this; he apologised and said the refund will be processed immediately. 3 months later, the refund has not come through. I have chased and am awaiting their response. My summary – great hotel for décor and atmosphere, but if you do stay beware of their erroneous charging antics!

We could not make our trip, due to the fact I threw my back out. We called 48 hours before and hotel could not help us bc we booked with Capital One Travel. They gave us an email address that was supposed to help. Capital One tried to get us rebooked and they would not help us. We had a suite booked and now we got charged a $2000 cancellation fee bc we did not cancel before 7 days out. We weren’t trying to cancel - just get our dates moved to the end of the month. BEYOND disappointed with both the Fountainebleu and Capital One. I guess we will be taking our money elsewhere.