Holiday Inn POM or Mayfair Hotel?

willow0325 · #1 April 28th, 2012, 08:12 PM

I've been researching hotels (ad nauseum!) for our upcoming cruise. We'll likely stay 1-2 nights pre-cruise. Which hotel would you chose (Holiday Inn POM or the Mayfair Hotel) and why?

Thanks so much and happy cruising!

JohninDC · #2 April 28th, 2012, 10:23 PM

For one night in downtown Miami I would choose the Doubletree Biscayne Bay over either hotel you mentioned - wonderful rooms, some with a view of POM, very nice pool area, and several good local dining options within walking distance. For more than one night I would skip downtown Miami and choose Miami Beach or maybe Coconut Grove.

Good luck!

Jiffymom · #3 April 28th, 2012, 10:35 PM

We enjoy Holiday Inn but book early it fills up

mondello · #4 April 29th, 2012, 12:57 AM

We stayed at the Mayfair for a week a year ago and were happy with our stay, which was at a great rate much reduced from normal rates. Coconut Grove area was convenient enough with our rental car. I really don't think your 2 choices are comparable, more like apples to oranges. HI POM is a convenient pre-cruise hotel. The Mayfair Hotel & Spa is cut from a little more luxurious cloth, although priced higher also and everything cost extra.

willow0325 · #5 April 29th, 2012, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mondello

We stayed at the Mayfair for a week a year ago and were happy with our stay, which was at a great rate much reduced from normal rates. Coconut Grove area was convenient enough with our rental car. I really don't think your 2 choices are comparable, more like apples to oranges. HI POM is a convenient pre-cruise hotel. The Mayfair Hotel & Spa is cut from a little more luxurious cloth, although priced higher also and everything cost extra.

Thanks for your help but I'm seeing rates much lower at Mayfair both directly at the hotel and using Priceline. Are you saying that HI POM is "ordinary" and Mayfair is more luxury? If so - I think I'd take luxury over ordinary. Some reviews are that the pool area is loud - was that your finding? We are just going for a day or two pre-cruise but still like to being our vacation in a nice hotel.

willow0325 · #6 April 29th, 2012, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohninDC

For one night in downtown Miami I would choose the Doubletree Biscayne Bay over either hotel you mentioned - wonderful rooms, some with a view of POM, very nice pool area, and several good local dining options within walking distance. For more than one night I would skip downtown Miami and choose Miami Beach or maybe Coconut Grove.

Good luck!

Thank you! What can you tell me about the Doubletree? Why would you chose that area over the other two? I also have to consider taxi fares (from airport and then to cruise port). Isn't the Doubletree in the same vicinity as
the Holiday Inn? Thanks again so much for your help!

willow0325 · #7 April 29th, 2012, 07:59 AM

Hmmm ... I'm seeing very high rates for the Doubletree directly through the hotel and on priceline too. Close to $500 for one night for a 2 bedroom, and close to $300/night for a 1 bedroom. Is that close to the rate you paid? Too expensive for me, unfortunately.

Marie51 · #8 April 29th, 2012, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow0325

Thanks for your help but I'm seeing rates much lower at Mayfair both directly at the hotel and using Priceline. Are you saying that HI POM is "ordinary" and Mayfair is more luxury? If so - I think I'd take luxury over ordinary. Some reviews are that the pool area is loud - was that your finding? We are just going for a day or two pre-cruise but still like to being our vacation in a nice hotel.

The Holiday Inn is very ordinary so if you want a nice hotel pick something different. It is a popular place with cruisers because it is across the street from the port but to me this doesn't matter. I think the Mayfair looks lovely although I have not stayed there. I would stay there any day over the Holiday Inn.

mondello · #9 April 29th, 2012, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow0325

Thanks for your help but I'm seeing rates much lower at Mayfair both directly at the hotel and using Priceline. Are you saying that HI POM is "ordinary" and Mayfair is more luxury? If so - I think I'd take luxury over ordinary. Some reviews are that the pool area is loud - was that your finding? We are just going for a day or two pre-cruise but still like to being our vacation in a nice hotel.

Yes, I'd almost forgotten about that. The pool is closed in the evening (6:00PM?) and they use the outdoor area as an outdoor party area with the bar setup and music. Their prices really vary a lot depending on the season, more than a hundred dollar swing. There were mixed reviews before my visit and I thought the great price was too good to pass up. We had a good trip. There was a nice complex adjacent to Mayfair that had dining and shopping, even more options in the very walkable neighborhood.

miamiyogi · #10 April 30th, 2012, 11:25 AM

The Mayfair is leagues above the Double Tree, and the HI downtown doesn't come close to either.

Coconut Grove has kinda of a bohemian feel to it, and its much fun to explore the tree lined streets near the hotel. Its a fairly safe area, but don't go further west than the block after the Cocowalk mall.

Many more things to do and see in downtown, but you could do far worse than booking the Mayfair. Make sure you get a room with the jacuzzi on the balcony...very cool.

Langley Cruisers · #11 April 30th, 2012, 01:08 PM

I would avoid the HI POM at all costs. A much better hotel in the same area is the Marriott Biscayne Bay.

willow0325 · #12 April 30th, 2012, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Langley Cruisers

I would avoid the HI POM at all costs. A much better hotel in the same area is the Marriott Biscayne Bay.

Can you tell me why? The reviews seem pretty consistent. Thank you!

BlueHerons · #13 April 30th, 2012, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miamiyogi

The Mayfair is leagues above the Double Tree, and the HI downtown doesn't come close to either.

Coconut Grove has kinda of a bohemian feel to it, and its much fun to explore the tree lined streets near the hotel. Its a fairly safe area, but don't go further west than the block after the Cocowalk mall.

Many more things to do and see in downtown, but you could do far worse than booking the Mayfair. Make sure you get a room with the jacuzzi on the balcony...very cool.

Ditto this.

Ron & Kristy · #14 May 5th, 2012, 02:41 AM

We recently stayed at the HI POM. It was rated 3 1/2 stars but it is probably more like 2 - 2 1/2 stars. It wasn't horrible but it is rather funky and the pool leaves a lot to be desired. We could not get the wifi to work in our room and had to take the laptop downstairs to the lobby in order for it to work. Breakfast was fairly expensive but we went across the street to the Bayside Market Place and ate dinner there.

We are going back to Miami in December for a 10 day Christmas cruise. We just recently booked the Hyatt Regency for $115 a night. It is 4 1/2 stars. The Intercontinental was available for $141. Have you tried wwwdotlastminutetraveldotcom? Great deals are to be had there. Good luck.

Marie51 · #15 May 5th, 2012, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow0325

Can you tell me why? The reviews seem pretty consistent. Thank you!

Holiday Inn Port of Miami is an overpriced dump.

willow0325 · #16 May 6th, 2012, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marie51

Holiday Inn Port of Miami is an overpriced dump.

Other then being "overpriced", can you be more specific about why you think it's a "dump"? Thanks so much.

Langley Cruisers · #17 May 6th, 2012, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow0325

Other then being "overpriced", can you be more specific about why you think it's a "dump"? Thanks so much.

You can run a search here; this hotel has been discussed for years and for all that time, it's been described as a dump. It's old, it's run down, the food is expensive, the pool area is a joke, the elevators are slow, our room was dirty, the staff is indifferent....

Please do yourself a favor and stay elsewhere. I, and other who have commented in this thread, have stayed there and we wouldn't again. *shrug* I'm just not sure what else to say.

Marie51 · #18 May 7th, 2012, 08:39 AM

In addition to the above I will make a comment about being overpriced. For the same dates I was in Miami the Holiday Inn was $170. I stayed at the Hyatt which is a much nicer hotel for $88.

jarz85 · #19 May 7th, 2012, 09:20 AM

We stayed at the Holiday Inn last year for 1 night and it was fine. After reading all the reviews we were freaked out but had booked a non-refundable rate. Even the people on our roll call told us to 'expect to see chalk outlines of bodies'. All in all it was fine. I even met Joan Rivers in the elevator! It's fine for a pre-cruise stay. We needed a refrigerator for medication and it was brought up within 10 minutes and the staff were friendly. Our room had a view of the port, not an awesome view but we could see the ships!

Very clean, I ripped all the sheets off and checked the mattresses just to be safe!

No 'chalk lines' here!

View from the room