The room was spacious, clean, and included all the amenities one could possibly need. It really felt more like a one bedroom loft apartment than your typical hotel room. The price was quite good compared to the alternatives. If you’ve ever stayed at a Miami Beach hotel, you know that no matter the name/price of the hotel, they all smell “funky” from the constant humidity. Well, the Locale kept that funk to a minimum and I was very pleased about that. The beach was a walking distance away although the best part of the beach (not in front of a major hotel, which makes it crowded, and mostly free of pebbles) is a couple kilometers away, at Governor’s Beach. It made for a great walk each day, to and from, but make sure you wear sneakers. The nearby Camana Bay shopping center has a major bank branch/ATM, a major grocery store, a movie theater, shops, restaurants, etc. It’s also a couple of kilometers away and calls for proper footwear. The included breakfast is sad. You have a choice of a very simple egg plate or the “continental” option which is just flavored yogurt and a few slices of apple and orange. Everything else on the menu is at full cost (not just an upgrade cost, which makes “includes breakfast” kind of a joke). The staff at the hotel is very kind and helpful but the front desk folks more often than not gave me a look like “now what?” and you get the sense they’re just trying to get rid of you (although will admittedly take care of your request, even if begrudgingly). The windows in the rooms do not soundproof well so expect quite a bit of road noise and the incessant crowing of roosters throughout the night (the island is full of them, like stray cats in Europe). The best part of my stay was the restaurant catercorner from the hotel, Craft F&B. Their new chef, Anis, and the staff will take excellent care of you with outstanding food and service. Oh, and Scoops, located within the hotel: awesome people and decadent ice cream and desserts.
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