Riu Plaza Miami Beach

I wanted to be near the Port of Miami but on the beach with great amenities and value. We were not dissapointed with Riu. They upgraded us to beach view, although on the 3rd floor, we were able to see the water. They are located on the end of the Collins Ave of the strip within biking distance to the main attractions. It's quieter and a short distance to all attractions.

Arrived in Miami after a early flight from DC. Drove to the riu driveway and was greeted by a fairly casually dressed man who took my bags and car keys. Not sure if he was an employee but he seemed to know what he was doing. We were early for check in and was abruptly semi checked in by a man behind the desk with a snooty look. Took my credit card and told me to write my email down and he would email when room was ready. Said we could sit by the pool in the heat. We were not dressed in pool attire and our bags had been whisked away somewhere. No offer of a cool drink or any details of the resort. Waited in the heat for a few hours and still no email received. Went to the desk to enquire 2 hours after official check in had finished. Another person with limited English confusingly checked us in in a rushed and abrupt manner. I told her no email was sent and she said “no problem”. No problem to her and no care to the hotel guests. Us ! Finally into the room which took a while as one of the two lifts was not working servicing the hotel on one elevator. The room is bland and sterile with basic decor. And on closer inspection broken fridge fitting and bathroom fitting hanging off the tiles. Also brown streaky drip stains on the wall next to the toilet. No bags delivered to the room for over an hour after entering room. Still in our clothes from the morning flight. Sweaty and sticky from sitting for hours in the heat. Rang the reception to enquire where the bags were and through broken English was told to come down to reception with the ticket to collect the bags. Atrocious and disgraceful service. I don’t usually write reports until after my stay is completed. However within the first few hours this hotel has impressed on me how little regard the staff have for the guests that stay here. I’m glad I only have 2 nights here and will never stay with the RIU chain again. I had experience in their NYC hotel recently and was only a little better but the same no care attitude by the staff for the clientele. Big thumbs down for the RIU

Been here for a week and they still haven’t fixed the elevator! The hotel is nice, rooms are clean and modern enough. Food is good but overpriced and staff are nice enough. The live entertainment is 3rd rate at best and there’s no atmosphere in the bar. like everywhere else in the area there’s an automatic service charge which I don’t agree with at all. You should tip when and how much you want. It’s quite far up the beach but the free trolley or cheap bus takes care of that for you. Not sure if I’d stay again but no real reason not to recommend it