When the absurd, ridiculous, opulent Presidential Suite at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables (Miami) popped up for a bargain price, my family had to try it out. Two-floors, two bathrooms, huge views, all for less than we usually pay in Miami for a standard room. But did the reality match the dream?
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Location
Aptly named, the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables is in the… Coral Gables neighborhood of Miami. Four miles from the “city center”, 4.8 miles from Miami International and about two miles from the beach puts you in the heart of everything. It’s worth noting that on the way to or from the airport is the excellent Versailles Bakery, a Cuban treat in Little Havana. It was also featured in the movie Chef, though I recommend the Limonada before their Cuban sandwich any day (heresy, I know).
50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Bargain Prices For Summer
Yes, it’s summer. Yes, it’s Miami. But for what it’s worth, Miami was colder than Charlotte this week by about 10 degrees. The prices are incredible.
The highest weekend rate I could find for the next two weeks was $295/nt. A World of Hyatt Member’s Rate on the entry-level King (or two Queens) ran from $127-155/nt, but some Saturday nights the Premium Suite is available for $157/nt or the Terrace Suite for just $187!
The “bi-floor” 2400 square foot Presidential Suite for $295 is an absolute bargain! There may be cheaper rates through the rest of the summer, but if there is availability for your stay at that rate, it’s unconscionable not to secure it. You cannot secure the Presidential Suite as a Globalist upgrade, though I have always been a firm believer in being pleasant at checkin, knowing the inventory (if it’s still for sale on the Hyatt website, no one’s in it) and asking politely. You never know what you’ll get. The last time we got a Presidential Suite, we checked in at almost midnight and the hotel was booked even, meaning we were last to checkin and it was the only room left.
Suite: First Floor
Since the suite is divided into two floors, I will start with the first floor or ground level. Double doors welcomed us to room 1405, the Alhambra suite. Some of the suite was well updated, and some aspects were quite dated, but for the amount of space in Miami, it is hard to beat for the price. The main floor bathroom was a guest half bath. It was spacious enough for Lucy to pretend it was her own room where she later moved in furniture. It looked like most other hotel half bathrooms so I didn’t include a picture.
Piano
Unlike my wife, Carly, I have never taken piano lessons. Neither of us could tell whether it was a Grand piano or not, perhaps it will be addressed in the comments. Lucy has never taken lessons either but that didn’t stop her from giving it her level best.
Dining Room
Dated but very nice with plenty of place settings without being obnoxious. Behind it was a sitting area and the corded phone. I guess I am spoiled but having one phone downstairs at the far end of the room seemed off to me. There was a kitchen as well, and a full-size fridge.
Living Room
The living room was the most updated area of the suite and very nice. The couches match the decor throughout the updated lobby and while they weren’t exactly as plush as we would have liked, pretty things rarely are. The TV was huge, new and perhaps the most updated thing in the whole suite. But we never used it. Why? Because we would have needed binoculars to see it. In the photo below, there is another couch out of the frame (to the left) which faces the TV perhaps 20 feet from it. It just wasn’t very well thought out which was a shame because it was such a nice TV.
Suite: Second Floor
The second floor featured a small parlor at the top with a cool lookout over the rest of the suite opposite some more furniture that was a bit older than I would have expected to find. It did allow for some cool views of the downstairs including the shot of Lucy playing Paino elsewhere in this post.
Bedroom
The bedroom was an internal room. There were no windows at all, from a real estate perspective it wasn’t a bedroom at all. The closet was great, it was large enough for a family to move in for a week. One side had great outlets updated with USB ports too, while the other was without much at all.
Bathroom
This is where things go a little retro fast. The double vanity ran 2/3rds of the length of the bathroom. The very large water closet featured a stand alone bidet, though I still prefer the Japanese toilet seat adaptation as opposed to an actual bidet.
Want a sauna in your room? You’ve got one Mr. President. It seats two, maybe three, but it’s right there. As dated as that is, I kind of loved that and if we were in town for more time, I would have absolutely used it.
Of course, there is nothing dated about a jet jacuzzi tub. It’s the mirrored walls that kind of seem out of place. Maybe you want to see yourself from all angles, but I don’t. I did not make use of this while in residence.
Lastly, there is a very long shower hidden partly behind the tub. It was so very late 1980s, early 1990s and while it had its charm, it didn’t have the water pressure. The jeweled knob also reminded me of growing up, a sight in every suburban 90s kid’s home and their friend’s houses. The shower was very large, however. It’s a shame they use KennetMD products even in the premium suites, but it could be worse.
Pool
The pool was fairly quiet both the afternoon of our arrival and the morning of our departure. There is a pool bar that held the attention of a handful in the afternoon but it was generally vacant. I can imagine in the busy winter season that the pool size is inadequate for the number of rooms in this very large hotel. The pool is on the fifth floor.
Breakfast
As this property is a Hyatt Regency, full breakfast for Globalists (two adults and two children, every day) is in order. I don’t make it a point to eat breakfast every day, even when I am staying in full-service hotels, but for trips with my family, we usually make it a point.
Breakfast was better than in a lounge but not as good as other properties. For example, one orange juice we had was clearly freshly squeezed (expected in Florida) and the other was some pulpless, watered down, Tang sort of thing. The deli meat selection I am sure is there for Europeans as we have found in hotels on the continent, but I would prefer to find some Jamon Iberco over folded slices of rounded-square pink ham. In a case of good news, bad news, they had an offering of make-your-own açaí bowls but couldn’t manage ripe pineapple.
The Drawback
While the space was nice, the images really didn’t match the photos on the website. Our view wasn’t as nice (street view as opposed to the pool), the room wasn’t very updated, it reminded Carly and I of our parent’s houses growing up. There’s nothing wrong with that, but for the Presidential suite I did expect it to be a little more contemporary, I doubt hotel management would disagree.
Have you stayed at this property? Was it a grand piano or not? Thoughts on the value of the room and staying in Miami in the summer?
Really great price, but wow it’s so dated. To each their own I suppose, but 10 times out of 10 I’d choose the Centric in South Beach over this place. (Although I don’t have kids. If I did, I guess it might change my calculation.)
If you’re closer to the west coast, the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix has a similar room, but with a huge terrace overlooking their convention center. Rates in the summer are great (but it’s also Phoenix…). I stayed on a corporate rate a year or so ago for under $100/night and was upgraded to that room. Reminded me a lot of your experience @ Coral Gables: Tons of space but in serious need of a reno.
That shower looks exactly like the one in my master bathroom. My house was built in 1993…
I actually like Florida in the summer, mainly because nobody else goes there then (outside of Disney), which makes it cheap. My connections to the state reside on the other coast, but I’d certainly give the room some consideration if I were in Miami in the summer. The main drawback is it can be a PITA to get to the beach from Coral Gables.
Staying at Hyatt Confidante w/points this weekend w/ my son. Honestly one of the best Hyatt hotels in Florida (non resort). family freindly, and they really try. Definitely will return.
As a Miami native, I’ve never seen a review of the hotel before. Good to know for a visit back home. Thanks.
As to Versailles, there’s an awful lot of hype. You can’t swing a cat without hitting a Cuban restaurant in Miami. Just pick a small place where little to no English is spoken.
That’s a depressing suite, but I love the sauna!
Honestly it’s so dated that I can’t imagine that I would enjoy staying there at any price. Frankly the hotel should be ashamed of that room especially for a Hyatt. I strongly suspect that it’s being sold at those prices because of its condition.
My strong sense of this hotel after reading your review is that they are phoning it in.
My heavens what a sad room. Obviously there’s nothing really wrong with it but they should really just split it up and renovate it into normal rooms. I’d be p.o’d at even paying this price.
Stayed at that Hyatt many times and I really like it…for his location. Coral Gables is one of the best “barrios” in Miami. Of course, not the best hotel if you want to go to the beach. Can be cheap now but during other times of the year regular rooms sell for $300/$400 a night. Nice review as always. PS: if you think that that property is dated go and stay at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Miami by Brickell…