The Confidante Miami Beach: Bottom Line Review

On our way to the Caribbean this week, my wife and I stopped by one of our old favorites, The Confidante Miami Beach.  We’ve stayed here at least once/year for the last 5-6 years, as it used to be the only Category 4 oceanfront Hyatt in South Florida.  No longer, the recent category changes moved it up to a category 5, outside of the reach of category 4 certs.

We booked one night with an expiring cert before the category change took place and enjoyed our stay much less than usual.  What used to be a delightful a la carte breakfast menu is now a blah buffet. Elite recognition has never been good here (good luck with room upgrades and late checkouts) but the last couple of times we were able to use confirmed suite upgrades to nab delightful oceanfront/view rooms.  This time, although there were upgradeable rooms available, we got stuck in a 4th floor king right above Collins Avenue…it was small, worn and noisy.  At cash prices of $500 + $100 in resort and parking, I would have been severely disappointed if paying out of pocket.

The beach area and easy access to the boardwalk is great, but ever-aging facilities, disinterested service and poor elite benefits make this a much less desireable redemption now that it’s a category 5.

The Confidante Miami Beach Bottom Line Review

Bottom line: Although the location and outdoor areas are marvelous (it’s right on Miami Beach and the Miami Beach Boardwalk), moving from category 4 to category 5 makes this feel like much less of a value than it used to be.  Poor elite recognition, subpar standard rooms and ageing facilities feel all the more apparent when you’re forking over 23K points or $300-500 per night. I’ve loved this hotel as an oceanfront value for years, but it will likely be awhile before we’ll be back…and probably not without booking an oceanfront room or a suite.  There’s simply better value to be had in Miami/Fort Lauderdale.

• Points Price: Now a Category 5, 17-23K points per night.  We made the reservation before the category change and used a Category 1-4 Certificate from the Chase Hyatt Card.
• Cash Price: Huge seasonal variation.  For the night I stayed, the cash member price was $529, not including the nightly resort fee of $45 + tax.  To me, those cash rates for the standard rooms represent very poor value.
• Points Value: In low season, prices can be between $100-$130/nt which would make it a poor redemption.  However, rates can soar well above $500 in high season, taking it well above our reasonable redemption value of 1.6 CPP.
• Resort Fee: There’s a resort fee of $45 + tax, not charged on points redemptions.
• Parking: Valet-only at $45 per night with in & out privileges, no self-parking at the hotel. Free for Globalists on award stays.
• Turndown service: None.
• Housekeeping: Currently every three days or on request.
• Internet: Decent. I certainly can’t call it “fast”, but not the slowest either.  I wouldn’t want to have to rely on it for zoom meetings.
• Dining
  • Breakfast: This was a big disappointment.  There is no club lounge, so breakfast is served in Ambersweet, the restaurant on the first floor.  Before this visit, the breakfast was a la carte from the menu and very high quality.  Now, it is a breakfast buffet with made-to-order eggs and omelets.  While it’s a step above a Hyatt Place or Hilton Garden Inn (it includes charcuterie and smoked salmon), the overall quality was mediocre.  Judging from the grumbling I heard from other folks, there wasn’t much variety from day to day.  And if paying out of pocket, it’s $45 per person.
  • Lunch & Dinner: Ambersweet Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7am-10pm.  There is an outdoor pool bar called “The Backyard” open from 11am-8pm Sun-Wed and ’till 11pm Thurs-Sat.  There is also an indoor cocktail lounge open from 3pm-12am daily.
• Spa: The Spa at the Confidante, a rooftop spa featuring private air-conditioned treatment and cabanas. Two heated, outdoor pools, including an adults-only pool
• Fitness Room: 10th floor, with good ocean views.  Like the rest of the hotel, it’s fairly worn but has more than enough equipment to put together a cardio or circuit workout, if not quite the same as you’d be able to do at home.
• Hyatt Globalist Elite Benefits: 
  • Suite Upgrade: None. The Confidante is fairly notorious for trying to skate around complimentary upgrades unless they are confirmed in advance.  While there were upgradedable rooms available, they assigned us a 4th-floor, street-facing standard room right above Collins Avenue.  Easily my least-favorite room in the 5-6 times I’ve stayed here.
  • Club Lounge: None. They used to provide 2 free drink tickets that could be used at the bar for cocktails, smoothies or espresso drinks…no more.
  • Free Breakfast: Mediocre buffet breakfast served at Ambersweet Restaurant.
  • 4PM Late Checkout: Another elite benefit that they are notoriously stingy on.  I’ve never been able to get later than a 1pm checkout.  That was the case here.  They do now provide “hospitality rooms” for elites to use post-beach/pool to shower and change, a welcome and thoughtful addition.
  • Free Parking: Free valet parking on award stays, otherwise $45+tax.
• Would I stay again?  Previous to this stay and the category change, yes. Now, I’m much more ambivalent.  I absolutely love the location: far enough from South Beach to feel more relaxed, but within easy reach of bars and restaurants. The beach and pool areas are great, as is being right on the boardwalk. That said, the facilities are already worn and getting more ragged with each passing year.  If you are able to get an oceanfront room or suite, they can be fantastic. The standard or interior rooms are poor value for cash or points, in my opinion. As a category 4, the quirks and poor elite recognition were more easily overlooked.  As a category 5 that is almost always at peak pricing, it’s not as appetizing.  After regularly coming here once a year or so, it will probably be awhile before we’re back.
• Confidante pros:
  • Still love this location.  I know that some would prefer to be right in the center of South Beach.  I like being right outside for a quieter beach/neighbourhood experience, but still being a 5-minute drive/10-minute bike ride when you want to be in the middle of the action.
  • Nice beach area with full service food and beverage
  • Pool and bar is a fun outdoor area to hang out in, especially at night with the lights on.
  • Some of the suites and oceanfront rooms are spacious with wonderful views.  If we ever stay here again, I would absolutely use a confirmed suite upgrade.
  • Serviceable fitness area
• Confidante cons:
  • Property seems to show its age more and more with each visit.  Some standard rooms are quirky and fun, some are cramped and noisy.
  • Formerly incredible breakfast has been replaced by a mediocre buffet (that would be $45/pp if paying cash).
  • Globalist/elite recognition is marginal; no room upgrade, 1-hour late checkout, no welcome drinks
  • Street-facing rooms can be quite noisy
  • Valet/Resort fee will add $100/night to cash rate.

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