Riviera Hotel South Beach, A South Beach Group Hotel

Go somewhere else

SOME of the staff were very kind. Almost kind enough to make up for the two people who had terrible attitudes when faced with an actual customer service situation prior to them. First impression is everything. The bed was actually quite comfortable.

The hotel signage is terrible for a place that makes that much money and is located on south beach. Why is that an issue here? There are multiple buildings with no parking anywhere around them and surrounded by a difficult two-lane road. The building that has the more obvious sign (shown in the picture) isn't even the building you check in at, or will likely stay. When I called trying to get assistance, the woman on the phone had a one inch fuse before I could hear her try to pass me off to somebody. She thought she was muffling the phone well enough but I could hear her telling the gentleman there how stupid I must be. They kept insisting there was a man outside, which there was nobody anywhere and she kept giving me terrible directions leading me in circles around there building as I tried to avoid letting the cars line up behind me. Finally, a gentleman I could only assume was the one she was speaking to came out and frankly spoke to me like I must be an idiot, pointing at the building aggressively yelling "Do you not see that black and white sign we are telling you about? Just use your eyes and look. This is the riviera!" in a tone that suggested I'm a child who has been crying in the back seat of his car for an hour. I didn't even feel up to letting him know they don't know left from right and he was pointing at the complete opposite of where they were guiding me on the phone. It then turned out my only option for parking was to pay $40 a night for valet. Only other option is a nearby garage for $35 a night. That is the ONLY parking option if you are driving; so budget for it. There is also a $20 hotel fee added as well. I thought the hotel fee was... Well, the rate. I had never been so frustrated by a hotel before actually even getting checked in. When expressing my discontent to the gentleman checking me in, he said he would give me a better room, which meant a room with more space and an obstacle course to the phone I needed to get to so I could ask why he though that I (checking in alone on a business trip) needed to trade the one king size bed I reserved for two smaller beds. They finally put me in the room I reserved and the bed was great besides my pillows smelling like wet towels. Let me tell you, the views of the destroyed and dilapidated buildings that just about every window comes with were great. They give you two iPod radios that have first generation plugs, so don't expect to listen to music on them. The tv had no hdmi plug to let you supplement their terrible basic cable package. Half the channels on their directory didn't work. But the fridge was stocked with overprice booze. I felt like I wasted my money and could have paid half as much for twice the experience almost anywhere else. Are there worse places? Obviously. But I would never recommend this hotel to anybody. If I was on vacation and not business, my trip would have been ruined by how short they fell of how decent they look online.

The staff was very friendly and helpful, and the location near the beach was great. There is a convenience store 2 minutes from the hotel where you can buy food/drinks on the cheap.

The music from the bar started early and ended late. In the third building, it was very noticeable. One of the beds was noticeably more comfortable than the other. Different mattresses. The wifi signal was terrible. It went in and out and the connection was extremely slow.

Large discrepancy among staff

The staff before christmas were extremely helpful and very accommodating

The staff after christmas were negligible, rude, obnoxious and unhelpful.

Just Okay--nothing special

Close to the convention center Private balcony Contemporary room styling

Here's my list: -No ice machines...I had to go to the bar in my pajamas to get ice -Took over 30 minutes to check in -No one helped us with our bags even though they force you to pay $35 a day to value -Everyone seems to ignore you unless you directly speak to them -Air Conditioner was broken and they fixed the day we left...over 90 deg on SOBE! This left a wet, slippery film over the floor -Not very safe...anyone can walk into the side entrance of the hotel (there is no door whatsoever) and have access to the rooms -No room service even though there is a restaurant attached to the hotel -The beds were DEFINITELY not Tempurpedic as advertised; it is a cheap knockoff -I wouldn't stay here again unless I had to

DON'T STAY HERE!!!!!!!! DON'T BOOK HERE

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ! !!

EVERYTHING WAS WRONG!! IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK IN.. LITERALLY ..WOULDN'T REFUND MY MONEY EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T STAY THERE. STAFF AND MANAGEMENT WEREN'T HELPFUL. TRIED TO CHARGE ME TWICE... NEVER EVER USE THIS SITE OR STAY AT THIS HOTEL.. HAD TO CUT TRIP SHORT BECAUSE OF ALL THE HASSLE !! STAY AWAY

I was injured at the hotel and the staff was rude and unhelpful. I was most surprised at the at the poor attitude of the assistant general manger. I would never stay at this hotel again.

Doormen were excellent. Close to the beach with free beach chairs.

Housekeeping is very poor because they do not understand a word of English. The wall is too thin. Could not sleep because of the TV noise next door. Reception may not be efficient; was charged different rates. Had to pay extra for the taxi because of the poor response when checking-out. No prior response to my mail sent asking as to how to get on the free shuttle-bus from the airport.

Good sized and well furnished rooms, with art deco style. Friendly, helpful staff, good location for beach access and Lincoln Road shops

A good stay, and decent value with a discount, but the hotel needs to be more on top of the maintenance: e.g. we had problems with the shower tap and temperature in our room and there was a rather basic breakfast on disposable tableware by a pool that wasn't cleaned during our stay.