Aloft Brickell: In Miami’s Other City

The Aloft Brickell Hotel Review is part of the Quest Around The Globe Trip Report which covers the following places:

• Las Vegas, Nevada 
• Grand Cayman 
• Cartagena, Colombia
• Medellin, Colombia
• Miami, Florida 
• Houston, Texas 
• Moscow, Russia
• St. Petersburg, Russia 
• Ayia Napa, Cyprus 
• Amman, Jordan 
• Abu Dhabi, UAE 
• New York, New York 

Here is the Picture Preview, the Excel Spreadsheet of all the points redemptions, and my CNN International Business Traveller segment which was filmed in Vegas.

Getting There: Take the Metrorail direct to Miami International Airport for $2.25.

It’s not all about South Beach when it comes to Miami. There are many great areas of Miami including Brickell, the next most livable city after Scottsdale, Arizona. Brickell is the financial district of Miami which is why it has high-end hotels like the Mandarin Oriental, the Four Seasons, and the Conrad. Besides being a business hub, Brickell is home to many nightclubs, restaurants, and Sunday Funday spots.

Looking for a place to rest my head, spare my wallet, and achieve SPG Platinum for 2017, I switched from the Aloft South Beach to the Aloft Brickell. This time I did not receive a suite upgrade but was satisfied with the great location and prototypical Aloft amenities. Like South Beach, the fun is outside the walls of the hotel. Having said that, there is plenty to like about the Aloft Brickell.

The Location 

Let’s start with the location. Exit the hotel and walk two blocks in any direction and you will encounter lively streets and a unique culture. Downtown Brickell is not like FiDi which goes quiet after the closing bell. Instead, there are plenty of outdoor restaurants serving Colombian, Venezuelan, and international cuisine.

The Staff 

Alofts throughout the world are staffed with wonderful people who make the hotel experience more like going to a friend’s house for a sleepover. At the Aloft Brickell, the front desk welcomed me with more drink tickets than I could handle. Nothing says hospitality like a shot of Don Julio on the house.

The Room 

This may not have been a suite but addition of a balcony, something I have not encountered at other Alofts, gave the hotel a big city feel. Per usual, there was the comfy Aloft king size bed and reviving Aloft soaps (not pictured).

The Brickell Skyline 

Brickell is often overlooked because it is not right on the beach. That is a shame because it has so much to offer. In Brickell, the excitement of the city does not come from the ocean view but from the modern buildings that form the city’s skyline.

The Breakfast

It isn’t a breakfast buffet. It’s an ‘on the go’ offering.

Overall 

I encourage travelers to visit Brickell, a city that combines the laid back lifestyle of Scottsdale, the money doesn’t sleep persona of Wall Street, and the sexiness of Miami. Furthermore, I encourage travelers to consider staying at the Aloft Brickell, a reasonably priced, well situated hotel in Miami’s other city.