I was really excited to have a luxury vacation experience at what I thought would be a 5-star hotel, but unfortunately Fontainebleau really dropped the ball.
PROS:
-We stayed in the Sorrento Tower on the 10th floor. Our room had a balcony overlooking the pool and beach, and the view was phenomenal. The balcony itself was very spacious and one of the highlights of our stay.
-The valet staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Every time we arrived or departed, we were greeted with a smile, helped with our bags, and wished safe travels. Valet service was also very quick--whenever we called for the car, it was ready within 5-10 minutes.
-The room was spacious, although a bit outdated. The bed was comfortable and there were plenty of outlets for charging devices. There was a separate mini fridge for guest use, along with the stocked minibar (which charges $30 just to open the door). Unfortunately, the soaking tub was in poor condition with pink mold and brown staining throughout.
-The three elevators in our tower were extremely fast, which made getting around very convenient.
CONS:
-The majority of the staff, aside from valet, were rude and unwelcoming. At a "5-star luxury resort," you expect top-tier service--especially after spending about $3,000 for a three-night stay. That wasn't our experience. Service seemed to depend heavily on how guests looked. Multiple times I saw staff go above and beyond for guests dressed head-to-toe in designer brands and Rolex watches, while completely ignoring others who didn't fit that image.
-As a Certified Pool Operator for many years, I was honestly shocked by the condition of the pools. Considering the price of the rooms plus additional service and amenity fees, I expected much better maintenance.
The plaster surfaces in many of the pools were extremely rough, actually scraping the bottoms of my feet. There was noticeable staining, and a slick film on the water's surface from oils and lotions. The tile lines had thick layers of grime, and the pool floors were full of sand, broken hair ties, and drink straws.
The children's slide pool was closed our entire stay, and the Sorrento Tower pool was also closed. Only three pools were heated, while the rest were very cold. The main pool started the day clear but turned cloudy by mid-afternoon. The hot tubs were more like "warm tubs," sitting around maybe 90 degrees.
Then there's the LIV Dayclub pool, which blasts heavy bass music nonstop--definitely not ideal if you're hoping to relax.
Ironically, we had a balcony overlooking the pool area and spent a lot of time out there reading and people-watching. During that time, we only saw maintenance come out to "vacuum" one pool--and that's generous to call it vacuuming--before wrapping up for the evening.
The pools close at 6 PM, which feels extremely early and leaves plenty of time for proper maintenance and cleaning. Considering the pools are one of the resort's biggest selling points, far more care and attention should be put into maintaining them.
With so many iconic hotel options in Miami, I probably wouldn't stay here again. read more