Welcome Travelingpanties: Trump International Miami in Sunny Isles

When I was planning my latest visit to Miami I resolved to stay outside of South Beach. I wasn’t in the mood for techno and late night parties. Plus, I was going with my mom and we wanted easy access to visit our family that lives out in Sunny Isles. So I looked around and checked out properties in the area. Being a big fan of the Trump hotels in New York I figured I needed it check out Trump International Beach Resort in Miami. I had a great experience here. It’s a Four Star resort and great value for being an oceanside hotel. It’s not one of the more extravagant Trump properties but it was lovely and I really enjoyed my stay. The best part of the hotel is undoubtedly the gorgeous pool and fabulous oceanfront location. Oh and a very professional spa! Here is my comprehensive review of Trump Miami Resort from check in to check out!

Arrival

When you pull up to the hotel you’re greeted by a valet. They took our bags and we went to check in. We were checked in by a very friendly gentleman who helped orient us with the property. Our bags got a little lost between the valet and reaching our room but the staff was very apologetic and we had a bottle of wine waiting in our room later in the evening to apologize (which instantly makes me put the cat claws away).

The Grounds

The hotel is located in the posh neighborhood of Sunny Isles in Miami right on the ocean. It’s about 11 miles from South Beach. It’s a Four Star hotel with 355 guest rooms. The hotel features lots of amenities like grotto-style pool, fitness center, spa and four on-site eateries. There is a very elaborate lagoon-like pool with waterfalls. There are also tennis courts and water sports rentals.

Fitness Center? Yes. Nice. Personal trainers are available for a fee.

Pool situation? This is the superstar of the property. It’s a giant complex of pools and hot tubs that overlook the ocean. There are waterfalls, several hot tubs and even air-conditioned cabanas (for a fee of course). This is absolutely beautiful and I wished I had more time to spend here when it was nicer out (our day for the pool was sadly a bit rainy). Even pretty though on a rainy day!

Water Sports? You can rent Jet Skis, sailboards, paddle boards, kayaks, etc. for a reasonable cost.

The Beach? You’re steps away from the ocean. There is also volleyball on site.

The Lobby

It is a Four Star property and it certainly lives up to that standard. Not quite as grand as I would imagine for a Trump hotel to be. It felt a little bit dated but still very nice. It had some interesting floral arrangements that I really liked.

The Rooms

We were in a one-bedroom suite. It was sprawling. I felt like I could have led a workout class with all the space.  There was a full-size refrigerator and kitchen perfect if you’re traveling with a family or even with a group of friends. There was also a four person dining room table and a sitting area to relax with a flat screen TV. The room had superb views of both the city and the ocean.

And all of the rooms have private balconies. I’m told that some of them even have private whirlpools on them. Ooh la la!

Everything was very tidy and clean, though I think the style may need an update. Nothing looked at all run down, but the style is just a little bit dated. All electronics though were modern and everything worked properly.

Room decor? Clean, traditional.

Closet/Dresser Details? Spacious closet.

Charging Situation? There were enough plugs.

Turn-Down Service? Yes. They close all the curtains and it gets cozy 🙂

Bottled Water?  Yes, but for a charge.

Coffee maker?  Yes. Keurig.

Beds? Beds with pillow top matteresses. Very comfy!

Safe? Yes, but you need the key, which I always think is a pain.

White Glove Inspection: Passed. Everything was very clean.

The Bathroom

The bathroom was lovely. Very clean, his and her sinks, an oversized tub, stand alone shower and a separate water closet.

Makeup Mirror? Yes!

Hairdryer? Yes, not high power.

Bidet? Oui.

Designer Toiletries? Don’t recall what they were but I liked them.

Towel quality? Good.

Robes? Yes. And slippers. Very nice.

Amenities? Shower cap, q-tips, cotton and nail file. And they had a scale.

 

The Food & Drink

The hotel features four eateries. There is Neomi’s, which is the hotel’s signature restaurant. It has beautiful views of the ocean and pool. I was hosted for dinner here and it was great. I have to say, I wasn’t expecting much. I never really expect much from a hotel restaurant but everything was delicious–from our cocktails to our beautiful dessert. I was impressed by the presentation and the attentive staff.

Our waitress was truly a pleasure and from looking around it seemed that she wasn’t the only one of her kind. Gili’s Pool Bar and Grill offers casual food by the pools–hamburgers, sandwiches, etc. The bar is super cute and people seemed to be having a great time (we sadly couldn’t partake because we didn’t want to be woozy for our spa appointments).

Then there is Fusion Lounge, which is the lobby bar that features sushi and some American food as well. This too looked a bit dated but I had a few cocktails here late on a Sunday night and again the warm and friendly staff really made it a wonderful experience.

The Spa

The spa is quite modest but the quality of the treatments really impressed me. When Trump offered to host me for a mini-spa day with my mom I could not wait. When we checked in we were greeted by an a bubbly girl who cheerfully tended to our needs and helped get us settled. The spa features sauna and steam room as well as a very nice relaxation room. The locker room was nothing special but I didn’t plan to spend much time there so didn’t care much. In the relaxation room, there were various high-quality teas and snacks like cookies, fruit, etc. They also had plush, cuddly blankies to warm up with after your treatment and you better believe we made full use of these. My masseuse as well as facial therapist were two of the best I have ever had. Truly. During my massage, the woman was very in tune with my alignment and could tell that I had a broken foot last year because of how my spine was. She was able to suggest a few things I could do to help with my issues and paid special attention to problem areas during my massage. They used very high quality ingredients and my mom and I were both very impressed.

The Little Things

Did I feel truly welcome by the staff? Yes! This is definitely one of the hotel’s strong suits.

Wi-Fi? Yes. Free for several devices.

Mini-Bar? Yes, pretty standard.

Any other quirky things? Ohhhh! Our room had a washer and dryer! I think this is so clutch for long term travelers especially. You had to purchase soap, which they had in the mini bar but I was more than happy to. I got to go home with clean clothes! I was so excited!

Ooh, and there is complimentary shuttle service to Aventura Mall, Bal Harbour Shops, The Dezer Collection and South Beach. Also, complimentary local calls (up to 20 minutes per call).

Flowers: There were some cool, tropical floral arrangements in the lobby.

Special Treats: Turndown desserts? Yes, little chocolates.

Good For Families: Absolutely. I think this perfect for families actually. The pool, the water sports, the ocean. Also, kids 17 and younger stay free if you use existing bedding in the rooms. 

Room for Improvement

I think that the rooms and hotels should be updated. Although everything was very clean and tidy, the style is a bit old-fashioned and needs an update.

The Wow Factor(s):

The pool and the spa. These are definitely the standouts.

The Bottom Line: Would I recommend it? Am I coming Back?

This is a fabulous Four Star hotel. It is not a Five Star property, but it isn’t promising to be one. It’s very unpretentious and casual and great for families. It’s also pretty well priced considering its amenities like tennis, pool and oceanside locale.

I would definitely come back. The hotel offers great value for guests wanting to be by the ocean.

Trump International Miami

Address: 18001 Collins Avenue Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160

Phone: (866) 628-1197

Cost: Rooms start at about $230 a night so it’s a great value property.

Website

*Disclaimer* As is common in the travel industry, writers are provided with complimentary services for review purposes. Although my visit was part of a press trip–meaning that I did not pay, all opinions herein are my own. You can’t buy the love here, people! Just ask my husband!