287-Room Andaz Miami Beach Now Open: Great New Hyatt Beach Resort

I stayed at the (old) Confidante several times. The pools look to be the same pools as before. The base rooms are also rather tight, especially the bathrooms. Hotel was not good with Globalist treatment in the past, so hopefully that changes. Resort fee is a steep $55 a night. Hopefully that includes an umbrella for the price.

I can't see the hotel sustaining the current rates either. It used to more of a family hotel since it's beachfront and it isn't walkable to Lincoln road. Not sure family's want to spend $800 a night when they used to spend $300-$400 a night at the hotel in the past.

I suspect most Hyatt loyalists will prefer the Thompson when it opens given it's more central location. Even though it's not beachfront, if it provides a good beach set up, shouldn't be too much of an issue, especially if the base rooms are a decent size.

they are NOT the same pools, they are new and oval while the old ones were rectangular.they were suppose to lifted up to the 2nd floor and in the end will be where the old ones were.

I consider this hotel a pig with lipstick. They did make a few more suites but for the most part the rooms stayed the same size (small) We stayed here plenty of times and received proper Globalist treatment every time. Will agree Late Checkout was spotty but since it was a Resort Late Checkout isnt a benefit even for Globalists

As for returning not likely since we found other Hyatts that do the trick for us and for 1/2 the $ or pts

Why are there so many pics of the pool area and so few of the beach? When a property does this, I become wary that they are trying to hide something i.e. no beach or crappy beach, even though a supposedly selling point is the beach location.

Gotta disagree, Ben. Not really sure who was clamoring for an Andaz on Miami Beach. The Confidante was a nice property that was affordable on cash and points. Good for families, couples, and young people if they wanted to have a good time. It was a great vibe (I understand other people may view it differently). This looks like nothing more than a new name and a paint job so they can charge more. Also, cannot really tell from hyatt.com (of course, why would they make it clear and easy?), but I expect the standard suite here to be nothing more than a love seat. You've been upgraded!

What is the difference between Andaz and Thompson?? I've been a globalist for years and have stayed a multiple locations of each. I get that there are different histories and general architectural branding differences (both having exceptions) but what is their difference in standards, quality, or focus demographics? They're both small sets of properties. To me, they are the most perplexing example of why Hyatt bothers to keep the brands distinct.

I loved The Confidante. And it was good enough to be used for a Dua Lipa video. Will have to try this new hotel next time I'm in Miami.

Since you live right there why not burn a cert for a night and give it a go and review? I would be very much interested in the takeaways of this property beyond the renderings.

Looks like the hotel is blocking award rooms, at least for the month of May. I checked a handful of dates in eary, mid, and late May and don't see any standard availability. Guess they only want cash customers as they get started.

The Confidante was always on my radar because it was a Category 4 hotel. I never stayed there, and the Andaz looks great, but it's disappointing to see the loss of another Cat 4 hotel in a major US city.

Soon enough, Cat 1-4 certs will be useless in major cities in the US outside of Hyatt Places (if even that). Hyatt really needs to do something about these certs (raise to Cat 5, allow top-offs, or something).

Looks soulless. No idea what the Andaz brand stands for.

The old Confidante was tired and tacky so I’m looking forward to staying the the ‘new’ Andaz. But if they only spent $60 million on the renovation, I’m a bit sceptical…

The Confidante was ok in public areas but roo.s were small. I never liked the pool. I generally prefer Andaz over Unbound but the rates are getting ridiculous.

Well, the beaches there are all the same. Each hotel just sets up their area with staff. At every hotel I've stayed on the beach there, service is sorta lame. All young kids with no sense of urgency. I like the beaches there but nothing like service in Greece or even Mexico. I'm more concerned when room photos are ignored but endless restaurant pics.

This puts a lot of pressure on Hersha, which owns the neighboring Cadillac flagged under Marriott's Autograph Collection. When the Andaz was an Unbound, the Cadillac was nicer. But the Cadillac is really tired and significantly overpriced for what they provide. Especially the small pools.

The biggest issue, however, is probably 50% of the rooms (if not more) at the Andaz are on the sides of the building or have obstructed cityscape views. Like the Cadillac, even the best rooms are really more "ocean view" than "oceanfront."

I think of Andaz as competing with IHG's Kimpton. Thompson is more like Marriott's W.

Actually, in the case of Miami Beach, the beach boys aren't even hotel staff. One company literally has the franchise agreement from the city government to operate all beach services for every hotel.

Probably because the hotel doesn't control the beach. The beach is public. Most Miami Beach properties have a big gate separating the hotel from the beach. Between the beach and the hotels is a wide paved boardwalk. It's actually quite common, especially at the high-end Miami Beach hotels, for guests to never go to the beach. You can't even sit on the beach using hotel chairs after 5 pm under the franchise agreement the city has with the company that operates every hotel's beach services.

The biggest issue with the Andaz is the same issue with the neighboring Cadillac. At least 50% of the rooms are on the sides of the hotels with city views. There are no genuine "oceanfront" rooms. What these hotels call "oceanfront" is at best an "ocean view."

It will be interesting to see if the Cadillac is forced to renovate.

Stylistically, I would actually switch those two comparisons... Not that they aren't two of the closest competing lifestyle brands in their own right. Pretty sure my point stands

That isn’t the only pool, right? Looks tiny

There are more pools. At least there were when I stayed there when it was a Thompson.

Funnily enough, this property was a Thompson before it was the Confidante.

If I'm going to spend $500-$800 a night for a hotel room in Miami it ain't gonna be for a 277 square foot room. I also suspect that it's no longer a category 4 so no FNC usage any more. Tasteful renderings but a dubious value proposition.