CATALINA HOTEL

Una stella per le camere è sin troppo. Dire che la mia camera faceva semplicemente schifo non è rendere l'idea. Pulizia, se si può parlare di pulizia, ogni 3 giorni, scarafaggi nel bagno, condizionatore in camera rumorosissimo da doverlo spegnere e patire il caldo, colazione inesistente, no deposito bagagli. Volevo chiamare l'ufficio igiene. Unica nota positiva la gentilezza dello staff alla reception. Inoltre non so quanto sia un albergo a norma di sicurezza. Impianti vecchi. Sconsiglio assolutamente. " per fortuna" se si può parlar di fortuna nel stare in una simile topaia, non ho pagato io. !!!

I booked this hotel for two colleagues through the Seatrade convention, which said that the hotel would be responsible for billing. I contacted the hotel to attempt to prepay for the stays but was told that I would have to present at check-in to be able to bill the rooms to my card. I had no problem with their policy hence my colleagues made their own arrangements to pay the hotel. Midway through their stay, the hotel billed my card for two nights each in contravention of their stated policy. Nevertheless, my colleagues paid for the remaining 3 nights. Upon check-out one was issued a receipt for the 3 nights by one front desk agent while the other was told by another agent that they were under strict orders not to give receipts because they bookings were under the convention's group. She approached the other agent and was issued a receipt for her payment. I subsequently called front desk to request receipts for the two charges the hotel made to my card and was told about group bookings and no receipts. This was most illogical since it was the hotel that made the charges and collected the payments. A third party to the transaction cannot issue a receipt for money it did not collect. The customer service experience was further horrible. One of my colleagues was placed in a room above a restaurant in the wing across the street from the main building. She was subjected to loud DJ music every night until 2am. When she complained about the noise and her sleepless nights, she was simply told that the hotel owns the restaurant, but it was under different management. Further, a small package was shipped to the hotel for one of my colleagues and though the tracking said delivered, the 3 times she checked the front desk she was told it had not arrived. On her 4th try, she presented a printout of the delivery confirmation showing the signature and name of the receiver. The front desk agent rolled his eyes and eventually went to a back room and found the package. My colleagues had as well to request room cleaning. They were not told they had to request it at check-in either. To date, after several emails to the front desk manager and the hotel manager, I still have not received receipts for the charges made to my card. We have never experienced such poor service in South Beach and we certainly will not stay there again nor recommend it to anyone else.

We stayed 4 days in room 1219 in the Taco Taco building of Catalina Hotel, 12-16 Apr 2024. They have 3 buildings, and we were in the middle one, which is where the Taco Taco restaurant is. Great room, shower was the best. Very big, great water pressure and temp. The bed was super comfy with great pillows and clean. Small balcony, where we hung our beach clothes. The only drawback was no coffee machine or microwave (why i gave it a 4 instead of 5 stars), it did have a small fridge. We missed the coffee maker the most, but the local restaurants have the best coffee, OMG! Absolutely great location, beach is 2 blocks up, and surrounded by so many delicious restaurants and great shopping!! Service was outstanding for us from the front desk, housekeeping, and bars within each Catalina hotel, especially ours. Highly recommend. Again, we stayed in the middle of the 3 Catalina buildings they have.
Highly recommend Ole Ole steakhouse for breakfast and dinner, located within a 10-15 min walk. Restaurants located on each side of Catalina Hotel are outstanding! Enjoy!

Huge cockroaches in the rooms, humidity

Listen to me...do NOT do this to yourself. Read the reviews. This place is the worst. First of all, when you arrive you are put on a waitlist. They advertise 3pm check in but that's just when the 'waitlist' opens. They may not call you for hours, if at all. And they will not under any circumstances hold your bag. The place is old and run down. Please practice self love and go someplace else.