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Intercontinental Miami Doral Review. Luxury Airport Hotel

The Miami Doral Intercontinental is near Miami Airport. It’s more luxurious than most airport hotels. It has a lovely pool, impressive frontage and a classy lobby. The lobby has a large restaurant.

The room I stayed in was massive. It easily fit my family of four.

In my view, it’s the best hotel near Miami Airport.


I also got a great deal! I stayed for one night. I hadn’t intended to book a nice hotel. However, the going rate for hotels was expensive.

So I bought IHG points, and used them to book up the room. I got a 44% discount, compared to the cash rate. I paid $175 to buy the points. The cash price for the room was $315.

This review is an in-depth guide. Know exactly what to expect when you visit. Each photo can be clicked, to open out the full slideshow.

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What I Liked

  • Nice swimming pool
  • Large and impressive front of hotel
  • Large bedroom
  • Self Parking was $18/night

What Could Be Improved

  • The rooms were a little dated
  • They forgot to give me my free drinks voucher!

The Booking

My flight was arriving late at Miami airport. So I needed an airport hotel for one night.

I wanted a cheap hotel. But Miami had other ideas! It was so expensive! The cheapest hotel was $200/night. I know many tricks to get a cheap hotel deal. And that was the cheapest price I could find.

I ended up buying IHG points. And then using those points to book the Miami Doral Intercontinental.

I bought 35,000 IHG points for $175. From this webpage. I then used those points to book the room. The cash price for the room was $315. I got a 44% discount, buy buying IHG points.

I get extra benefits when I stay at Intercontinental Hotels. As I’m an Intercontinental Ambassador. I get the following benefits as an Ambassador.

  • One free weekend night per year. To be used at any Intercontinental hotel
  • Guaranteed room upgrade
  • 4pm checkout
  • $20 bar credit for every stay
  • Free drinks voucher with every stay
  • Platinum status with IHG


I pay $200 per year be an Intercontinental Ambassador. Which I view as great value. You can sign up here.

The Best Activities in Miami

Miami is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It has white, sandy beaches, amazing food and a great party scene. Below are some of my favourite things to do, in the city.

The most popular food tour in Miami can be booked here. It’s a little Havana Food Tour. It costs $70 and is rated 5* from 6,612 reviews. An expert guide will guide you through little Havana. All food and drinks are included.

You’ll try Cuban cigars, mojito cocktails and Cuban inspired food! Including guava pastries, chicken plantain, flan ice cream, croquetas, empanadas and much more!

An indoor firearm experience can be booked here! It costs $185 and is rated 5* from 596 reviews. A specialist will guide you through the experience. You’ll fire a range of guns, including a machine gun. Not for kids!

A private speedboat tour can be booked here. The speedboat costs $599 and can hold 6 people. The tour is rated 5* from 401 reviews. Your trip lasts for two hours. You’ll speed along Miami waterfront. There’s also a cooler on board. Bring your own drinks and keep yourself cool!


The Location

The location is perfect, if you need to be near Miami Airport. The Miami Doral Intercontinental is 5 miles from the airport. It took me 15 minutes to drive.

It you want to visit downtown Miami or Miami beach. This hotel is a decent option. My wife wanted to visit Miami beach after we checked out. The drive was about 30 minutes.

We went to Miami Ocean Drive. That place wasn’t for me! Full of 20 years olds getting blind drunk. I was with my wife and two kids!

There’s many shops and restaurants close to the hotel. There’s a McDonalds across the road and other fast food joints in the area.

The Hotel

The Miami Doral Intercontinental is a mid-sized hotel. It has the following facilities:

  • Close to Miami Airport
  • Swimming Pool
  • Fitness centre
  • Small business centre on first floor
  • Restaurant and shop on first floor


The hotel is one of the nicest airport hotels I’ve been to. The front of the hotel is large and impressive. With a fountain and palm trees.

The downstairs lobby has a restaurant/bar. All meals are served there.

I didn’t eat breakfast at the hotel. It was $26 per person. This wasn’t good value for me. I was travelling as a family of four. So it would have cost over $100.

At the back of the hotel is a large swimming pool.

Next to the pool is the fitness centre. It was pretty good, with lots of machines. I wasn’t able to get a photo. There was a man using the treadmill and looking at me. Given that I got up at 6am, this was pretty annoying!

In terms of décor. The lobby and the first floor were very nice. The rooms and the corridors were dated however.

As an IHG Platinum member, I’m entitled to a free drinks voucher. One drink per guest. At Intercontinental Hotels, the free drink often includes champagne.

Sadly, I didn’t get the voucher at the Intercontinental Miami Doral. I arrived late and the front desk agent forgot to give it to me. I didn’t ask for it either. I only remembered as I wrote this article!

The Room

The room was large. I booked using IHG points. When you use points, you’re booked into the lowest category of room. However, I got an upgrade, as I’m an Intercontinental Ambassador. We got a room on the 4th floor (out of 5).

The room had the following facilities:

  • Keurig Coffee Machine
  • Small bathroom
  • Television
  • Two double beds
  • Large Desk


The room was really large. I booked a double room, for my family of four. There were two double beds and a large gap in between.

The bathroom was functional and dated. Definitely not luxury! The bath tub was tiny.

There was a Keurig coffee machine. These coffee machines are very popular in the US. I’ve seen them in hotels before. I didn’t try the coffee, as I don’t drink coffee any more. I used the machine, to make tea in the morning.

The Pool

There’s a swimming pool at the back of the hotel. The pool is pretty nice. I went for a swim with my daughter at 7am.

At that time, we were the only people in the pool. The water was a little cold. However, when it gets hot at midday, I’m sure the pool is really nice.

The pool is large. I would happily spend an hour or two here. With a nice drink.

Conclusion

The Miami Doral Intercontinental is a good option for a Doral Hotel in Miami. The hotel is close to the airport. There’s a lovely pool, classy lobby and large rooms.

You can use the hotel as base to travel around downtown Miami and Miami beach too. Although, it’s not in the heart of the action.

I stayed at Marriott Crystal Shores in Marco Island, Florida. Review here. An amazing resort. I stayed in a 15th floor apartment, overlooking the sea. There were three swimming pools, a water slide, shuffle board, table tennis, free coffee tasting and much more. Take me back! In the article, I explain how to book the hotel. For $900 for 4 nights.

One of my favourite hotels in Hawaii is the Westin Hapuna. Review here. The hotel is in Big Island. The hotel is on a hill, overlooking the sea. The views are amazing! The beach was gold and sandy. The breakfast was really good.

I flew in Delta First Class from New York to Miami. Review here. There was a large recliner seat, complimentary bar and friendly crew. Sadly, the food was bad!

I hope you enjoyed my review. If you did, then don’t be a stranger! Sign up to my email list here. If you didn’t enjoy the review? Well that hurts!

 

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