Highlights: Four Seasons Hotel Miami

•The Four Seasons Hotel Miami is a stunning architectural tower of glass and granite located in the heart of Miami’s business district, with panoramic views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline

•Clean, sophisticated, modern décor and impressive fine art collection throughout public and private spaces

•Spacious suites easily accommodate families and other large parties

•Upscale business hotel within steps of Miami’s international banking and business centers

•Shopping, dining, and nightlife venues of South Beach just a short drive away

Amenities: Four Seasons Hotel Miami

• 305 rooms. Pets accepted, some restrictions. Check-in 3 pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access. 2 restaurants, bar. Fitness room, fitness classes available, spa. Outdoor pool, children's pool, whirlpool. Airport transportation available. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: Four Seasons Hotel Miami

A sophisticated oasis located in the heart of Miami’s business district, the Four Seasons Hotel Miami offers guests stunning views of the city skyline and lovely Biscayne Bay. The hotel is the very essence of “Miami chic,” with an elegant, modern décor and an urban yet tropical ambiance. Although dubbed a business hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel Miami offers spacious accommodations for families and is an excellent choice for celebrating special occasions that demand a sense of elegance and style, with top-of-the-line service.

When I arrived at the hotel, I found it to be slightly austere, although most of the staff members were warm and congenial. There is a noteworthy fine art collection in the grand lobby, located on the seventh floor, and the front entrance gives a lasting impression with a waterfall that towers five or six stories above. Although there seems to be a steady flow of large groups in the house, staff did not allow it to affect other guests; in fact I rarely saw them. The lobby offers many nice lounge areas from which guests can enjoy views of graceful palm trees and terraced patios.

The Four Seasons Hotel Miami offers guests exclusive use of the adjoining Sports Club/L.A., a well-equipped fitness center that gives guests the feeling that they are in a private club. The center offers an extensive list of cardio and yoga classes, and although no fresh fruit was available, there was a nice café just outside the workout room. However, the staff did not seem to provide the same caliber of service as the typical Four Seasons staff.

The guest rooms and suites were clean and modern, well-appointed with modern art on the walls, and quite spacious. Most suites offer a choice of bay views or city views, and some have lovely bay window seats, “bringing the outside in.” Plush bed linens, state-of-the-art business amenities, and luxurious marble bathrooms are standard in all guest rooms, whether the standard suite, Executive Suite, or grand Presidential Suite located on the hotel’s top floor. This luxurious space can be converted into a two- or three-bedroom suite and includes a living room, a grand foyer, and breathtaking panoramic views.

Overall, staff was warm and friendly, and they made every attempt to offer good service; however, they were not totally polished. Many had difficulty handling small talk or juggling tasks and were not always knowledgeable of areas outside their own responsibilities. Elevator service was often a nuisance due to delays.

(+) Modern, sophisticated ambiance, luxurious poolside areas with panoramic vistas, and ideal accommodations and location for the business traveler
(-) Service was gracious but not always perfectly polished; elevators were sometimes congested

Guest Services: Four Seasons Hotel Miami

The Four Seasons Hotel Miami’s staff is, in general, gracious, well trained, and somewhat formal in nature. The concierge staff was extremely professional and polished. The housekeeping staff did an excellent job but I was rather disappointed when my special request for information regarding a crib was ignored.

Overall, the service was good -- exceptional in some areas -- but spotty in others, with some of the staff lacking full knowledge of the hotel’s amenities. Although not always consistent and polished, in most cases the staff exhibited a sense of graciousness.

(+) Gracious, well-trained staff
(-) Inconsistent quality of service in some minor areas

Guest Rooms: Four Seasons Hotel Miami

Four Seasons Hotel Miami has 221 spacious guest rooms, including 39 suites. These offer a clean and elegantly modern decor, with lovely fine art on the walls and armchairs and ottomans that provide the ultimate in comfort. I found the bed linens to be a particularly nice line of Frette with very elegant embroidered details. The marble bathrooms were very luxurious, with attractive details of glass and marble, a deep soaking tub, and L’Occitane bath products. A generously sized desk with high-speed Internet, a computer, fax hookups, and a laptop-compatible safe was available for guests’ convenience, and a technology butler was on hand upon request

For the ultimate in comfort, space, and style, guests have the option of the Presidential Suite, the ultimate in luxury with a grand foyer and a wall of three large windows that offer spectacular bay views. A plasma screen TV and a dining room that seats eight are just a few of the entertainment amenities available in this spacious suite.

(+) Luxurious, well-appointed, spacious suites with a modern European décor

Facilities & Activities: Four Seasons Hotel Miami

The year-round sunny weather in Miami offers travelers abundant outdoor leisure possibilities, and the Four Seasons Hotel Miami has taken full advantage of the climate. The hotel offers several outdoor swimming pool areas, including the Palm Grove, a wading pool where you’re allowed to place your chaise lounge directly in the water and dangle your feet for a constant refresher, and the sexy Poolside Bahia, a tropical “Riviera style” setting with cabanas draped with flowing, sheer white fabrics surrounded by gracious palm trees. The pool service includes wireless systems, allowing you to order right from your lounge chair.

The hotel’s partnership with the Sports Club/L.A. offers a top-of-the-line fitness facility, which offers many cardio and yoga classes and a full-service spa to ensure the ultimate in personal pampering services for mind and body. Although there are no on-site tennis or golf facilities, there are excellent venues just five minutes from the hotel.

Family-friendly services include the Kids For All Seasons Program, and arrangements can easily be made to visit any number of cultural or outdoor activities within minutes of downtown, including The Parrot Jungle and SeaWorld. Children of all ages will enjoy the variety of outdoor activities offered in surrounding areas, all within a short 20-minute drive. Although there is little to enjoy in regards to downtown nightlife, a short taxi ride will get you to either South Beach or Coconut Grove for adult daytime and evening activities.

(+) Excellent poolside amenities, fitness center, and spa services
(-) No tennis or golf on the premises

Dining & Lounge: Four Seasons Hotel Miami

The elegant signature restaurant, Acqua, at the Four Seasons Hotel Miami offers guests excellent northern Italian cuisine. Three different seating arrangements are offered. You can dine indoors in the front Galleria and the Main Dining Room; the Dining Room creates a more formal experience, decorated in lush tones of gold and ochre. You can also enjoy dining al fresco, soaking in the sun or dining under a large, oversized umbrella on the Terrace. The food presentation and service is truly exquisite. Light fare is also available at Poolside Bahia, a very lovely, romantic setting in which cocktails and appetizers can be enjoyed.

Room service offered a nice variety of menu items, and the service was very efficient, especially considering the crib in my room, which crowded the space a bit. Overall, the food presentation and care taken in setting up the table was very good.

Breakfast was suitable, but not exceptional, as some of the food was lukewarm and the bacon was a bit undercooked for my taste. The hostess was very engaging, but the server was not. The coffee service was very elegant, served in a beautiful silver carafe in a cylindrical beehive shape.

(+) Excellent northern Italian cuisine at Acqua with impeccable service—as well as room service
(-) Breakfast server was not totally attentive or friendly compared to other staff members

Business Services: Four Seasons Hotel Miami

This is the ideal location for the business traveler visiting Miami. The Four Seasons Hotel Miami is fully equipped to handle any business need, whether it involves setting up in-suite dinner meetings, pressing a flight-wrinkled suit, finding an interpreter, or making a sudden change to travel plans. In-room Internet services, fax hookups, and a laptop-compatible safes are available for guests’ convenience.

Other business-related services include 24-hour multilingual concierge service, a barber shop and beauty shop, complimentary overnight shoeshine, currency exchange services, express check-in/out, and a newsstand with sundries. The Four Seasons Hotel Miami also offers a variety of meeting rooms, conference rooms, and larger event spaces for business or leisure purposes and special celebrations.

The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the business district, and when it’s time to relax, there’s a wide variety of cultural, dining, and leisure activities within a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

(+) All the most current technological amenities are available, as is plenty of meeting space; within walking distance of Miami’s business and banking centers