Kaskades Hotel South Beach in Miami Beach

I was really looking forward to my stay at Kaskades for my birthday weekend, but unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations.

From the moment I walked into my room, I was disappointed. There was a strong musty smell, and it was clear there had been water damage—floor planks were raised and damp, and there was a visible water stain on the ceiling. The air conditioning was another major issue. While it was set to 67°F, it would shut off once it reached that temperature and wouldn’t turn back on. I woke up in the middle of the night to the room at a stifling 78°F, and after being out for just an hour in the morning, we returned to find it back at 78°F again.

I booked the Luxury King Room with a Balcony, expecting an upgrade from their standard rooms, but there was nothing luxurious about it aside from the room size and the bathroom area.

To make matters worse, there were no towels in the room (just beach towels), the motorized curtains didn’t work, meaning I couldn’t let in any natural light during the day. This was particularly frustrating since I had some work to do in the morning and was stuck in a dark room.

Beyond the room itself, the entire hotel is in need of renovations. The rooftop pool area, which was one of the selling points for booking this hotel, is also in poor condition. Additionally, small details like having an iron but no ironing board made it clear that maintenance and guest experience aren’t a priority.

We asked to switch rooms, but the only available options were smaller. It truly felt like a case of false advertising—either the hotel looked much better when it first opened, or they had Gen AI retouch their photos.

Overall, this was a frustrating experience. I expected much more from a hotel that presented the room as being “luxury”. If you’re looking for comfort, reliable amenities, and an upscale experience, I’d recommend staying elsewhere, especially for the price paid.

1. The lift was not working. I had to walk the stairs. No one offered to help.
2. No one explained how the code works. When i went to the front desk they gave me a key. Without checking whether the door works.
3. They exchanged 3 coffeemakers prior before i got the good one. Until the next morning at 06:00am the front desk brought the best one.
4. The pool is out at service also at the sister hotel Gale it was out of service
5. The fitness room the next day at 06:00am the front desk could not make a key for me because she forgot her key to make one for me.
6. The toilet light was not working.
7. Dust and mold in the room
8. Dirty window so you don’t have the city view that you pay for.