James Hotel in Miami Beach.
I was recently in Florida a couple of times and stayed in a few different hotels. But the James Hotel with all it’s funny art, was probably the most remarkable. And it was also quite cheap for Miami standards.
Arriving at the James Hotel.
The reception at the James Hotel.
When arriving at the James Hotel, you might actually mistake it for being a kindergarten at first, because of all the colourful paintings on the building. Once you see the hotel sign, you should know that you have not arrived at the wrong place. The front yard and the reception area is an explosion of funny stuff in all imaginable colours and shapes. There are lots of animals of all kinds in porcelain, plastic and whatever you can make animal shaped figures in.
Friendly Spanish speaking staff.
Inside the James Hotel.
I really liked the staff at the Hotel. It was mostly a couple of older hispanic guys at the reception. They were chatting away in Spanish and the girl who was cleaning my room was also Spanish speaking. You will often find that in Miami. Spanish is just as useful as english. The guys spoke english too. But they were clearly happier speaking in Spanish. So I was practicing my Spanish most of the time I was at the James Hotel and that was fine with me.
The hotel is in many ways a place that really fits well into Miami Beach. Miami Beach is one of the quirkier parts of the USA. And a part of the US where pretty much anything goes, as long as we are having a party. I had made a mistake and booked the hotel for 2016 instead of 2015. But they found a room for me anyway and took my mistake with a friendly smile and a helpful attitude. It’s these kinda places I like to stay.
My room.
My room at the James Hotel was quite basic.
The James Hotel is a budget Hotel and while you do not feel it in the reception area. The rooms are quite basic and quite old. There is nothing as such wrong with them and I was happy staying there. But they have most likely not seen any renovation since the 1980’s. So be ready for that if you decide to stay there.
What is the cost to stay at the James Hotel?
Funky corridors too.
