Cottages El Portal

Perfect place to stay with family and friends. Great garden and patio, cool and secure neighbourhood, clean house w/ full set of amenities. Other guests were also really respectful. Pay attention to the location: Uber to downtown costs 10-12 USD. There is a bus station going to downtown, but you definitely need a car to go to Miami Beach.

There are well designed features of this accommodation, like the outdoor patio area and equipped kitchen. However, I have two main complaints: (1) there were two so-called "air fresheners" plugged into the small bedroom space, and their smell was nasty and pervasive, added to which I am highly allergic to those "scents;" (2) inadequate air conditioning for the space.

Usually when we travel to Miami we stay with family. This time was different because our usual room was now for a new baby we were visiting for the first time. It was a last minute booking as my wife and I forgot in the craziness of life to book a hotel when we got our car rental. The pictures were promising but there were no reviews. My wife growing up in Miami said it was the best we’d get at the price point so we thought we’d chance it. We’re so glad we did because we’ve found the place we’ll stay every time we come to visit. Mike, the owner of the portal was very accommodating and attentive to our stay. These “cottages” are spacious and well kept. It gives you the feelings of being in a home like space without the nastiness of a motel or the sharing of space and items with air bnb owners. The beds are FIRM and this was hard for us both, but Mike responded with great care and arranged to have a mattress topper purchased for our needs. The room is clean, easy to access, and in beautiful Miami shores. Can’t wait to have a home away from home in Miami.