Live the Spa Life at Element Miami International Airport

By Michele McIntyre –

In a city known for a vigorous nightlife, pulsating music and scantily clad tanned bodies on the beach, Element Miami International Airport is a respite from the frenetic energy of the city. On a recent family vacation to the Florida Keys and after an evening flight into the Miami area, we opted to stay near the airport instead of wasting the picturesque drive to the Keys in darkness. A 5-minute drive from the bustling airport, the newly opened Element Miami International Airport was an excellent choice for a property with a spa-like feel without actually having an onsite spa.

Element is Westin’s freshest and most energizing brand yet and the Miami property is does not deviate from this freshness and energy. This location features 209 eco-friendly guest rooms and suites and all the signature elements that the brand has become known for since its 2008 launch: Rise (Element’s nourishing complimentary breakfast), Motion (Element’s refreshing 24-hour fitness center), Relax (complimentary weekday evening receptions) and Restore (a gourmet food pantry).

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We found the entire property to be a breath of freshness and a welcome change from ordinary chain hotels that tend to cluster near airports. Element was just as convenient as other nearby airport hotels, but our stay was much more of an experience than one typically finds on an airport stopover. Here are some of our most notable observations:

Breakfast: Yes, you’ll find the usual pastries and breakfast breads, but we never expected passion fruit juice, smoothie shooters and breakfast burritos. We also didn’t expect the wide open, light-filled spaces – both indoors and outside – that guests could utilize to enjoy their breakfast, considering most “breakfast rooms” are confining at best and rarely have enough seating to accommodate guests.

Our room: Room 325, a studio suite with two queen beds, was more like an apartment than a traditional hotel room. Decorated in earthy tones with pops of Element’s signature color – chartreuse green – our suite featured a full but compact linear kitchen, a full-sized sofa (the upholstery is made of soy), a spa-inspired bathroom and the comfort of Westin’s signature Heavenly Bed.

The pool area: The Miami heat was tropical, even at night. Music floated through the poolside speakers. A circular fireplace crackled in the background, not for heat but for ambience. And the moon was full. How could we resist our first vacation swim? What we didn’t know until the light of day was that the nicely landscaped pool area borders a pretty lake.

Green initiatives: While other Miami area hotels might be “going green”, Element Miami was purpose-built to “be” green from the ground up. Dual-flush toilet controls, priority parking spaces for “green” vehicles, and a super-cool charging station for electric cars prove that the Element brand has a serious eco-conscience.

Other favorite features: Filtered drinking water in the kitchen area of our suite, a gourmet food pantry featuring hummus, chicken sandwiches, ice cream and healthy juices, more hard flooring and less industrial-looking carpet.

The property was designed as an extended stay hotel for business travelers or others needing long-term hotel options (with an onsite meeting room and business center), but on a Friday night it was families who dominated the place. It’s an ideal location as a jumping off point for a Florida Keys vacation (as in our case), for pre and post-cruising out of the Port of Miami or when needing a convenient location near the airport.

 

Element Miami International Airport
3525 NW 25th Street
Miami, FL  33142
(855) 636-1600
elementhotels.com

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Live the Spa Life at Element Miami International Airport
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