Booked hotel with Expedia. Stayed here previously two years ago. DIRTY! DIRTY! DIRTY! There is no lobby so to speak, basically a bar with a check in counter. The lobby has a stinch from the previous nights clubbing. Hotel is a bar at night with patrons coming in going throughout the night. The carpet couldn't possibly be any dirtier. NO MAID SERVICE. We could only get fresh towels, if we returned our old towels. Would only reccomend for college students looking for a inexpensive place to shower and party.

The Cavalier is a funky decco hotel perfectly located on a lively but not mental strip of Ocean Drive, right on the best part of the beach and next door to Gloria Estevan's hotel The Cardoza. My wife and I, both in our forties, thought the hotel had a hip, hole in the wall quality we found very romantic. There is no actual lobby. Guests enter through a restaurant / bar called CJ's Crab Shack. The food is pretty good, and the place is full of hipsters all night long. The front desk is tucked in a corner by the bar. Next to the desk is a vintage 3 passenger elevator, complete with a hinged door and one of those scissor cages. Every time I took the elevator I felt like I was in a Cagney movie. We had a room on the third at the very back of the hotel so it was pretty quiet, although like all decco hotels the walls are thin. The bedding was decent, the bed was good, and the tile floor looked new. There was a walk in closet with open shelves, but no storage otherwise. The bathroom was small and a little run down looking, but everything worked and there was lots of hot water. Central ac worked well, and the temp was in the mid 80's while we were there. I found the hotel staff excellent. The front desk crew were polite and helpful on the phone, and absolutely charming in person. The maid was also first rate. We tracked sand all over every day, and every afternoon the room was made spotless again. If you are expecting Holiday Inn, you'll probably hate the Cavalier, and South Beach for that matter. But anyone looking for a cool place to crash after a day in the surf and a night in the lounge will love it. And the price can't be beat.

And a word to the wise....leave grampy home when you go to Miami.

WMC 2008. The best budget hotel in south beach I've found yet.
Yes it smells damp when you first arrive as do most Hotels in sobe. I would describe the lobby/bar as quirky it doesnt resemble any of the pictures. Its more of a beach bar effect with a large bar plasma screens and bar stools. Drinks are reasonable (for sobe) and the food was above average. The crabs and sea food were first class.


My room was plenty big enough and the efficiant cleaning lady earned herself a decent tip. Fair sized with primitive air con. We didnt have any of the plush linen in the photos but was clean and comfortable. The deco was the usual sobe poor effort. I'm convinced that Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles work as painters and decorators in sobe during the winter.

The beach is literally just accross the street and the location was superb for WMC. Everything was in walking distance.


My only real moan is the showers. Plenty water pressure but no thermostatic tempreture control. You know... youre taking a shower and the room next door turns on a tap; Viola instant scalding water on your back!! I broke the shower rail getting out so quick and one of the girls in our group slipped trying to avoid the sudden change in tempreture. Dangerous !!!

I rate this hotel for its cleanliness, location,good bar and restaraunt. Oh it was cheap too. I'll probably use the Cavalier again next year.

Great, if old, hotel in South Beach, a couple blocks from Versace's mansion. No frills, but very reasonably priced (about $80 online in December) and relatively clean. Shower a bit cramped for a large person, small and low on water pressure. Nice (read, quaint, not luxe) bar area in lobby and the typical gimme-all-you-got-in-your-wallet South Beach restaurant spilling out onto the sidewalk of Ocean Drive. Stick to happy hour period, 4-7, for food and drink specials within economic reason, or haul in your own from elswhere. There is a modest continental breakfast each morning. Parking is non-existent, for the most part, vis a vis the size of the typical crown at any time. You will find a valet service outside the hotel - all along Ocean Drive in fact - which is about the only option, and it's $25 per day for unlimited parking including bringing your car to and from your hotel as needed. Beach is directly across the street. There are many interesting opportunities for people watching and exotic car watching, and plenty of places to load up on souvenirs nearby. Great location. You save on the modest facilities, and pay it up in parking, food, and otherwise due to the popularity of the area. Overall it's an interesting, pleasant experience, if you don't demand 4 star accommodations.