- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
8 reviews for The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resorts & Club
First of all, just so no one is mislead, the Fairmont Turnberry ISLE is not on an island. It's not even on the beach. Not that it mattered since I was here for meetings. Boo Hoo :(
There is however, a shuttle to the beach and shopping, 2 golf courses and several pools. The pool was really nice, but the lazy river was uh, super lazy. It was so slow, I had to kick my way back, so I could get out. I guess I have just been spoiled by the lazy river at Atlantis in the Bahamas where it is complete with rapids. The water slide is also aimed at kids and wasn't very fun for this big 26 year old kid. I also liked that there weren't a lot of people, but it was a Wednesday afternoon.
The rooms were very nice and spacious. The bathroom was huge - I was very jealous. It had a nice, deep bathtub too. We had great housekeeping including turndown service, where they left bottles of water by our beds every night.
In fact, all of the staff here was just awesome. Almost all of our meals were catered and the wait staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. You could barely take a drink of your water before it was refilled!
Finally, the Spa. I'm not a big spa goer, but I loved my facial. It was very relaxing and my face was so smooth! The locker rooms were pretty nice as well, but the steam room was broken.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (3)
The Fairmont Turnberry is a nice oasis in the middle of suburban Aventura. It is a golf and pool property. You can get a shuttle to their beach, if you like, but you will be about 10 minutes from the hotel proper.
The pools are exceptional, with a lazy river and slide for the kids at one pool, and a quiet pool near the main buildings.
The golf course rings the buildings, leaving a lot of exceptional views to many rooms of the pristine greens.
There are three restaurants on property, including a grill by the pool, and Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak, an experience which I reviewed separately. All are expensive. Be prepared.
The room was big and spacious. We booked through American Express and were given a nice room upgrade, $100 credit for amenities, and absorption of the "resort fee" in the rate. If you have an Amex Gold or up, book this way.
Coming in June was a good idea. It is quiet, and not too crowded. The weather was spectacular. Rates are better.
Parking is $30/night valet, and not much better for self. You will have a good time here, but you will spend money. Lunch for two with drinks by the pool runs around $70.00. If you drink a lot, bring a deep wallet.
A great place to relax. I would recommend it highly as one of the better hotels in the area without quite so much Miami hustle-and-bustle.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
One of the worst "luxury" hotels I've ever stayed in, and I've been very fortunate to stay in a lot. We got an excellent rate for under $200 so we were super excited to try out this resort. The reviews online were all great and the rooms looked really nice. The only reason I'm giving it 2 stars is because our room was large and decorated nicely.
We checked in and were put in a 700 sq ft room with 2 queens in the Jasmine building. When we got in the room, there was no Do Not Disturb Sign, no in-room menu, and our patio table was missing. The phone didn't work and there was a gross dirty brown towel on our balcony. We called for a crib and it was delivered with no sheets. Both the bedside table & leather ottoman was drawn on by a black sharpie! We complained about the missing table and dirty towel 4 different times. By the next afternoon it was still not taken fixed. Our room was never turned down at night and the next day they didn't clean the room until almost 5pm. All the employees looked depressed and were not friendly. Most of them didn't greet you even if they looked right at you.
Our 2nd day we tried to go to the pool, but it was over run by a group on a Passover retreat.....over 500 on property. There were no seats, and no one working at the pool to hand out towels etc. The lazy river was tiny too. So we gave up and tried to go to the quiet pool. When we returned to our room housekeeping had finally come (close to 5pm), but never replaced the dirty towels, and left a dirty dust rag on the counter abve the mini bar.
We decided to speak to a manager about the experience and she was very apologetic. She was a trainee and it was obvious as she tried to compensate us with an upgrade on a return stay. We told her that we didn't plan to return, so she offered a $50 Fairmont gift card. She explained that the employees looked depressed because of the economic state of the country. What ?!? They ARE working, better off than lots of people in our country. She also offered a late check out as we were leaving the next day. She was very nice, but it was obvious she was inexperienced.
Later that evening we heard someone slamming a door every five minutes around 11pm. It went on for over 30 minutes so we called the front desk. They were sending security but it never got resolved so my husband went down the hallway to check it out. Even our neighbors came out to see what it was.Turned out it was Housekeeping cleaning another room. We called the manager and she said no one should be cleaning that late. Later on the housekeeping manager called to apologize and said they would be stopping the noise....close to midnight. Gee thanks!
Terrible stay. Terrible service. DO NOT go especially if you have to pay a high rate.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (1)
An upscale, plush resort, which certainly doesn't come without a price tag. Rooms start around $250/night and only go up from there.
I attended a conference here, although I stayed across the street at the [much cheaper] Residence Inn. The conference facilities were excellent--spacious, clean, and very nicely appointed. The hotel staff did an outstanding job coordinating all the logistics--room setup, microphones & projectors, water pitchers & glasses. This is a great location for a conference.
But, given the price tag, only a very small fraction of the population can actually stay here on their own dime. So of course, it has an exclusive, country club atmosphere. And the staff have the attitude to match--they act as though they're front-row-seat occupants at Fashion Week in Paris, even though they're minimum wage earners. And you really can't go walking around in anything more casual than khakis and a Yale Club logo polo.
And, I was actually very disappointed with the food! During my conference, the hotel catered several meals. They tried so hard to make everything upscale and exotic, that it ended up too over-the-top, and none of the dishes complimented each other. An authentic chicken shawarma was too simple and too humble for them to serve, so they instead served quail that was overseasoned with just about *every* Mediterranean spice that exists. It was a total flop because they tried too hard to be exotic.
So while the Fairmont is a nice place for a conference, the grounds are gorgeous, and the entire resort is uber plush, I wouldn't recommend staying or dining there unless you have a disposable $2K lying around.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
I came here for a business conference. The rooms were HUGE. I am from NY tri-state area and the hotel room I got was bigger than my own apartment ! The pool was really nice and heated (great when you go during the winter months). The service professionals at this hotel are also First Class all the way.
They also have a 3 mile trail that you can walk. This "trail" is a bit misleading because it's basically just the sidewalk around the property. It's not like there was much to see since on one side is the highway and the otherside is just condo buildings and the hotel.
I don't play golf so that really limited what I was able to do there. But I hear that for those who do enjoy golf, this was a good course.
The mall seemed nice but I didnt get a chance to go since I was always cooped up in a meeting room.
The things I didnt like: The restaurant food was pretty normal. It wasn't spectacular but it wasn't bad either. I just thought the prices for the food was just too much though. I dont mind paying up for good food, but I didn't appreciate the price for a breakfast buffet as there was nothing too spectacular offered. Also, beware of the checks because everything already has 18% gratuity added to your check, so dont feel like you gotta add another 18%! Also, be prepared to pay $5 for a small bottle of Coke in your fridge...the mini-fridge was not exactly stocked with lots of stuff and everything costs so much!
But other than that, the surroundings were nice. I'd go there again for a biz conference but I wouldn't actually go to this place if I had to pay for it myself!
We had an almost perfect stay at the Turnberry. The only reason why I don't give it 5 stars is that the service at this Fairmont was not as good as the Chateau Banff Springs Fairmont. We stayed at the deluxe room and everything went perfect: the room was gigantic, the bathroom as well. We had requested a crib, which was already at the room and ready to be used when we arrived. When we made our reservations, the Fairmont's website said that by requesting a crib we would get a complimentary teddy bear + baby toiletry but we never got it. I only say that because my daughter only sleeps with a teddy bear by her side and fortunately my wife brought a teddy bear with us. I agree with the other reviewers about the food and the Cascata Gril was expensive and not great. Breakfast was ok but subpar if compared to other Fairmonts. Food everywhere on the hotel was way too expensive and very simple considering the type of hotel. Service was always very good and the employees were very positive. The pools are great but the cabanas with flat screen and changing room were US$95/day!! The complimentary shuttle to the mall/beach club is definitely a plus and I highly recommend dinning at the mall if you don't want to spend US$100 per meal. Contrary to Banff Springs, we didn't get our beds prepared at night, no complimentary chocolate, water or weather forecast/goodnight note. I don't play golf, but the golf courses look great and during the summer, green fees were waived. A sauna would be a good addition to this resort.
Whenever I get tired of this dreary winter weather, my mind wanders back to my trip to The Fairmont Turnberry. It was so beautiful and charming. Everything was perfect, but you know, one of the things that sticks out the most is the staff. My daughter (4 at the time) and I were walking back to our room from the pool and a very sweet man that was cleaning greeted us. He asked my daughter if she would like a toy and he led us to a closet nearby, where he gave her a Turn-Bearry - a small, stuffed plush bear with a little sweater on it. He even gave her another one to give to her cousin, who was also on the trip. It was really sweet.
But back to the hotel - OPULENT does not even begin to describe this place. Orchids everywhere, 2 pools - one is very kid friendly and the other is more for the older, more sedentary crowd. The golf course is first class (I'm taking my fiance's word on that - I saw a few holes from the hotel, but I don't play), as are the caddies, and the dining in Miami is just awesome. I'm wishing I was there right now!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
My husband and I stayed here for the first 2 nights of our honeymoon and I must say it is an absolutely beautiful resort! The lazy river and water slide are so much fun! Everyone gets there own cabana with a flat screen and a changing room inside! Oh did I mention when you stay here you get access to the resorts private beach :) The chef has his own herb garden on the premises which though was so cool. The 18 hole golf course was intimidating if you don't know how to play like a pro. My only downside was I didn't like the fact that they do not have a parking lot, your only option is to valet, which is fine until I kept forgetting stuff in the car and I didn't want to keep having them pull the car up only for me to not leave. They also do not keep ice machine on the floors you must call the front desk and they will send it up like 20 min. later (I wanna make my drink right then and there sheezz). Aside from these two things it was great I loved out room especially our bathroom! The staff is very nice and pleasant. It is a bit pricey ($18.00 for 2 pancakes nothing else included and $28.00 for a champagne split, not even the full bottle) All in all I really liked it and would stay here again.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (1)