Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, Autograph Collection in Miami Beach [In-depth Review]

Key Takeaways

• The Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club offers a calmer setting than central South Beach while keeping all the entertainment within easy reach. Miami International Airport (MIA) is roughly 11 miles from the property.
• The Cadillac is a smaller property, so it doesn’t have the extensive amenities you’ll find at some larger Miami Beach resorts. Guests have access to two pools, including a family pool and a smaller adults-only option, and 3 places to get food and beverages.
• The hotel offers an upscale stay right on the ocean. Standard rooms are often available for under $300, making this a solid choice for a beachfront getaway that stays reasonably priced.

When I was presented with the opportunity to take an Upgraded Points-related work trip to Miami in late August, I didn’t hesitate to agree.

Even though there was a lot of work to be done, who doesn’t love a weekend in the sunshine of South Florida?

Almost immediately, my mind turned to choosing the right hotel for this trip. We wanted something on the beach, but not obscenely priced. Foolishly, I thought we’d have our pick of properties in the area. It was late August, after all — the typical “off-season” in Miami, thanks in large part to the high temperatures and humidity.

But in this post-pandemic world, traditional travel seasons no longer apply, and Miami is one of the country’s most popular destinations, so prices were still high across the board.

Ultimately, we settled on Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, Autograph Collection. I was excited because I’d had my eye on the property for a couple of years. It was a Courtyard by Marriott property for many years, and then in 2017, it closed to rebrand and eventually reopened in 2018 as the Cadillac under the Autograph Collection umbrella.

Hotel Location

Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, Autograph Collection is located oceanfront in the Mid-Beach area of Miami Beach. It’s a bit quieter of a location than the center of South Beach several blocks away, but it still provides access to all the entertainment the area is famous for.

It’s about 11 miles away from Miami International Airport (MIA), and it takes 15 to 20 minutes by car to reach the hotel with light traffic. Alternatively, the hotel is about 27 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and it typically takes 30 minutes to an hour to reach the hotel, depending on traffic on the famously congested Interstate 95.

I flew into MIA for this trip and rented a car through Silvercar (later called Audi on Demand, a program that ended on September 30, 2024). I had to pick up my car at a local Audi dealership in the area, which meant I didn’t go directly from the airport to the hotel.

Hot Tip: You can expect to pay $20 to $25 for an Uber each way for this journey, and about $40 to $50 each way for an Uber from Fort Lauderdale.

Booking

Hotel rates were expensive across the board for the weekend I visited, but the Cadillac proved to be the most affordable option for what we were looking for: an oceanfront property that had a dose of style and Miami glamour, without the enormous price tag of some of the top options in the area.

We paid $472 per night for a 2-night stay in an Oceanfront King room, totaling $944. I paid for the stay with my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card to earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on the property.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

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A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $700

Annual Fee

$650

APR

19.74%-28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
• 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card

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Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
• Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• A Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite member will earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy for each U.S. dollar or the currency equivalent that is incurred and paid for by the member.
• Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy^® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
• With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74%-28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

For the weekend I was traveling, only base rooms were available to book with Marriott Bonvoy points (at 120,000 total for the 2-night stay), but we wanted to book an oceanfront room with a balcony for the purposes of this trip, so we paid cash for the room.

Checking In

I pulled up to the Cadillac in my Silvercar just after 3 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. Predictably, the lobby was buzzing with guests checking in for a weekend of fun in the sun on Miami Beach, but thankfully there were just a couple of guests in line ahead of me.

After about 10 minutes of waiting, I stepped up to the desk, presented my ID and credit card, and was checked in just a few minutes later. The friendly agent thanked me for my Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite status, informed me that I’d receive 1,000 bonus points, and asked whether I wanted additional bonus points or a complimentary continental breakfast each morning.

Of course, I chose the breakfast benefit, and then I was handed the keys to room 916, an Oceanfront King room just like I’d booked. She told me that the hotel was at capacity for the weekend so there was no opportunity for a further upgrade, but I was more than content with an oceanfront room, so it was no problem.

Lobby

The Cadillac was originally built in 1940, and its art deco details have been preserved in the decades since. The lobby was full of nods to the hotel’s past, with palm leaves carved into the ceiling, imposing white columns, terrazzo flooring, and light fixtures that are at once thoroughly modern and also reminiscent of the hotel’s heyday.

Immediately to the right of the front door was the concierge desk, and next to that was the property’s front desk.

There were some areas to sit, like the hallway nearby that had a collection of very comfortable armchairs.

Overall, though, it’s not an especially large space, which makes sense considering the building’s age.

Just off the lobby was the appropriately named Lobby Bar, which serves cocktails, beers, and wines in a space that harkens back to the 1940s with plenty of potted plants, bronze accents, and bold colors and patterns.

Amenities

The Cadillac is a relatively compact property and as such doesn’t have as many amenities as some properties in Miami Beach. Nevertheless, it offers plenty to guests.

Let’s take a look at what was available:

Parking

Since I rented a car, I needed to park it at the hotel. It cost $49 daily for valet parking, and self-parking was not available.

Wi-Fi

I had no complaints about the Wi-Fi connection at the property. It didn’t extend to the beach, but I didn’t expect it to. And it worked fine at each of the pool decks.

Pools

The Cadillac offers 2 pools to guests: the main family pool and a smaller adults-only pool.

The main pool was located in the “courtyard” area that’s formed by the hotel’s 2 main buildings and the beach.

It had a unique feature that I don’t think I’ve seen elsewhere: the deck wasn’t concrete or stone but rather artificial turf. It looked great and was really practical because it didn’t get as hot as some other commonly used materials.

Surrounding the main pool were loungers with comfy blue cushions and umbrellas to protect pool-goers from the intense sun.

At the far end of the main pool was a stairway that lead to the pool bar and restaurant and then finally to the beach.

Looking to the ocean, the adults-only pool was to the left, through a small entryway that’s protected from the rest of the property with a couple of trees.

The adult pool was a simple rectangle in shape, with a raised edge finished with blue tiles.

It had a nice look and was definitely more serene than the family pool. The blue-padded loungers carried over from the other pool, and there were cabanas for rent for those seeking more privacy and sun protection.

There was also a hot tub on-site, which was a nice surprise. I feel like many properties forego a hot tub these days, which is a shame.

Beach

This is an oceanfront property, so you’re just steps away from the beach once you get outside.

There’s a small gate that leads from the Bungalow by the Sea (the hotel’s pool bar and restaurant) to the beach.

Note that you’ll have to cross the promenade that runs several miles along Miami Beach. It can get pretty busy, so make sure to look both ways!

But once you cross the promenade, you’re on the powdery white sand of Miami Beach.

The hotel’s private stretch of beach was wide and beautiful. It’s a full-service beach, so guests can order food and drinks right to their chairs.

And it’s a large enough space that the hotel had even set up an area for guests to play cornhole!

I really liked the continuation of the navy theme on the beach — the neat rows of loungers looked great in front of the stark-white buildings, the white sand, and the turquoise water.

There was a charge of $23 per visit to rent chairs and an umbrella on the beach. I’ll also note here that the hotel’s website mentions “signature toys” for children and a dedicated play area on the beach, but I didn’t see any evidence of these during my weekend stay.

Fitness Center

The Cadillac offers a 24/7 fitness center that’s stocked with plenty of equipment to use, including 2 Peloton bikes, which I’m sure are a hit with many guests.

The gym itself had a somewhat odd shape, and it resulted in some cardio machines being placed in a seemingly completely random location.

With that being said, I have no doubt that guests would be able to get a quality workout in at this property.

K’Alma Spa

The Cadillac doesn’t offer a physical spa on-site, but rather it provides a “spa cabana” at the adults’ pool and in-room spa treatments.

Spa treatments range from massages and facials to manicures and full-body scrubs (check out the menu of treatments available).

I didn’t have time to get a treatment this trip, but I could certainly see myself springing for a massage by the pool during a future stay.

Pet-friendly

The Cadillac has a pet-friendly program that’s known as Cadillac Pet. For a flat $100 fee, your pet will be treated to the following perks:

• A Waggo pet bed
• A Waggo food or water bowl
• A guide to pet-friendly spots in the Miami area
• A complimentary treat upon check-in

Note that there is a 2-pet limit per room and a maximum weight of 75 pounds per pet.

The Room

I enjoyed my room at the Cadillac. It felt at once modern and like a throwback to the golden age of glamour in Miami.

Let’s see what it was like!

Bedroom

I opened the door to my room into a long and somewhat narrow foyer.

On the right side was the bathroom and the room’s closet. The closet was on the small side, but it was more than adequate for 1 person.

The closet had a set of drawers, which also contained the room’s safe.

The foyer continued into the main room, which had a king-size bed as the centerpiece of the space.

There were wood moldings that ran from behind the bed up to the ceiling and add a heavy dose of art deco charm, which I loved.

On either side of the bed were 2 side tables that featured a lamp, alarm clock, and built-in power outlets for keeping your devices charged — and near you at all times.

The lamps showed some signs of wear and tear, which wasn’t entirely unexpected given the high volume of guests the hotel likely receives in a given year.

Across from the bed were a long desk and chair below a large TV and a freeform mirror. The desk had 2 power strips, making it the perfect place to get some work done on Friday afternoon.

In the corner of the room was the minibar, which was trimmed in bronze — another nod to the hotel’s art deco past.

On top of the minibar were a Nespresso machine, several pods, and assorted other items including cocktail glasses, an ice bucket, a few bottles of wine, snacks, and more.

In the top drawer were a few more wine glasses and a bottle opener.

Below the minibar was the minifridge which contained soft drinks, some beers, and a few pre-mixed cocktails.

On the other side of the room was a small leather chair and side table, perfect for relaxing with a book or a cocktail.

Just outside the sliding door was the small terrace, which had 2 chairs and a small table. It wasn’t a large space, but the views were expansive — and beautiful.

Bathroom

Now, let’s go back to the bathroom. Off the foyer and directly across from the closet was a single vanity with a large mirror and palm-tree wallpaper behind it. Very on-theme for Miami.

The toilet and shower were behind a door in their own room. The space — like much of the rest of the room — was trimmed in bronze and the shower was trimmed in white marble with a geometric tile floor in yet another nod to art-deco glamour.

The shower was stocked with reusable L’Occitane toiletries. I’m still not the biggest fan of reusable shampoo, conditioner, and body wash containers, but I’m acclimating to them.

The shower provided good temperature control and plenty of pressure — a win in my book!

Food and Beverage

The Cadillac offers guests 3 places to get food and beverage on-site. Here’s a look at each of them.

Donna Mare Trattoria

Donna Mare is the hotel’s all-day restaurant that serves up Italian fare including meat, fish, pasta, and pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven.

The restaurant was large, with an open kitchen on 1 side and a bar on the other, and plenty of seating options in between.

There’s also an outdoor seating section, but it was too hot to eat out there. And I think everyone else agreed with me — I never saw anyone dining outside during the weekend.

I had a busy weekend planned, so I, unfortunately, didn’t have the chance to eat more than 1 meal at this restaurant, but I did squeeze in breakfast on Saturday morning.

Thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite status, I was entitled to free continental breakfast (typically $18) each morning, which included 3 pastries, fruit, and coffee, tea, or orange juice. However, I wasn’t especially thrilled by being limited to pastries and fruit — I prefer something more substantial at breakfast.

I took a stroll past the full buffet ($27 per person) to check it out before I made any decisions.

It featured everything a breakfast buffet should, including cold items such as fruit, granola, bread, pastries, cold cuts, and cheeses.

It also featured scrambled eggs, made-to-order eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, and more.

However, I knew that my eyes were going to be bigger than my stomach (as they always are at a buffet), so I chose to order á la carte instead.

I chose the eggs Benedict ($18), which was served with breakfast potatoes. It wasn’t the best hotel breakfast I’ve ever had, but it did the trick!

I didn’t have a chance to dine again on the property since it was such a quick weekend filled with plans.

Donna Mare is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and menus and pricing are available online.

Bungalow by the Sea

The hotel’s pool bar and restaurant Bungalow by the Sea (which also provides service for the beach) serves smaller plates with a focus on seafood and rosé wines.

The restaurant is entirely outside, and it’s set right in front of the beach. The centerpiece is a large palapa bar.

Surrounding it were numerous tables, in addition to further seating directly in the sand.

I sadly didn’t have the chance to dine here, but I’d love to try an alfresco beach lunch or dinner in the future. Bungalow by the Sea is open daily for lunch and dinner and menus and pricing can be found online.

Lobby Bar

The Lobby Bar is open daily at 11 a.m. and focuses on beer, wine, and handcrafted cocktails. As I mentioned earlier, the space itself was beautiful and glamorous, with large potted plants, plenty of bronze accents, and a rich color palette.

It was buzzing on Saturday evening as I was heading out to dinner, and I think it’d be a great place to have a pre-dinner beverage, but I sadly didn’t have time to indulge.

Room Service

I wanted to finish up some work after I arrived on Friday, so I decided to stay in and order room service once I had wrapped up. I chose a chicken Caesar salad ($20) and a side of French fries ($12) — a room service classic (at least in my book).

I was quoted a half hour for delivery, but it showed up in fewer than 10 minutes. I’m glad I didn’t decide to take a shower while I waited! At any rate, the food hit the spot, and after I was finished I called down to have the tray removed, which also happened practically in the blink of an eye.

Service

I didn’t interact all that much with the staff during my stay, but I have no major complaints in this area. My check-in was quick and easy, I received turndown service nightly, and during checkout, an employee was quick to rectify an erroneous charge on the bill.

I will say, however, that the service at Donna Mare was on the slow side. And when I went to the pool after breakfast on Saturday morning, no one came around to offer water or a food/beverage menu. I figured out later that Bungalow by the Sea had yet to open, so maybe I should have adjusted my expectations on that front.

All in all, I had a positive experience with the staff at the Cadillac.

Final Thoughts

I had a good stay at Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, Autograph Collection. It’s not the most luxurious property in Miami Beach, but it’s not trying to be. The hotel provides an upscale experience in an oceanfront setting with beautiful pools, a great beach, and a number of restaurants and bars.

And while I wouldn’t say my rate was inexpensive, the hotel is often priced at below $300 per night for a base room, which makes it a great option for anyone looking for a beachfront getaway that doesn’t break the bank.

I would stay here again without hesitation if my favorite hotels are out of the budget, which seems like a more likely bet in the post-pandemic “new normal” of travel.

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