Tru by Hilton Miami West Brickell – Boutique Meets Budget?

Earlier this month I stayed at the Tru by Hilton Miami West Brickell hotel and was beyond impressed with the concept and value. With a rooftop pool, bottomless coffee, and stylish modern interiors, it ticks a lot of boxes. But it also has some tradeoffs and drawbacks, so won’t be right for everyone visiting Miami.

In this article – I outline the pros, cons, and key info you need to know before deciding whether to stay at the Tru by Hilton Miami hotel in West Brickell.

• Summary
• Boutique on the cheap
• Hotel pros 
• Cons
• Final verdict

Summary

Boutique vibes for a budget price, with a great rooftop pool and gym. Tru by Hilton is slightly out of the way compared with the rest of Brickell’s hotels but worth it for the price saving.

My Search for a Cheap Boutique Hotel in Miami

This was a solo trip tacked on to some work-related travel so no Dean this time around 🙁 The slight consolation is that it rained for most of my time there, so he didn’t miss out on too much sunbathing. 

I really wanted to stay at a nice cheap boutique hotel in Miami. Since it was just me, there was no-one else to split the cost with, so it needed to be fairly budget-friendly. 

I’d done loads of hotel research before booking based on my essential criteria – budget, convenient location for sights and the airport, and most importantly – a decent rooftop pool. This is Miami we’re talking about after all! 

Ticking all these boxes on a minimal budget isn’t easy – Miami’s not a cheap place to stay. Especially when you leave it until two weeks before to sort your accommodation… 

I’d initially planned to stay at the Citizen M hotel in Brickell until realising that its rooftop pool would be in the shade most of the day. One of the cons of staying in Miami Downtown – you might be surrounded by endless amenities but those high rise skyscrapers cast some serious shadows on their neighbours! The Tru by Hilton is slightly further out of Brickell and cheaper than most downtown hotels too, so this is where I ended up.  

Tru by Hilton Miami – Pros

Having stayed at the Tru by Hilton Miami West Brickell for three nights, here are the advantages of the hotel…

• Rooftop pool – which gets the sun all day long and enjoys views across Downtown and towards the coast. 
• Modern stylish rooms – pared back interior design, bright rooms with big windows, a huge tv, great shower, and lots of sockets with USB charging points (so no need to take turns charging your phone if you’re travelling with others).  
• Great gym  – with the latest Precor treadmills, an elliptical crosstrainer, bike, functional strength equipment and views over the pool. 
• Free coffee – an endless supply of Lavazza coffee to fuel work, sightseeing, and gym sessions. 
• Dog-friendly – while Poppy (our golden retriever) didn’t come along on this trip, we always appreciate a hotel that welcomes dogs along with humans ($75 flat fee for up to 4 nights, $125 for 5+ nights). 
• Breakfast included – buffet breakfast including porridge, fresh pancakes (made automatically by a mesmerising contraption), eggs, bagels and english muffins, yoghurt, and fresh fruit. 
• Vibrant lobby space – with egg chairs, pool table, and lots of areas to socialise or work from, this area gives off boutique hotel vibes. 
• Fairly central – for exploring Brickell, Miami Downtown, Little Havana and Coconut Grove (the bus to Downtown and Bayside stops right outside). 
• Secure rooms – as a solo female traveller on this trip, I appreciated the deadbolt on the hotel room door and keycard-operated lift which both add an extra feeling of security. 

So it’s fair to say I really enjoyed my stay at the Tru Miami, but what about the downsides?

Tru by Hilton Miami West Brickell – Cons

Despite loving my stay at the hotel, there are some disadvantages which means it probably won’t be suitable for everyone…

• No bar or restaurant – so you’ll need to walk 5 mins down the road where there’s a choice of pasta (highly recommended), pizza, brunch and Asian places. 
• Not much on your doorstep – there’s a Shell garage opposite but you’ll need to walk 10 mins if you’re after a supermarket or pharmacy. 
• Not convenient for the metro – it does have a bus stop outside but it’s a 15 min walk to the metro (unlike the Hampton Inn which is right next to the station) so getting to South Beach or the Design District will take (40-70 mins and several changes). 

If you have a car then none of these are likely to be deal breakers. But if you’re relying on public transport or walking, then these may be considerations to factor in. 

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for a cheap boutique hotel in Miami, then the Tru by Hilton in Brickell is an excellent option. It’s ideal for people who want a modern, boutique feel for a budget price tag. The stylish reception, minimalist rooms, and rooftop pool tick a lot of boutique boxes.  

Standout features – rooftop pool, boutique vibes, decent gym.

It’s not super-convenient for the metro rail but does have a bus stop right outside which will take you to Downtown. If you have a car or don’t mind spending time on public transport, this won’t be an issue. And if you’re just looking for somewhere to soak up the sun in Miami, then this hotel is perfect!

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