Miami pre-cruise hotels aren’t exactly cheap, so when I saw that I could book the Kimpton EPIC for about the same number of points it would have cost to stay at the InterContinental Miami, it was enough to get my attention.
We’ve stayed at the InterContinental before and liked it, but the EPIC was only about a block away and felt like a chance to try something a little different. Since we’re already fans of Kimpton properties, this seemed like a good opportunity to see if it might be an even better pre-cruise option.
Of course, “the same number of points” doesn’t always mean the same value, and this stay ended up being a good example of that.
Booking The Kimpton EPIC With Points
Room rates for our night were high enough that paying cash didn’t seem especially appealing. Instead, I used the annual free night certificate from my IHG One Rewards Premier Card.
As a reminder, that certificate is worth up to 40,000 points. IHG does let you top off the certificate with additional points if a room costs more, which is exactly what I did here.
Our room was pricing at 75,000 points for the night, so I used the anniversary certificate plus 35,000 points.
Of course, this is IHG we’re talking about, so the stay still came with a $40 amenity fee. Unlike some other programs, IHG doesn’t waive that charge on award stays.
What This “Free Night” Really Cost
Like many hotel free nights, this one wasn’t really free.
When I look at the math, I figure the stay cost us the $95 annual fee for the IHG Premier card, about $175 worth of points for the 35,000-point top-off, and the $40 amenity fee. That puts the real cost of the night at roughly $310.
I did get a little bit back on the points side because I still have the old IHG Select card, which gives a 10% rebate on award redemptions. In this case, that meant I got 3,500 points back.
So no, this wasn’t a truly free night. But compared to paying a cash rate in the neighborhood of $500, it still felt like a reasonable use of points for a pricey pre-cruise stay in Miami.
A Nice Surprise For IHG Platinum Members
One thing I wasn’t expecting was that, as IHG Platinum members, we were offered breakfast in the Area 31 restaurant. That felt a little unusual, especially at a Kimpton, and especially on an award stay.
Since we had nothing to do before heading to the cruise port, we were more than happy to take them up on it. Instead of grabbing something quick on the way out, we had a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, which made the morning feel a little more like part of the vacation and a little less like travel logistics. Considering the prices, I don’t think we would have eaten here otherwise.
Don’t Forget The Kimpton “Secret Password”
One fun Kimpton perk that’s easy to forget about is the seasonal “secret password.” If you mention it at check-in, you’ll usually get some sort of small gift or surprise.
In our case, we received an EPIC-branded notebook. Was it life-changing? No. In fact, my wife’s response to seeing it was, “That’s it?” But it was still a nice little extra and one of those quirky Kimpton touches that help the brand stand out.
If you’ve never used it before, or you’re wondering what kind of things they hand out, check out our post about it here: Kimpton’s Secret Password Gave Us the Most Unexpected “Perk”.
First Impressions Of The Hotel
From the moment we walked into the lobby, it was clear that the Kimpton EPIC was going for a more upscale feel than your typical one-night pre-cruise hotel. While I’ve seen it described as lifeless and looking like office-building decor, I actually liked it.
The hotel occupies only part of the building, with residences taking up the other floors, which gave the whole place a more polished, high-end vibe. The lobby had dramatic lighting, sleek finishes and the kind of design that made the property feel more like a destination hotel than just a place to sleep before getting on a ship.
That overall impression continued in the hallways, public spaces and pool area. Everything felt well-maintained and intentionally designed, which isn’t always the case with big-city hotels that cater to one-night stays.
Our Room At The Kimpton EPIC
We booked a room with two beds and a city view, and overall, it was a very solid room for a pre-cruise stay. The design was clean and modern, with tile floors, simple furniture and enough space that the room didn’t feel cramped, even with two beds.
It struck a nice balance between stylish and practical. Sometimes hotel rooms look great in the promotional photos, but feel much smaller in person. That wasn’t really the case here.
Room Details: Bedding, TV, Minibar & Closet
Looking a little closer at the room, it had all the features you’d expect from an upscale Kimpton property, along with a few small touches that made it feel more polished than a standard chain hotel.
The beds were comfortable and well put together, with crisp linens and plenty of pillows. Nothing over-the-top, but definitely in line with what you’d want for a good night’s sleep.
Across from the beds was a dresser with the TV mounted above it. The setup was simple and functional, with enough surface space to spread out a few things without the room feeling cluttered.
The minibar was fully stocked, as you’d expect in a hotel like this, with drinks and snacks displayed in a way that looked very nice and also served as a reminder that Miami minibar pricing remains undefeated. We admired it, then left everything exactly where it was.
There was also a closet area with robes, an iron and enough storage space to keep luggage and clothes from taking over the room. For a one-night stay, it was more than enough and helped the space feel a little more organized.
Bathroom Setup
The bathroom was another area where the EPIC felt a step above your usual hotel.
It was spacious, with a double vanity that made it easy for two people to get ready at once. There was also a separate shower and soaking tub, which added to the upscale feel, even if we weren’t staying long enough to fully appreciate the tub.
The toilet was in its own enclosed space, which made the layout more practical.
One design feature I wasn’t a big fan of, though, was the opening between the bathroom and bedroom area near the tub. Hotels seem to love these semi-open bathroom designs because they make the room feel bigger, but I’ve never really understood the appeal. Maybe it works for some people, but for me it’s one of those ideas that probably sounded better in a design meeting than it does in real life.
That said, the bathroom still felt polished and upscale. I just could have done without that opening to the bedroom.
A Real Balcony With A Miami View
The standout feature of the room was the balcony.
And I mean a real balcony, not one of those setups where you crack the door open, step outside for ten seconds and call it an outdoor space. This one had actual room for chairs and a table, which meant it was somewhere you could really sit and enjoy the view.
Looking out over Miami made the stay feel more like part of the vacation rather than just a place to spend the night before boarding our cruise ship.
The view also gave us a look at some familiar territory. We could see the Courtyard Miami Downtown / Brickell Area, where we’ve also stayed before. There’s nothing wrong with that property; the EPIC definitely felt like the more upscale and polished option between the two.
Pool And Public Spaces
The pool area looked like another highlight of the property. It had the same sleek, upscale feel as the rest of the hotel and seemed like a place where you’d actually want to spend some time if you were staying more than one night.
I’ve read that on weekends during the summer months, the pool area can become quite the party spot, with DJs and people there to be seen by the pool rather than swim in it. So if that’s not your vibe, it might be best to think again before staying.
Unfortunately, because this was just a pre-cruise stay and the weather was quite overcast, we didn’t really have time to enjoy it.
Final Thought
The Kimpton EPIC turned out to be one of the nicer pre-cruise hotels we’ve stayed at in Miami.
It wasn’t cheap, even using points. Between the annual fee, the points top-off and the amenity fee, this free night came with some real cost. But the room, the balcony, the hotel’s upscale feel, and the unexpected breakfast all helped make the stay feel like part of the trip rather than just a convenient overnight stop.
Would I stay here again? Absolutely, if the price or redemption rate made sense. But if there are more value oriented properties available, I might go for them if we’re only staying one night.
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