Hampton Inn & Suites Miami-Doral/Dolphin Mall

The Hampton Inn & Suites Miami-Doral/Dolphin Mall is a typical chain property that acts as a base for those who need a place to put their heads at night. The crowd depends on the time of year, seeing couples in town for a Marlins baseball and families in town for graduation ceremonies at Florida International University. The design is mostly generic but contemporary, using lots of earth-tone colors and wood. A spacious lobby has various chairs and a station for free coffee and tea during the day. This area melds into the breakfast room, which has a flat-screen TV. A chalkboard sign on the front desk announcing the "Guest of the Day" and nearby tray of free freshly baked cookies add homey touches. 

Located directly off Florida's Turnpike (that's Ronald Reagan Turnpike to out-of-towners), the hotel is situated with great access to both the city and the Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. Guests can walk to several restaurants and bars, including a great Cuban restaurant next door called Las Vegas, as well as Starbucks, McDonalds, and an eclectic Latin restaurant. The best way to to navigate the city and its surrounding areas as a tourist is by car. A quick ride will get baseball fans to the Marlins park in 15 minutes and shoppers to each of the area's huge malls in five to 10 minutes (a hotel shuttle is conveniently available for the shopping runs). It's also just seven minutes by car from Florida International University and 20 minutes to Miami International Airport. This location is not ideal for those looking to spend their days at Miami Beach or downtown.

The rooms are well-maintained and contemporary, furnished with neutral and cool colors. Rooms are well-sized, and suites have living areas featuring sofa beds, two-person dining tables, and well-stocked kitchenettes. Free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, safes, and flat-screen TVs are standard, but lower-category rooms lack mini-fridges. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos and long granite vanities topped with coffeemakers and Neutrogena toiletries. Conveniently, nightstands have an outlet pod with USB charge ports and normal outlets. The best bet for a good night's sleep? Book a room overlooking the pool to block out highway noise. 

The hotel offers a decent array of amenities for a Hampton Inn. As is typical of the chain, all rates include a hot breakfast consisting of eggs, waffles, fruit, and cereal. Free freshly baked cookies, as well as free coffee and tea are available by the lobby throughout the day. There's no restaurant, but there is an outdoor bar with flat-screen TVs that serves reasonably priced drinks. Adjacent to it is a small rectangular pool with a dozen or so loungers scattered around it. The property's gym is small but it has modern machines. There's also a business center with two computers, a printer, and ATM.