Shalimar Motel

Opened in 1951, the Shalimar Motel has a slant-roof reception office and neon signage that wouldn't look out of place in a classic film noir. The interior of the reception office, however, resembles a car-wash waiting room: a clerk behind a window, a rack of brochures, four straight-back chairs and some instant coffee. This is a property for tourists without children, especially for those whose nostalgia runs to roadside motels. But travelers on a budget should be aware that many guests report extra fees tacked on to the not-so-cheap price. The only common areas are a breakfast room that overlooks the parking lot with a few tables and chairs and an adjacent patio with tables and chairs next to a green-painted wall and vending machines. There is, however, a Starbucks one-minute away on-foot.

The Shalimar Motel is located in MiMo, a district of Miami named for regional-style architecture emphasizing the whimsy and glamour that sprouted in Southern Florida during the post-war era. Guests of the Shalimar can reach the beach in about 20-minutes by car. There is a bus line directly in front of the motel. Morningside Park is a five-minute drive or a 16-minute bus ride. Biscayne Plaza Shopping Center is a five-minute drive or eight-minute bus ride. Edison Marketplace, for more shopping, is a nine-minute drive or 13-minute bus ride. To reach South Beach, it is an 18-minute car ride or a 37-minute bus ride. Miami Dade College, North Campus can be reached by car in 18 minutes or by bus in 45 minutes. It is a 20-minute drive or 80-minute bus ride to reach the Sun Life Arena, home to the Miami Dolphins football team. Miami International Airport is 23 minutes away by car or 54 minutes by bus. 

The Shalimar has a standard-issue motel layout: Rooms open onto a terrace or balcony that overlook the palm-tree shaded parking lot. Some bougainvillea curls around the railing of the second-floor terrace. Rooms facing Route 1 can be noisy although some guests report that the hum of the air conditioner covers up the whoosh of passing vehicles. There are no sheers covering the quite public room windows, so guests must draw the black-out curtains for privacy, leaving the room a bit gloomy. The beds, on plain contemporary frames, have white linens (hypoallergenic linens are available on request) and two printed throw pillows. Above the beds are small Pop Art prints, a little nod to the building's midcentury aesthetic. Each room has a TV, but some are older models housed inside blond-wood cabinets. Rooms also have safes, irons and ironing boards, and mini-fridges. The bathrooms are clean and adequately sized with fluorescent lighting and beige rectangular tiles. There are porcelain fixtures and tub/shower combinations with white curtains. Toiletries, Coastal Shores brand, are free. Hairdryers are available on request. Children ages 8 and younger stay free in existing beds, but rollaway beds costs extra.

As a budget property, the Shalimar offers a few freebies, but several other features cost an extra fee. A free breakfast of bagels, yogurt, fruit cups, and coffee is offered each morning at the Shalimar in a room with a few tables or a terrace next to the parking lot. There are also vending machines with drinks and snacks. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and self-parking is free as well. The front desk, staffed 24 hours, is multilingual. And reception offers free luggage storage. Free instant coffee and ice water are available in the lobby. But extra charges apply in several instances, including requests for late or early check-in. There is also a separate cleaning fee and a resort fee, despite the fact that there is no pool, restaurant, gym, or spa. The motel does provide free beach towels to guests.