My husband and I had been coming to the Hotel at Fisher Island for the last ten years. This last time we came with our 4 year old granddaughter. The resort is one of a kind, and we always enjoyed our stay.
I decided to go for a walk with my granddaughter when she suddenly needed to use the bathroom (she has a medical condition and she can't "hold it"). She is usually on diapers but being on Fisher Island and having so many bathrooms facilities around I wanted to give her a break. As we were at the door of the fitness center I decided to use the bathroom there. We got in and Cheryl (I think she is the fitness director) stopped us immediately and told me that I couldn't used the facility. I explained her the situation and told her that I was staying at the hotel. She proceeded to tell me "so you better hurry up and get to your room before this kid make a mess here".
We left and my little girl couldn't make it to the bathroom. The rest of the day she was too traumatized to leave the room. We left that same evening and we will never come back again as long as that woman continues working there.

My husband and I were stunned by the beauty as soon as we set foot on Fisher Island. We were greeted by a gentleman who kindly escorted us, and as we drove to the hotel we were at ease enjoying the beautiful landscaping. We were greeted at the reception by Leo and Jorge they were very professional and friendly and showed us all the amenities and events that were happening that week. They informed us of "Miami Spice" and they were specialist in giving us excellent dinner recommendations through our stay. We stayed in a courtyard villa that had a private jacuzzi in the back newly renovated. It was so beautiful and charming that we did not want to leave our room. Also very nice touch of putting a make-up mirror for us girls!! since it's not very common. The beautiful beach, spa and restaurants just steps away from our courtyard villa. We did have a little problem with the wireless, but we called the frontdesk and Jessica who was computer savvy was very nice to assist us immediatly and we were able to continue working. We also loved having our own golf cart to cruise around the island and explore..and look at the peacocks LOL. It was truly an amazing experience...

Upon arriving at the island, everything was glamourous and charming. They greeting my girlfriend and I with champagne. We decided on the trip we were going to have a good time and go to the popular Sunset Bar for drinks and to meet new people. Upon arriving at the Sunset Bar the first day, I met a man who wasn't a member or resident, he was a maid of one of the residents. He eventually left the bar after two hours when someone from hospitality noticed he was not affiliated with the club. The bartenders knew he was a maid, at the bar alone..not with his employer. That was against policy..this I was told happens frequently on the island..maids, nannnies, nursing aids,etc..taking advantage mingling when they are not with their employer. The second day we went to the bar after lying out at the beach..we had a wonderful dinner..lobster and champagne..the people at the bar were all regulars or sophisticated guests and it was a festive occassion. Towards the end of the night, I had a man approach me who I noticed earlier but didn't pay him any regard. He asked me to join him and his father at the Garwood Lounge for a drink..I agreed and he told me he'd pick me up on his golf cart at my room. He picked me up and went to the Garwood and I noticed his father wasn't there. We ordered food and drinks and he began to use explicit sexually talk towards me and he made me pay for my food and drink. He told me his father was wealthy and membership wouldn't believe me if I reported him. I later found out from the bartenders at the Sunset that he had inquired if I was staying with a man on the Island. They said they told him I was here with a girlfriend which I personally thought was not proper of them to release that information. There is security on the Island but if you do have an encounter with a resident or member...it could be swept away. Honestly, I didn't feel safe here.. I felt like if you aren't connected to anyone on the Island, your game to the residents and members. Our family attorney always says it not good to go anywhere where you don't know anyone. This is true for Fisher Island..Teenagers should be with their parents at all times or should be told not to engage in activity with members or residents..things happen. It's okay for couples, the rooms are fair..but it is a private island..food is about 3-4 star..I feel too much personal information can be given out..if you like to be more private..this isn't for you. On the island, I noticed the members and residents weren't the most educated group of people I've encountered. Miami has a lot of corruption and crime amongst the wealthy..you get the picture. It's not Manhattan or Washington DC intellects..you get the picture.

Let me start off by saying this is my first review on Trip Advisor even though I would consider myself an extensive traveler and I have stayed at countless 5 star resorts, this is the first time I have felt the need to post a review of a property.
I'll start with the pros, because there are some..
The property and grounds are very beautiful. When you arrive at the island you feel as though you're no longer in Florida, and definitely not in Miami South Beach area. When we checked in (although we arrived by car and were waiting for an escort once we got off the ferry for at least 15 minutes or more) everyone was very pleasant and helpful. We went on a little dragged out tour of the island but it did look beautiful and we thought we had made the right decision for our romantic getaway.
On to the negative..
First checking into our room, it was nice but very old fashioned. We stayed in a one-bedroom residence with ocean view that runs on average 1400 per night (don't forget the extra $60 club charges per day as well). The TV's were medium sized old box tv's with VHS players built in. No dvd players at all. The TV in the bedroom had less channels (most came in fuzzy-i forgot what none HD looks like) than the one in the living room, which already didn't have that many channels as it is. Then we noticed the carpet under the coffee table was very dirty, in fact not small crumbs but almost actual whole sized crackers were left. In the bedroom there was a chair next to the bed with a huge stain on it.. i didn't even want to put my dirty laundry on the chair, let alone sit on it. The bathroom was nice but the toilet door wouldn't shut, good thing my significant other and I are close :). Also two of the light bulbs were out during the whole stay. The shower had one tiny soap holder (the rest of your products had to go on the shower floor) and it was broken and kept falling. The lamp shades were covered in spider webs. Overall it definitely needed some renovating and extra cleaning. We did call the front desk who seemed as though they would've moved us if they had something available but didn't.
Our first day out on the beach after getting situated and having one attendant help us set up an umbrella (we had gotten there early to get good seats) we were told a half an hour later those seats had actually been reserved (along with 7 other seats) for a potential family of 20 that comes to the beach and sits there everyday. Nonetheless we moved from our more secluded seats to a more crowded section of the beach but no one ever showed up to claim those reserved seats for the rest of the day. I had only requested some water at one point but I never received it and had to go up and get my own. Not once was I asked if I wanted any food or beverage and it wasn't until I asked for my umbrella and chairs that they helped- although they were busy setting up everyone else's reserved chairs that hadn't even shown up yet. When we were moved next to a family with small children (which was everyone there..not romantic) the kids had brought snacks which were attacked by birds. None of the attendants cleaned up the snacks that were now scattered along the beach and we spent the rest of the day shewing away birds.
The next day we decided to try the more secluded beach on the island which we were told to pick up our towels ahead of time because it was unattended. This beach was much quieter (not as many screaming kids) but definitely not as comfortable chairs and the beach was half as nice (lots of seaweed, not a combed beach, there was even a large piece of wood with nails sticking out of it that had rolled up on shore). We decided to forgo our dinner reservations in Miami Beach (ferry seemed like a hassle) and try the Garwood Lounge on the island. We made reservations and walked in and was not greeted by any host after standing there for 2 minutes. It seemed as though maybe we had gone in a side entrance so we proceeded to walk around the restaurant to see if we could find someone to help us. After walking into a private room with a family dining we felt awkward and went back to the main area and up to the bar to ask. The bartender who turned out to be the host and also a waiter escorted us to a table off to the side that wasn't even set. We asked if we could sit at this romantic table that was already set up in the corner but they said it was reserved for a couple at the bar already. We asked if they had our name down for the reservation (thinking the couple at the bar got our table) and they said yes but seemed to stick us at a table they use for walk-ins. This was not the only occasion we felt as though we were getting jipped for residents and regulars. In fact everyone seemed to know everyone except us. The whole vacation we felt like outsiders even though we were paying good money to receive a high level of service. For a five star property and leading hotel of the world we expected much better treatment. I will not go back until I have small children accompanying me and they have completely renovated..but even then I will think twice. NOT FOR COUPLES unless you want reality check on what parenting is like (parenting with 24/7 nannies that is).