Vacation On Miami Beach
Picture yourself on a vacation on Miami Beach. You are there but the sound of the ocean waves isn’t the only thing that you hear. It almost seems surreal; you are at the beach and everywhere you go, there is music playing overhead in every store, restaurant and café you pass. Now, imagine if this was happening in your own neighborhood as well as every nook and cranny of Miami Beach? Wouldn’t that make your stay even more memorable?! As someone who has experienced this many times over, I know it would…
So, you are looking for a Miami Beach vacation. I bet you are quite excited. Isn’t it? Who wouldn’t be excited when they get to choose between a great beach and the city full of lights and skyscrapers. If you have lived in Florida most of your life, you are probably a beach-goer, no matter if it is winter or summer. And if you live in Florida and love the beach so much, then let’s talk about Miami Beach in more detail.
Miami is known as the Magic City: an apt title for a city that seduces and delights all who visit. When you want to take a break from the cold, you can find the sun and warm ocean breezes here in Miami Beach.
Miami is known around the world for being a mecca of entertainment, food and… well, beaches. Beaches are at the top of people’s mind when they think of vacationing in Miami so we decided to cover the best beaches in Miami. Whether you’re looking for a quiet spot to relax with your significant other or you want to add more activities to your trip I’m sure you’ll find something that will meet your needs.
The sun-drenched city of Miami, and neighboring Miami Beach, is a fabulously fun place to visit. With a lively nightlife, famous sandy beaches and dynamic Latino culture, these southernmost cities of the United States are a popular destination year-round.
Vacation On Miami Beach
Miami’s sun-washed pastel color palette is an iconic aesthetic in itself that has influenced fashion and trends. Art Deco architecture and modernist buildings are the backdrops for Miami’s fashionable faces to strut their stuff along beachside boulevards and in streetside eateries.
Map of the best places to stay in Miami & Miami Beach
© OpenStreetMap © MapTiler © Touropia
The booming Latino community has more than just shaped the area’s culture: Spanish can often be heard on the streets, on the beaches and in the bars. There’s also an incredible amount of mouthwatering food on offer across the city, infused by the Cuban families that have made Miami home.
In neighboring Miami Beach, you can really live the dream. Connected to Miami by bridges, spend your holiday sunning yourself on the vibrant South Beach and gazing at the Art Deco aesthetics. When it comes to where to stay, both cities have a whole lot on offer: you’ll be spoilt for choice with high-end hotels featuring sea views and 5-star service and elegant boutique hotels with opulent interiors, while you can also find budget-friendly stays in the city.
Miami has something for everyone. So if you’re looking for a holiday where you really want to experience a city that’s full of life, character and sub-tropical heat, Miami is the place for you.
South Beach[SEE MAP]
© Meinzahn / Dreamstime
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Located right at the tip of Miami Beach, South Beach may be small, but it’s got a whole lot of personality. All about kooky characters, Cuban culture and neon nightlife, Miami Beach is the young and trendy place to go to be seen. Along its streets, iconic Art Deco architecture is painted in a palette of pastel pink, set against a backdrop of blue skies and punctuated by the tropicalia of palm trees. The area has an electric buzz day and night, so if you’re into sipping on a frozen margarita or two and dancing the night away, this is the area for you in Miami.
Hotels are lined up along South Beach’s buzzing boulevards, including the iconic seafront Ocean Drive. It’s easy to find yourself chilling out in the pool of a refurbished Art Deco hotel, or luxuriating in the area’s boutique hotels and coastal resorts. The accommodation in South Beach is glamorous with stylish interiors straight from the pages of a magazine. You can simply step outside your hotel and get whisked up in a world of stylish shopping, swanky cafes and delicious seafood restaurants.
South Beach is only a relatively small area: you can see most of it on foot, or if it’s just too hot for hitting the streets, jump in a cab – or do what the locals do and get on the bus, which should take you to most places around town.
Where to Stay in South Beach
luxury
1 Hotel South Beach – Impeccable design and comfort collide in this decidedly upscale hotel. The rooms feature sleek furniture, an eye for minimalism and simplicity, and a cool, neutral color palette. Guests can relax in style at the wellness center and spa, swim in one of four pools, eat in one of the six onsite restaurants, or simply chill in their rooms. In terms of location, Miami Beach Botanical Garden is within walking distance of this hotel.
W South Beach – Just a stone’s throw from the beach, W South Beach is a towering luxury hotel that’s cool, stylish and Instagram friendly – an updated version of the playful classiness that Miami has always been known for. The pool is surrounded by slick black and white striped day beds, the rooms are chic, bright and design-led, and boast ocean views. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this branch of W is one for all you design fiends out there.
midrange
Loews Miami Beach Hotel – This 4-star hotel is positioned directly on the beach, making it a great option for those who place high importance on being close to the sea and sand. Other nearby things to do include Lummus Park – a three-minute walk away – and all the coolness of Miami’s Art Deco District – a mere five-minute stroll. This hotel is all about luxury; with six dining options, a sprawling pool area, and much more, you won’t ever want to leave.
budget
Hotel La Flora – Hotel La Flora is housed in a building that exemplifies the Art Deco style of many of Miami’s early 20th century buildings, instantly making it a cool place to stay for design sensitive travelers. Rooms are classic, simple and stylish, with sleek lines, marble sinks and understated design taking center stage. In terms of location, it’s less than five minutes on foot to the beach.
Mid-Beach[SEE MAP]
© Ruth Peterkin / Dreamstime
Mid-Beach is the luxury stretch of Miami Beach, once the playground of the infamous Rat Pack, sandwiched between North and South Beach. It’s home to many of the city’s most famous and iconic historic hotels, including the Fontainebleau Hotel (which had a $1 billion re-opening in 2008), Eden Rock and the Ocean Spray Hotel.
They form part of the Art Deco heritage of Miami Beach, along with the cool Collins Waterfront Architectural District, which has also recently been renovated. It’s positively littered with architectural gems from the 1940s to ‘60s and makes for a very Instagrammable wander. There’s even the Art Deco Welcome Center for those who just can’t get enough.
There’s some chic dining to match the chic hotels here, with many stylish bars and restaurants to try out; from Southern food at Bird & Bone to sophisticated Italian at Cecconi’s. All are good options after a day of lazing on the beach.
If you’ve got the money, a stay at one of the landmark hotels is a pretty cool option. At the 1950s Fontainebleau, for example, there’s a slew of restaurants, 11 pools, even a nightclub. It’s like a town in its own right. Don’t worry though: there are a number of affordable hotels, too, so you can stay in an Art Deco wonderland without breaking the bank