Hotels in Miami, FL

Best time to visit Miami

Miami is undoubtedly a year-round destination, so any time is a good time to visit Miami. However, winter is peak season as tourists from snowbound locations make their way to the sun and sand of Miami. This is also the time when the city hosts festivals such as Art Basel and the South Beach Food & Wine Festival. Hotel prices peak at these times. During the spring months of March – May, Miami enjoys average temperatures of 26 – 30 degrees Celsius. This may be a good time to avoid the peak hotel rates as well as enjoy the warm and dry weather without too much rain. Summer and fall months have average temperatures of around 32 degrees Celsius and intermittent rain showers, so pack an umbrella if you are visiting between June – September. Miami is quite likely to experience hurricanes around October – November, so keep a watch on the weather forecast if you are planning to visit during these months.

Getting around Miami

If you are on South Beach or Miami Beach, you can people-watch or get a sun tan, but you must explore the area on foot. You can also look at renting a bike and enjoy cycling on the buzzing boardwalk along the beach. Checkout the bike-sharing program Citi Bike, which allows you hourly rentals from any docking station across the city. A 30-minute access pass costs $4.50 USD, a 1-hour pass costs $6.50 USD, and a 1-day pass is $24.00 USD. Taxis are available easily and are quite hassle-free. There are ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft operating in the city. You also have the option of SoBe buses which operate every 13 – 30 minutes and cover all South Beach attractions for just $0.25 USD per ride. To explore the rest of the city, you have the Miami-Dade operated Metrobus system with almost 100 routes and a Metrorail system with approximately 23 stations connecting various parts of Miami city. You will need an EASY card or EASY ticket as these rides do not accept cash. Fares start at $2.25 USD. Parking spaces are not easily available, hence it is best if you can avoid driving in Miami.

Best places to stay in Miami

Combine year-round sunshine, sandy beaches, blue waters, all-night beach parties, and a luxury lifestyle, and what you get is the magic of Miami! One of the most popular vacation spots in the world, Miami accommodation comes in all sizes and categories. From boutique hotels and extravagant beachfront properties to guest houses and hostels, Miami caters to a wide range of tourists with varied preferences and budgets.

Miami Beach and South Beach

Miami’s most popular attraction, South Beach, boasts a relaxed yet vibrant ambience at Ocean Drive and the ‘Strip’ (Collins Avenue). You will find a host of Art Deco hotels, shops, restaurants, and clubs. On the ‘Strip’, enjoy a luxurious stay at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel, a historical and architectural landmark on Collins Avenue. Past 21st Street is Miami Beach, home to the 10-kilometre-long Boardwalk that is popular amongst walkers and joggers. Stay at the beachfront property of Hotel Breakwater South Beach which retains its 1939 original Art Deco exterior and features bright rooms with colourful accents. Or look at the elegant Mediterranean-styled 4.5 acre property of the Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach which promises leisure-focused rooms and grand interiors.

Downtown Miami, Little Havana and Design District

Across Biscayne Bay in Downtown Miami, you will find the Brickell Avenue financial district, the American Airlines Arena, and Bayside Marketplace’s shops and restaurants. Located on Biscayne Boulevard Way near the Miami River, you have a glistening, modern, high-rise property of the Kimpton EPIC hotel which offers tastefully decorated rooms and suites with water views. Or check out the award-winning boutique luxury accommodation of Hotel Beaux Arts, Autograph Collection with contemporary designer rooms and world-class amenities. In the vibrant Cuban heart of Miami at Little Havana, you will find several Latin American art galleries, buzzing restaurants playing Latin music, rows of shops selling Cuban cigars, and locals playing dominos while discussing politics at local parks. Just 1 block from the countless bars and restaurants, you have the 100-year-old charming boutique accommodation of the Tower Hotel which promises an ambience that is reflective of the Little Havana neighbourhood. North of downtown, the Design District is known for its sleek modern architecture and rows of art galleries and restaurants. You can book a 1 – 3-bedroom apartment overlooking Biscane Bay at the Mare Azur Design District Luxury Apartments which offer modern amenities and services.

Coconut Grove and Coral Gables

These wealthy suburbs south of downtown are known for their alfresco restaurants and Broadway shows. At the heart of Coral Gables, in the renowned Miracle Mile shopping area, you have the upscale Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel offering chic rooms with contemporary décor. Or soak up the artistic and luxurious Mayfair Hotel & Spa, with all-suite oceanfront accommodation located in the heart of Coconut Grove. You will be just steps away from CocoWalk’s shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Key Biscane

Key Biscane is an island linked to Coral Gables via the Rickenbacker Causeway and Virginia Key. This neighbourhood boasts award-winning beaches with a host of water sports activities and is also home to the Miami Seaquarium marine-life entertainment park. Enjoy an ultra-luxurious stay at the beachfront property of Ritz-Carlton Key Biscane which offers posh rooms and suites, modern amenities, and onsite restaurants and bars, including a Cuban-style rum bar and a poolside ice cream parlour. For a mid-range budget option, look at the Silver Sands Resort which offers casual sea-facing rooms, and also some rooms and cottages with direct access to the beach.

Cheap hotels in Miami

There are scores of cheap hotels spread out all over Miami, and you will also find quite a few of them in popular areas like Downtown Miami or South Beach. In the heart of downtown, you have the Hotel YVE Miami on Biscayne Boulevard, a 2-minute walk from the nearest metro station and a 4-minute walk from the Bayside Marketplace. Or checkout The Redbury South Beach hotel, which is located on the trendy Collins Avenue and features plush rooms and suites. You can also enjoy a 12,000-square-foot rooftop pool. A 3-minute walk from the nearest metro station, you have the Aloft Miami-Brickell hotel which offers bright, spacious rooms in an excellent downtown location. You can also look at The Langford, a sophisticated Beaux-Arts hotel with contemporary accommodation at budget prices. You will find a bunch of hostel accommodation at South Beach and Miami Beach. Check out the lively adults-only Rock Hostel, a 3-minute walk from South Beach, or try the Bikini Hostel Café & Beer Garden in the heart of South Beach, or explore the stylish property of Posh South Beach hostel on the vibrant Collins Avenue.

South Beach nightlife, Latin American delights at Calle Ocho, historic hideaways at Coral Gables, endless shopping at Coconut Grove, Art Deco gems at Collins Avenue; you name it and Miami offers it! There is so much to see and do in Miami, so you can design your trip based on what interests you the most. Here are a few suggestions across all categories which may help you decide.

• Party the night away at the glamorous South Beach and Miami Beach, and admire the colourful Art Deco buildings and structures at the Collins Avenue ‘Strip’ and Ocean Drive along the beaches.
• Indulge in a host of beach sports and water sports activities under the morning sun, or just simply swim in the blue waters and relax on the sandy shore to people-watch.
• Browse through North Miami’s antique shops and find a few treasures which you can carry home with you.
• Art aficionados, don’t miss a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, The Bass Museum of Art, and the unusual but interesting, World Erotic Art Museum.
• Visit the Oleta River State Park, a 1032-acre lush green landscaped property which features a swim-up restaurant, bike trails, kayaking, and sighting of wild birds.
• At Little Havana’s Calle Ocho, stroll along and browse through the cigar shops near the Cuban Memorial Boulevard Park. Watch the domino players take on each other at the Máximo Gómez Park.
• Take a break from the hubbub of South Beach and visit the Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux, also called The Ancient Spanish Monastery, where you may get a glimpse into the Spanish heritage of Miami.
• Enjoy a picnic or a leisurely stroll, or indulge in a few hours of fishing at the 17-acre South Pointe Park and Pier, located at the southernmost tip of Miami Beach.
• Go on a shopping spree at the Lincoln Road Mall, a long pedestrian shopping area where you will find a host of premium retail brand outlets.