The flash one
1. THE SETAI
This five-star hotel is the latest creation from Adrian Zecha, the man behind
the world’s most exclusive chain, Amanresorts, though it is its room rates,
as much as his reputation, that ensures an A-list clientele. The 75 doubles
in the original art-deco building start at £492, the 50 suites in the
beachfront, 40-storey tower at £1,100.
It is undoubtedly glamorous, from the mother-of-pearl counter tops in the
champagne bar to the dining pods that sit like delicate water lilies in the
ponds of its outdoor restaurant. And that’s before you settle into your zen
den of a bedroom. Each comes with sleek teak Indonesian furniture, delicate
bronze detailing, beautiful Tibetan rugs and Thai silk furnishings. And
there are three huge and very cool pools leading down to a beachfront bar,
an excellent spot to watch those in-line skaters glide by.
Doubles from £492, room-only; 00 1 305 520 6000, www.setai.com
The trendy one
2. HOTEL VICTOR
The Victor, next door to the late Gianni Versace’s mansion on Ocean Drive, is
sassy and hip, with a full-time vibe manager to ensure that music pumped
from five strategically placed DJ stations creates the right mood 24/7.
Sample the sounds at the palm-fringed, second-floor infinity pool, in the
chillout library or at the V Bar, which serves only champagne and vodka from
its ice counter.
The 91 rooms are as racy as the clientele. Carpets have black and orange
stripes, the art deco-ish ebony- and red-lacquered furniture is studded with
silver buttons and there are dramatic silk bedheads and oversized white
marble bathrooms. You want brash? Serena Williams enjoyed the world’s most
expensive bath here — at $5,000 for several vats of Evian.
Doubles from £260, room-only; 00 1 305 428 1234, www.hotelvictorsouthbeach.com
The spa-lovers’ one
3. MANDARIN ORIENTAL MIAMI
If you’re more of a 16-hour party pooper, consider the discreet charms of the
Mandarin Oriental in Brickell Key, about 20 minutes’ drive from the strip.
It’s
the only hotel in Miami to have been awarded the AAA Five Diamond award for
three consecutive years, and although it can accommodate more than 650
guests, it still feels intimate. The rooms, among the largest in the city,
are tastefully restrained, all honey tones and dark-wood furniture.
Its big draw is its lavish spa, with spectacular floor-to-ceiling views over
Biscayne Bay and the city. The therapists are among the best in the
business, and a session here applies a much-needed brake to Miami’s frantic
pace. The hotel’s swanky beach club is also quite a magnet for celebrities.
Doubles from £120, room-only; 00 1 305 913 8288, www.mandarinoriental.com
The fun one
4. THE CLINTON
This is the ooh-la-la, Frenchified outpost of South Beach, where the public
areas are scented with a grape perfume and everything has naughty corset
detailing, from the lavender banquette seating in the lobby to the mirrors
in the bedrooms.
Otherwise, the 88 rooms are uncluttered mainly white numbers, full of nice
little touches such as trial sizes of scrummy new bathroom products and a
minibar that includes various passion potions. You can even call your own
“dream specialist” (Clinton-speak for concierge).
The hotel has recently opened Aigo, a showcase for Jean Jacques Carquillat’s
Mediterranean fusion cuisine. It serves until 2am, but you can have drinks
in the pool area much, much later. The only minus is location: Washington
Avenue, a couple of blocks back from the beach.
Doubles from £70, room-only; 00 1 305 938 4040, www.clintonsouthbeach.com
The budget one
5. THE TOWNHOUSE
Half a block back from the beach, the Townhouse may be a throwback to Miami’s
minimalist period — think white, white and, for a change, white — but its
designer, India Mahdavi, has kept the interiors from seeming dated by
injecting a note of humour. So, the 68 rooms are basic, but they come with a
red beach ball nestling between the pillows and a retro phone in fire-engine
red to keep the mood light, and there’s an L-shaped sofa where “overnight
guests can couch-surf for free”. Most people gravitate to the rooftop and
artfully display themselves on the red waterbed chaises longues.
It’s cheap and cheerful, and service is friendlier than at some of the
starrier establishments, but bear in mind that “insane DJs rock the lounge
throughout the night”. That’ll be a no to sleep, then.
Doubles from £62, room-only; 00 1 305 534 3800, www.townhousehotel.com
Travel brief
Getting there: Virgin Atlantic (0870 380 2007,
www.virgin-atlantic.com) has direct flights to Miami from Heathrow; from
£452 in December. American Airlines (0845 778 9789,
www.americanairlines.co.uk) and British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com)
also fly direct. For departures from UK regional airports, try Expedia,
which has flights from Manchester and Edinburgh with BMI via Washington
(from £348),
STA (0870 160 5513, www.statravel.co.uk) or Flight Centre (0870 499 0040,
www.flightcentre.co.uk). Gohop.ie (01 241 2389, www.gohop.ie) has flights
from Dublin on Air France via Paris; from €551.
My husband and I are traveling to New York in July. Where can we stay, budget hotel, maybe upper east or west, no need to be midtown. Thanks!
Inés from Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ines, -Buenos Aires, Argenitna