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.

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