MIAMI BEACH TIPS
Because this city is so popular (tourism in the greater Miami area rose to a record-breaking 15.1 million overnight visitors between fall 2014 and fall 2015), you will be fighting for elbow room at some points during the year. Follow these three tips for a happier visit:
• Double-check what festivals and events are happening during your visit. For instance, don't be the person expecting a quiet romantic March weekend if the electronic music festival is booming (miamiandbeaches.com/events/annual-events).
• Ask your hotel ahead of time if renovations are going on and the pool is open. So many hotels are being renovated that calling ahead can avoid unhappy surprises.
• Look at photos of your hotel. Many historic hotels that have been preserved and renovated still have fairly small rooms and elevators. That is part of the charm, but if you don't want that, either stay at another property or upgrade to a larger room.
Miami Beach may be only seven square miles and beribboned with seven miles of beach, but, as they say, good things come in small packages.
IF YOU GO Getting there
Miami Beach is about 25 minutes from Miami International Airport, about a $35 cab ride.
Hotels
We'd recommend staying at a hotel away from busy Ocean Drive and instead on Collins Avenue around 17th Street. These hotels all are one block from the beach.
National Hotel: Epic 1939 Art Deco hotel totally renovated in 2014 (nationalhotel.com, from $225).
The Hampton Inn Miami South Beach: Historic hotel totally renovated in 2015 (hamptoninn.com, from $150).
Nautilus: Historic hotel just reopened after two years of renovations (sixtyhotels.com, from $225).
more
Miami Beach Tourism: miamiandbeaches.com.
Miami Design Preservation League: mdpl.org.
Miami Modern on the North Shore: mimoonthebeach.com.
City of Miami Beach: miamibeachfl.gov/visitors.
If you see a building you like, look up its history. Many have been cataloged: ruskinarc.com/mdpl.
