Much More than a Beach Vacation
If your aim is to mingle with the hip and trendy, Miami Beach, Florida is the place for you. The city is a unique blend of Latin culture and historic architecture reminiscent of the fashionable 1950s. The hotel prices are generally expensive, but you can find cheap hotels in Miami if you do a little research.
A Beachfront Room is one of the Best Options
A beachfront hotel room is great for getting to the beach fast and is the best viewing spot for people-watching. South Beach is famous for its decadent night life and day-long parade of extravagant people. Most of these hotels are on Collins Avenue, and the rooms are not cheap. If you are looking for a more family-friendly environment, you may want to consider a hotel in the city center or north beach areas.
Seasonable Rates
The beach-front hotels do offer reduced rates during the off season with is late spring and early summer. The high season is during the winter when people from the north are escaping the freezing weather. Not only are the hotel prices greatly reduced, but the beaches are less crowded. Make sure you avoid the college spring break crowds that come in March and April. It is also best to avoid the Miami Beach International Fashion Week which is in March.
The Top of the Line
Miami Beach has full-service resorts that offer a vacation without even leaving the hotel premises. With a private white-sand beach and surfboard or watercraft rental, full spa services, five-star amenities, night clubs and fine dining on-site, you get the full Miami Beach treatment without the crowd.
If you’re looking for something a little more affordable, there are small independently-owned boutique hotels and major chain budget hotels from which to choose. Some of these are directly on the beach and have swimming pools and bars right on the beach. If you want to get these good rates at the prime locations, you need to book well in advance. If you arrive in the late summer or fall off-season, you can get good rates with last-minute bookings.
It’s also recommended not to rent a car if you can avoid it. There are other ways to reach your hotel from the airport, and most hotels have high parking fees that will completely negate your cheap room rate.
Community Living
Miami Beach offers several hostels where you live in a dorm and share a bathroom. These are considerably cheaper than a hotel and several are very well places right on South Beach and Collins Avenue. Some are actually designed for parties with on-site hot tubs. Other hostels offer private rooms with a free breakfast right on Collins Avenue and free beer.
Vacation Rentals
There are also fully equipped apartments for rent within walking distance of the beach. These are often less than a budget hotel, and help save you even more money because you can cook some of your meals at home. There are also single rooms for rent in private homes. Most of these options are right in the middle of the action on South Beach.
If you consider Miami Beach as a vacation destination in the off-seasons, you have a good chance of enjoying the best the city has to offer right on the beach at affordable prices.
This article was contributed by Fiona Moriarty of Hipmunk, the most comprehensive travel search website allowing you to find the best deals on anything from flights and hotels to train rides and Homeaway rentals.