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Where to stay in Miami

A 1942 boutique hotel on Ocean Drive in South Beach and an Art Deco hotel a block from the sand in calmer Mid-Beach.

  1. The Betsy HotelLuxury · South Beach, on the quiet north end of Ocean Drive$$$$
  2. Hotel CroydonBoutique · Mid-Beach, Miami Beach$$$$
Standout pick
The Betsy Hotel · $$$
Easy choice
Hotel Croydon · $$
Best time
Dec–Apr
Ideal stay
3 days
Hotel budget
$180–$450 / night

Miami's beaches are on Miami Beach, a separate barrier island. Our exclusive pick is a historic boutique hotel on the quiet end of Ocean Drive in South Beach; our accessible pick is an Art Deco hotel a block from the sand in calmer Mid-Beach. Prices are shown as a level, from $ to $$$$: rates move with the season and the room, so check the live price before you plan.

The Betsy Hotel

$$$$
Pick no. 1 · The standoutLuxurySouth Beach, on the quiet north end of Ocean Drive

Historic family-owned boutique hotel on Ocean Drive, opened in 1942

Photos: The Betsy Hotel, official website. Shown courtesy of the property.

A 1942 boutique hotel on the quiet end of Ocean Drive, with a rooftop pool, nightly jazz and the beach across the street.

  • Beach service
  • Two pools
  • Roof decks
  • Sunrise yoga
See prices (official website)Opens the hotel’s official website.

Why we picked it

We would book The Betsy for a South Beach stay with a sense of place: a 1940s hotel on the calm end of Ocean Drive, the beach just across the street, sunrise yoga on the Ocean Front Deck and live jazz every evening in the lobby. It puts the Art Deco District on foot while keeping the noise of central Ocean Drive at a distance.

Best for

  • Couples
  • Art, books and live jazz lovers
  • Travelers with dogs
  • A 1942 L. Murray Dixon building across Ocean Drive from Lummus Park and the beach, with beach service (chairs, umbrellas, towels)
  • A rooftop infinity pool with views of the Atlantic and the skyline, plus a calmer shaded courtyard pool
  • Nightly live jazz at the Piano Bar, a 24-hour library and LT Steak & Seafood by chef Laurent Tourondel, with three Michelin Key awards for the hotel

What the hotel offers

As listed on the hotel’s own website.

  • Beach serviceTwo beach chairs, an umbrella and towels, included in the resort fee
  • Two poolsRooftop infinity pool with a bar, and a courtyard pool
  • Roof decksOcean Front Deck for sunrise, Skyline Deck for sunset
  • Sunrise yogaDaily 7:30 to 8:30 am on the Ocean Deck, for hotel guests
  • Fitness centerCardio, weights and two Peloton bikes
  • RestaurantsLT Steak & Seafood, The Alley, Carlton Room Café and La Ventanita
  • Piano BarNightly live jazz, no cover and no drink minimum
  • Library and arts program24-hour library, book collections in every room, docent art tours
  • Wi-FiHigh-speed, included in the resort fee
  • MinibarIn the Classic King rooms
  • Pet-friendlyDogs and cats welcome; pet fee waived when booking direct
  • Valet parking24 hours, $55 a night plus tax
  • BabysittingArranged by the concierge

Hotel Croydon

$$$$
Pick no. 2 · The easy choiceBoutiqueMid-Beach, Miami Beach

Art Deco boutique hotel on Collins Avenue, a block from the beach

Photos: Hotel Croydon, official website. Shown courtesy of the property.

An Art Deco boutique hotel in Mid-Beach, a block from the sand, with a courtyard pool and a rooftop deck.

  • Courtyard pool
  • Rooftop sundeck
  • Fitness
  • The Tavern
See prices (partner link, Trip.com)Official website Opens Trip.com, one of our booking partners.

Why we picked it

We would book the Croydon for a calmer, better-value beach stay: an Art Deco hotel a block from the sand in Mid-Beach, with a courtyard pool, a rooftop deck for the views and a restaurant open from breakfast to midnight. Families get kids under 12 free, and the Collins Avenue buses and trolley run to South Beach.

Best for

  • Families
  • Value-minded beach stays
  • Travelers who prefer a calm base
  • A quiet Mid-Beach address a block from the sand, with a courtyard pool surrounded by tropical plants
  • A rooftop sundeck and open-air fitness deck with ocean and city views
  • A complimentary guest happy hour from 5 to 6 pm and The Tavern, open daily from 8 am to midnight

What the hotel offers

As listed on the hotel’s own website.

  • Courtyard poolOpen daily from sunrise to sunset
  • Rooftop sundeckPanoramic ocean and city views
  • Fitness7th-floor studio and outdoor gym deck, 7 am to 7 pm
  • The TavernBreakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night bites, 8 am to midnight
  • Guest happy hourComplimentary signature cocktail, 5 to 6 pm
  • Wi-FiComplimentary throughout the hotel
  • BeachOne block away, across from the hotel's street
  • Air-conditioningIn every room, with flat-screen TV and safe
  • MinibarDrinks and snacks, charged
  • Kids stay freeChildren under 12
  • Pet-friendlyUp to 2 pets of 40 lb each, $250 fee per stay
  • ParkingNo valet; metered street parking and public garages nearby

Where to stay in Miami, neighbourhood by neighbourhood

Miami is two places: Miami Beach, the barrier island with the sand and the Art Deco hotels, and mainland Miami across Biscayne Bay, with Downtown, Brickell, Wynwood and Little Havana. Most holiday-makers stay on the beach and cross the causeways for the city; travellers who want art and food do the reverse.

  • South Beach

    Best for: first-timers, Art Deco, nightlife

    The north end (around 14th–23rd Street) is calmer than the blocks south of 10th Street.

    You gain
    Ocean Drive’s pastel hotels, the beach across the street, Lincoln Road, the most restaurants and bars in Miami Beach.
    You lose
    Loud and crowded around Ocean Drive and Collins at night, especially at spring break; small rooms in old Deco buildings.

    To South Beach (Lincoln Road): you are in it

    Our pick here: The Betsy Hotel ↑Hotels in South Beach partner link

  • Mid-Beach

    Best for: beach time, couples, a quieter base

    Collins Avenue between roughly 23rd and 63rd Street, with the Fontainebleau and many restored 1950s hotels.

    You gain
    Wide sand, the beach boardwalk, big resort pools; calmer than South Beach and often better value.
    You lose
    Fewer restaurants on foot; you will take a taxi or bus for nightlife.

    To South Beach (Lincoln Road): about 10–15 minutes by car or bus

    Our pick here: Hotel Croydon ↑Hotels in Mid-Beach partner link

  • Brickell & Downtown

    Best for: city breaks, rooftop bars, cruises

    Miami’s financial district, all glass towers and rooftop pools. Good if you are here for the city more than the sand.

    You gain
    Skyline hotels with bay views, the free Metromover, close to the cruise port, the Pérez Art Museum and Kaseya Center.
    You lose
    No beach; a business district that empties out in places at weekends.

    To South Beach (Lincoln Road): about 20–30 minutes by car across the causeway

    Hotels in Brickell & Downtown partner link

  • Wynwood & Design District

    Best for: art, street murals, food

    Better for a visit than a base, unless you want to be close to the galleries and the new restaurant scene.

    You gain
    Wynwood Walls and block after block of murals, galleries, breweries; luxury shopping in the Design District.
    You lose
    Few hotels; hot to walk in summer; quiet blocks between the busy streets.

    To South Beach (Lincoln Road): about 20 minutes by car

    Hotels in Wynwood & Design District partner link

  • Coconut Grove

    Best for: families, green streets, a slower pace

    Miami’s oldest neighbourhood, leafy and relaxed, with a handful of good hotels on the bay.

    You gain
    Banyan-shaded streets, bayfront parks and marinas, Vizcaya Museum nearby; Metrorail to downtown.
    You lose
    No ocean beach; a drive to Miami Beach.

    To South Beach (Lincoln Road): about 30 minutes by car

    Hotels in Coconut Grove partner link

Travel times are approximate, outside rush hour. No prices here on purpose: rates change by the night — check the live price on the partner site.

South Beach or Mid-Beach: how to choose

Both hotels are on Miami Beach, close to the ocean, about 30 blocks apart.

South Beach: Ocean Drive and the Art Deco District

The Betsy faces Lummus Park and the beach on the calm north end of Ocean Drive, with a rooftop pool, nightly jazz and the Art Deco District on foot. Choose it for a design-led, walkable South Beach stay.

Mid-Beach: calmer and better value

Hotel Croydon sits on Collins Avenue a block from the sand, with a courtyard pool, a rooftop deck and kids under 12 free. Choose it for a quieter base and a lower budget, with the trolley to South Beach.

For Little Havana, Wynwood, the best months and day trips to the Everglades, see our complete Miami travel guide.

Our Miami travel guide

Hotels in Miami: your questions

Where should I stay in Miami for a first visit?

Most first-timers stay on Miami Beach for the ocean and the Art Deco District. The Betsy is on Ocean Drive in South Beach, within walking distance of the Art Deco buildings; Hotel Croydon is in calmer Mid-Beach, a block from the sand, with buses and the free trolley along Collins Avenue to reach South Beach. Read our Miami travel guide

How far ahead should I book a hotel in Miami?

Book as early as you can for December to April, the dry peak season, and especially for Art Basel in December and spring break in March. Ocean-view rooms and suites, which are limited at The Betsy, go first.

When is the best time to visit Miami?

December to April is dry, sunny and warm. May and late October are good compromises; June to November is hot, humid and hurricane season, with the peak from mid-August to early October. When to visit Miami

How do I get from the airport to these hotels?

Both are a taxi or ride-hail away from Miami International Airport (MIA). Hotel Croydon says MIA is about 11 miles, or 20 minutes by car, and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) about 27 miles.

Do I need a car, and what does parking cost?

Not on Miami Beach: walk, ride the free trolleys or use ride-hail. The Betsy charges $55 a night plus tax for valet parking; Hotel Croydon has no valet, and points guests to metered street parking and public garages nearby.

Which of the two hotels suits families?

Hotel Croydon lets children under 12 stay free and has a courtyard pool where children must be accompanied by an adult. The Betsy describes its shaded courtyard pool as ideal for families with little ones and arranges babysitting through its concierge.

Can I book these hotels directly?

Yes. The See prices button under The Betsy Hotel opens the hotel's official website. For Hotel Croydon it opens Trip.com, one of our booking partners.

Exit 10And now?Our Miami guideWhat to do, where to eat, getting there
Exit 175 days in the Florida Keys5-day itineraryExit 24The Overseas HighwayRoad trip · 3–4 daysExit 31Miami or Boston?Compare them side by sideExit 38Trip budgetRooms, food, car, gas, passes

Hotel picks for other destinations

Picked by Kylian Dev. These are editorial picks: no hotel paid to be here, and we never describe a stay we did not make. Facts come from each hotel’s own website; the Trip.com buttons are partner links (how we make money).