The South Beach center is about the area of Flamingo Park and the area of Art Deco Welcome Center.
The best time to visit South Beach is between March and May when temperatures are in the high 70s and low 80s. The clubs aren't overly crowded, there is space on the beach, and plenty of fun events are happening like the Winter Party and Miami Beach International Fashion Week. Best of all, hotel rates are affordable during this season, and the only crowds to contend with are college students on spring break. Even that is avoidable if you plan your trip for late April or early May to miss them completely.
If you travel to South Beach between June and August, you face large crowds and hot and humid weather with highs in the 80s and 90s. Families converge on the beach during the day but clear out by evening leaving the area free and clear. Hotel rates and airfare are affordable, and loads of summer activities like the Florida Supercon and Colors of the Caribbean are in full swing. Just be sure to pack your strongest umbrella. South Beach is known for summer thunderstorms in the afternoons.
The fall months of September to November are nearly as hot and humid as the summer, but there's the added risk of hurricanes. Sure, you'll be taking a gamble if you travel to the area during this time, but at least the beaches are open, the hotel rates are low, and great events like Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Fest are going on. Pack an umbrella because heavy downpours throughout the day are likely.
December through February is peak season in South Beach. The weather is gorgeous, the best events are happening, like Art Basel and the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, and the who's who of the neighborhoods are out and about. This is the time when everyone wants to visit South Beach so hotel rates and airfare will be high. If experiencing the area during the winter is on your bucket list, be sure to book your trip at least three to four months in advance.
South Beach has many hotels that offer great discounts. The Impala Hotel is an impressive mid-range property near Collins Avenue and highly rated restaurants. The hotel offers special AAA rates on standard, deluxe, and balcony rooms. You get a refrigerator, LCD TV, iPod docking station, and super comfortable TempurPedic beds. The hotel also provides a garden with great views, a fitness center, and a restaurant.
For a luxury option with great discounts, check out the Surfcomber Hotel. This boutique accommodation offers AAA rates on many of its cozy rooms. Plus, the hotel sits conveniently in the Art Deco district near Lincoln Road shops and sought after nightlife. You can enjoy one of 216 air-conditioned guest rooms with surf-inspired designs, high-quality linens, a minibar, 40-inch flat-screen TV, iHome docking stations, and deluxe bath products. Amenities include an outdoor pool, fitness center, spa, concierge services, and beach picnic area. The hotel even welcomes pets with loaner pet beds and courtesy doggie bags.
Depending on where you stay, you can get great value for your money in South Beach. The Beacon Hotel South Beach is minutes away from Lummus Park Beach and the Art Deco Welcome Center. It offers great value on everything from room to recreation amenities. Its 75 air-conditioned rooms come with pillowtop beds, minibars, iPod docking stations, 36-inch LCD TVs, and private bathrooms with rainfall shower heads. The hotel puts you steps away from the beach and offers a 24-hour fitness center, a beachfront restaurant, and television in the lobby. It also offers concierge services, beach chairs, and beach towels.
The Penguin Hotel is a more affordable choice with great value offerings. Conveniently located on Ocean Drive near the Anchor Shops and Art Deco Museum, this hotel has 43 nature-inspired guest rooms with refrigerators, plasma TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, bottled water, and private bathrooms with complimentary toiletries. Hotel amenities include a terrace with views, on site dining at the Purple Penguin Café, free breakfast, and welcome drinks.
No matter which hotel you stay in, you'll be close to many of South Beach's most popular attractions. Ocean Drive is one of the more famous boulevards in the area and features unparalleled shopping, dining, and nightlife for those looking to spend money. It also features one-of-a-kind art deco buildings for those who'd rather observe. Once you're ready to go to the beach, just step across the street and you're there.
For a park atmosphere with plenty of activities, spend some time at South Pointe Park and Pier. It's the perfect place to stroll, fish, and picnic while enjoying beautiful views of the ocean. If you bring a pet, you can walk throughout the park's 17 acres or rent a bike and spend all day exploring.
There are many popular attractions in South Beach, so it's difficult to experience all of them in one trip. No matter what you decide to do, you'll experience an area that's full of fun, excitement, and beauty. If you want to stay in the center of South Beach near all the action or travel a slight distance down a quieter street, you find just what you're looking for in this hip playground.
Below are reviews of the city of South Beach, FL from an actual visitor's perspective.
Shopping, entertainment, sightseeing, activities and of course the beach.