Hotel at a Glance: Beacon South Beach

The award-winning Beacon South Beach makes itself right at home in South Beach's art-deco district. The hotel dates back to the late 1930s and is decorated in art-deco style. There's even a roaring '20s vibe at the onsite Mojito Bar. When you're ready to hit the town, you'll be close to several of South Beach's trendiest restaurants and bars along Ocean Drive. When you'd like to lounge along the beach, all you have to do is walk across the street.

• Where you'll stay: Stylish guest rooms come with Nespresso machines, Smart TVs, and complimentary WiFi. Select rooms overlook the ocean, and you can take your towel when you head off to the beach.
• Rise and shine: The hotel serves a complimentary breakfast to help you start the day.
• Mojito Bar: Chill out at the hotel's bar, which serves refreshing tropical cocktails in a laid-back atmosphere.

Miami's South Beach: World-Famous Nightlife and Beaches

Just east of downtown Miami, on the barrier island that forms Miami Beach, you'll find one of the world's nightlife capitals: South Beach. The clubs along Ocean Drive are legendary for their boisterous, all-night blowouts—and for good reason. With all the rum-soaked mojitos, colorful neon, and celebrity sightings, it can feel like an endless party. Perhaps that's why the area pops up so often in film and TV shows, including Burn Notice and ­_The Birdcage_.

The coast of South Beach is known as Lummus Park, which Frommer's calls Miami's "best beach for people-watching." Head across the bay, to South Pointe Park or Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, for quieter, more secluded shores.