Miami

The Mandarin Oriental feels as exclusive as it does glamorous, with luxurious rooms, exalted restaurants, and the city's top spa. — Fodor's

When it opened in 2000, the ho­­tel was the only one on Brickell Key, an island in the harbor just off downtown. It’s great because the property has a tropical-island feel, yet it’s... — Departures

The pick of the luxury chains downtown for its jawdropping views across Biscayne Bay. — Rough Guide

It wouldn't be Miami without a little glitz and glam, and the Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key, just outside of downtown, delivers with extraordinary service to boot. — Forbes Travel Guide

Located on beautiful Brickell Key, this beachless island resort offers serenity by way of warm, creative design, a phenomenal spa, a first-rate gym and invigorating (though pricey) cuisine. — Oyster

Boasts one of Florida's most coveted 18-hole golf courses, and the United States' largest hotel pool, sprawling 23,000-square-feet. — BlackBook

The Biltmore is known for many things: its 21,000-sq ft... pool, Giralda-inspired bell tower, Al Capone suite in which royalty and statesmen have stayed, and a fantastic golf course. — DK Eyewitness

Built in 1926, the iconic Biltmore (a national landmark) brings timeless luxury to a hotel scene overwhelmed by skin-deep glitz. — Oyster

This 1926 Mediterranean-style historic landmark that anchors Coral Gables still feels very Old Florida. — Travel + Leisure

The check-in champagne offered by "courteous yet unobtrusive" staffers in the "Gatsby-esque lobby" sets a tone of "timeless glamour" at this "magical" historic hotel. — Zagat

In a case of Orient excess, the Setai boasts a four-bedroom penthouse with a $30,000 rack rate and the starriest clientele in town. — Time Out

It is elite and divine. — Gayot

With some 40 floors, the Setai rises over South Beach like an opulent obelisk, serving as a playground for damn-the-expense visitors. — Travel + Leisure

Paradise doesn't come cheap... one of the best hotels in Miami. — Oyster

At 21st Street, on the edge of SoBe, this hotel occupies a sparkling white and reflective glass complex that faces the beach like a giant's tuning fork. Composed of old and new, the... — Star Service

Fontainebleau is a standout on Miami’s Collins Avenue, thanks to its luxe design, excellent amenities and sheer size. — Forbes Travel Guide

This Miami Beach icon sits at the top of the heap for well-heeled, demanding business and leisure travelers in search of a flamboyant full-service hotel. — Star Service

The most famous hotel in Miami Beach has had a billion-dollar facelift. — Time Out

This crescent-shaped landmark hotel has a longstanding reputation for grandeur. — Travel + Leisure

On the north side of the famed Art Deco district is one of the most recognized landmarks in Miami Beach. — Gayot

The Betsy sits directly on world-famous Ocean Drive and delivers the full-throttle South Beach experience with style, pizzazz and cultural twist. — Fodor's

Situated along South Beach’s famous Ocean Drive, The Betsy is one of Miami’s premier beachfront boutique hotels. — Travel + Leisure

The fresh interior is more Savannah than SoBe, with chairs upholstered in striped fabric, curtains and bedspreads bordered in matching colors—lavender, mustard, green—and a neat pile of books. — Condé Nast Traveler

Sixty-three rooms and suites decked out with wi-fi, iPod docks, huge flatscreens and TVs built into the mirrors in the louve. — BlackBook

Stately colonial hotel in a comparatively tranquil location on Ocean Drive at 14th Street in South Beach. — Andrew Harper

Attractions inside the 70-story glass-and-granite tower include an 80-foot wall of water, two-acre terrace with three swimming pools and the 40,000-square-foot The Sports Club/LA. — Gayot

There are over two hundred polished chambers at this skyline-defining business hotel perched beside the waters of Biscayne Bay. — Rough Guide

Nirvana on an expense account. — Not For Tourists

A skyscraper in the heart of the business district, this hotel is especially favored by jet-setters and celebs. — DK Eyewitness

Deciding between the hyperluxe Mandarin Oriental and the equally luxe, albeit somewhat museumlike, Four Seasons is almost like trying to tell the difference between Ava and Zsa Zsa Gabor. — Frommer's

A tranquil 450-room island resort off the Miami mainland on Key Biscayne, the Ritz provides some of the traditional "Ritzy" benchmarks. — Oyster

Many Ritz-Carlton outposts feel a little cookie-cuttered, but the Key Biscayne outpost of the empire is pretty unique. — Lonely Planet

This resort delivers the intimacy of a private island escape but with the convenient location of a city hotel. — Forbes Travel Guide

Hands down, the Ritz-Carlton is Miami's best full-service resort, with tropical gardens, a tennis center, a 20,000-square-foot spa, kids' programs, and a pristine beach. — Travel + Leisure

In this ultra-laid-back Key Biscayne setting, it's natural to appreciate the Ritz brand of pampering with luxurious rooms, attentive service, and ample recreational activities for the whole family. — Fodor's

Miami’s first W hotel is one of the chain’s most ambitious properties in recent years. — Condé Nast Traveler

The stunning 312-room W South Beach... blends cute comforts, intricate design (that spares no expense), and flawless service. — Oyster

The hotel's common spaces include the lobby and the Living Room bar, featuring incredibly high ceilings, tall and wide walls, and a rotating selection of large-scale contemporary art pieces. — Afar Magazine

A "sexy clientele" looking to "feel like a rock star" patronizes this "cool" "hot spot" with a "very flashy" SoBe atmosphere. — Zagat

W brings successful brand of mega-boutiquery to South Beach, replacing usual chrome and dark finishes with de rigueur Miami blinding whites and big beachy views. — BlackBook

Once you step inside, you forget that you're even in Miami and feel as if you're on the Italian Riviera. — Frommer's

Lavish resort within a 51-story tower on four-and-a-half acres fronted by 400 feet of white sand. — Andrew Harper

The Sunny Isles Beach hotel is about 30 minutes north of South Beach’s epicenter. — Departures

Acqualina, a grand 51-story Mediterranean-inspired tower that mixes touches of Collins Avenue grooviness with old-world nostalgia, is a welcome addition to Sunny Isles. — Travel + Leisure

This place delivers tan and cream high-tech perfection in the rooms, a patient and obsequious staff. — BlackBook

The reigning princes of LA nightlife, sbe, expand their empire into the Magic City with the swish new SLS Hotel South Beach. — BlackBook

An Art Deco diva in South Beach with 140 rooms and two happening restaurants. — Condé Nast Traveler

This reincarnation of yet another Art Deco beachfront hotel by maestro Morris Lapidus, the 1939 Ritz Plaza was reborn to much celebrity-studded fanfare in 2012. — Frommer's

Smack in the center of South Beach, the SLS Hotel marks designer Philippe Starck's triumphant large-scale return to South Beach. — Fodor's

The production and design team behind this property aimed to redefine contemporary hospitality through creativity, innovation and cooperative efforts with experts such as designer Philippe Starck. — Gayot

Nestled into South Beach'€™s vibrant Art Deco District, Loews Miami Beach Hotel flaunts a 'SoBe style'€ fusion of cosmopolitan and Deco influences, creating beachfront elegance for hip visitors. — Gayot

Opened in 1998, this sprawling beachfront hotel is located on South Beach’s famed Collins Avenue, lined with historic Art Deco hotels built in the 1960’s. — Travel + Leisure

If for some reason you’re missing big, conventioneer-style boxes, come to Loews. — Lonely Planet

Occupying 900 feet of prime beach at the northern edge of South Beach, a quick stroll from Lincoln Road's shops and restaurants and three blocks from the convention center. — Star Service

The Loews is one of the largest hotels on South Beach, consuming an unprecedented 900 feet of oceanfront. — Frommer's

The 50 ocean-fronting rooms are icy cool, with their jumbled vintage, ocean organic and indie vibe. — Lonely Planet

Reopened in November 2007 after a dramatic renovation by Top Design judge and opulent interior designer Kelly Wearstler, The Tides South Beach exudes beachy glamour. — BlackBook

Spectacularly situated on Ocean Drive, with enormous floor-through rooms featuring ocean and city views. — Rough Guide

Possibly the loveliest hotel on South Beach, the Tides is a thing of beauty inside and out. — Time Out

The Art Deco "diva of Ocean Drive" is steeped in luxury; every guest gets a personal assistant. — Insight Guides

The James Royal Palm occupies a narrow white, art deco structure on Collins Avenue in Miami’s tony and fashionable South Beach. — Forbes Travel Guide

After a major renovation to this historic property by The James Hotel, the Royal Palm South Beach has changed hands to become a part of Starwood’s Tribute Portfolio. — The Telegraph

Artsy hotel brings the sophisticated Manhattan vibe to South Beach, where sophisticated Manhattan people spend their winters. — BlackBook

This oceanfront hotel was designed by Lauren Rottet of Rottet Studio and features all you want from a South Beach location. — Gayot

A retro vibe permeates the Royal Palm South Beach, an 393-room Art Deco high-rise that fronts Miami Beach. — Travel + Leisure

There's nothing luxurious about all-vintage, authentically nicked furniture (except maybe the price). — Oyster

The Raleigh is now a happening celebrity magnet, with a restaurant and 20sstyle bar that remains true to the hotel’s Art Deco origins. — DK Eyewitness

Former Versace mansion turned exclusive villa hotel with a top-notch restaurant and a 24K pool courtyard, just across from South Beach. — Jetsetter

The Raleigh is quintessential old-school Miami Beach with a modern twist. — Frommer's

While everyone else was trying to get all modern, the Raleigh painstakingly tried to restore itself to prewar glory. — Lonely Planet

Despite its name, this 335-room hotel on West Avenue is several blocks from the South Beach melee. — Condé Nast Traveler

The "wow" factor is ubiquitous throughout Wanders's eccentric vision of Sleeping Beauty's castle near the shores of South Beach. — Fodor's

Its impeccable service, kitchen-equipped rooms, and notable after-parties at the Sunset Lounge draw well-heeled singles. — Oyster

A waking dream of South Beach whimsy with a mod American brasserie, spa, marina and pool. — Jetsetter

Set apart from the teeming ocean side of South Beach, the Mondrian holds a plum spot on the isle’s opposite shore along Biscayne Bay, with views of the glass towers of downtown. — Travel + Leisure

A restored mid-century grand dame on the Atlantic Ocean with food and drink by celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and nightlife offerings that include an ice skating rink and bowling alley. — The Telegraph

The 294-room condo-hotel offers a mix of guest rooms, suites, and oceanfront bungalows that up the ante on privacy. — Travel + Leisure

Ian Schrager’s latest EDITION hotel is a cut above the rest of the neighboring properties, with a restrained white and gold interior and two Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurants. — Condé Nast Traveler

Hotelier Ian Schrager teams up with Marriott International to launch this collection of luxury lifestyle hotels with a stunning oceanside location in Mid-Beach. — Zagat

Design guru Ian Schrager's latest Miami venture is a gorgeous retooling of a 1950s Mid-Beach classic. — Lonely Planet

Fans rave this "first-class" luxury hotel is "everything you would expect or want", with "amazing" staffers who "take care of you better than your parents" and "beautiful", "modern" rooms. — Zagat

At the northern tip of Miami Beach, the tony enclave of Bal Harbour has long been known for its wide, white-sand beaches, lavish residences, and high-end shopping. — Travel + Leisure

Oceanfront elegance that captures the spirit of Bal Harbour. — Gayot

A sprawling five-star luxury resort in posh Bal Harbour, the 227-room St Regis Bal Harbour offers unparalleled service and amenities. — The Telegraph

Glittering resort in three oceanfront towers, just across the street from famed Bal Harbour Shops. — Andrew Harper

Though Beyoncé and Jay-Z may choose the Setai over the Delano these days, it doesn't mean South Beach's original see-and-be-seen hotel is over just yet. — Frommer's

South Beach's minimalist trend started with Philippe Starck's redo of New York hotelier lan Schrager's 1947 beachside oasis named for Franklin Delano Roosevelt. — Michelin Guide

The lovechild of Ian Schrager and Phillippe Starck is very pretty, a world of fabulousity onto itself. — BlackBook

At the photogenic wading pool, with priceless views, you may be sitting next to a Hollywood producer, starlet, music mogul, or royalty. — DK Eyewitness

Still a hotspot today. — The Telegraph

This landmark property, originally designed by legendary Miami architect Morris Lapidus, boasts an ideal location — at the foot of South Beach’s Lincoln Road Mall on the Atlantic Ocean. — Forbes Travel Guide

Far from ostentatious, the Ritz-Carlton South Beach moves away from gilded opulence in favor of the more soothing pastel-washed touches of Deco. — Frommer's

"Everyone should stay here at least once" rave devotees of this "elegant", "indulgent" oceanfront "icon" that is "well located near restaurants and shops. — Zagat

In a neighborhood teeming with monuments to 1950s architecture, this new take on an old favorite surpasses its competitors when it comes to savvy style. — Gayot

Just steps away from a surfeit of dining, shopping, and entertainment choices, this Ritz-Carlton is located directly on the beach. — DK Eyewitness

The Conrad, an iconic skyscraper, is certainly chic. The streamlined glass and steel architecture, by Bermello Ajamil, will please modernists. — Time Out

Although you won't find ubiquitous Hilton heiresses Paris and Nicky at this business-oriented hotel... you will find luxury-lovers who have no interest in minimalism or celebrity spottings. — Frommer's

Pillow menus and telescopes on request -- these are only a few amenities found in the "upscale" rooms, some with "excellent" beach views. — Zagat

Taking up 17 floors of a 36-story downtown skyscraper, this Hilton luxury offshoot has some swanky touches. — Oyster

Occupying floors 16 to 26 of a 36-story skyscraper in Miami's Financial District, this chic hotel mixes business with pleasure, offering easy access to the best of Downtown Miami. — Fodor's