Miami

Though the Biltmore’s standard rooms can be small, a stay here is a chance to sleep in one of the great laps of US luxury. — Lonely Planet

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

Beyond the fact that service excels here, the hotel, which is Coral Gables’ oldest, is an impressive yet tranquil example of Old World elegance. — Forbes Travel Guide

A landmark, Mediterranean-style hotel that has been pampering the rich and famous since 1926. — Rough Guide

An elegant Mediterranean Revival retreat originally built in 1926 and inspired by both Spanish and Venetian architecture. — The Telegraph

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

A famed five-star resort with a world-class spa and high-end Peruvian restaurant. — The Telegraph

On ritzy Brickell Key. All rooms have balconies overlooking the bay or skyline. Regular celeb sightings in the lobby. — BlackBook

In a prime location, abutting a private man-made beach, this international star remains, along with the Four Seasons and Marriott's luxurious David, Hotel Beaux Arts, downtown Miami's top... — Star Service

Both a city hotel and a seaside resort, this dramatic crescent-shaped tower commands the southern tip of Brickell Key overlooking Biscayne Bay. — Andrew Harper

Even if you can't afford a stay at one of Miami's priciest hotels, take time to visit this most beautifully designed space and its three restaurants, which welcome nonguests. — Fodor's

The Zen-like, Asian-inspired Setai is truly for that 1% of society who can afford it. — Frommer's

Condo-tower-cum-hotel that’s known for its celeb-heavy clientele... as much as for its pricey, vaguely Asian-themed rooms. — Rough Guide

This South Beach hotel opened in 2005 on the site of the former Vanderbilt Hotel. It is pricey but has every luxury, with 50 rooms and 75 suites. — DK Eyewitness

This Asian-inspired Collins Avenue hotel attracts a fashionable international crowd, where the scenes at the palm-shaded pools (there are three, each set at a different temperature), the... — Departures

Comprising a 20-acre enclave opposite the Intracoastal Waterway, midway between South Beach's thriving spring-break scene and sultry Bal Harbor, this hotel has been memorialized in song... — Star Service

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

If you're looking for a one-stop hot spot that you won't likely want to leave, this is the place to be. — Frommer's

Grand mid-century icon restored to its original glitz, with a see-and-be-seen nightclub and a dozen dining options. — Jetsetter

After its $1 billion facelift in 2008, the Fontainebleau's 1,504 new rooms, nine pools, phenomenal spa and gorgeous design are hard to top. — Oyster

Situated on the quieter northern end of South Beach's raucous Ocean Drive, the Betsy Hotel is, in many ways, a fish out of water—picture a Southern belle surrounded by Art Deco divas. — Concierge

Each room and suite in the oceanfront hotel is a nod to the stately colonial rooms of yesteryear blended with the modern aesthetic of South Beach. — Frommer's

Leisure meets luxury at The Betsy, a 61-room beachfront beauty located on a quiet stretch of Ocean Drive. — Rough Guide

Done up in grand old Florida-Georgian style, the hotel is a rare South Beach boutique option with just 61 rooms. Twelve of them, including four suites, face the ocean, which would be... — Departures

Located between 14th and 15th streets, at the northern end of Ocean Drive—the quieter side of spring-break central—two blocks from its closest competition, The Tides, and near the... — Star Service

A high-flyer (70 storeys) in the Downtown financial district, the Four Seasons could be mistaken for an office building. But beyond the façade and the utilitarian lower lobby, it's pure palatial chic. — Time Out

This is a premier choice for Miami's boring business district. — Oyster

Soaring 70 stories above Biscayne Bay, it's the tallest building south of Atlanta. Exterior is über minimalist. Interior is five-star opulence. — BlackBook

The setting's lux, on the Four Seasons Hotel's seventh floor outdoor terrace (if a two-acre space, with a pool and waterfall, can be called a terrace). The menu's tapas, ranging from an... — Miami New Times

Nirvana on an expense account. — Not For Tourists

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

This magnificent oceanfront property features stately architectural features: iron gates, sculpted archways, baroque fountains and a porte-cochère with a domed cupola. — Time Out

Accommodations are sinfully comfortable and undeniably lavish, with every conceivable frill. — Fodor's

Tranquil, tropical beach glamour miles from South Beach's 24/7 party scene. — Gayot

Jangled nerves are no match for the "tremendous" award-winning 20,000-sq.-ft. ESPA spa at this "beautiful" luxury beachfront resort. — Zagat

For a luxurious and relaxed resort experience away from the South Beach scene, The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne offers an expansive retreat perfect for a family holiday. — The Telegraph

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

A huge spa, a cushy Club Level and top tennis facilities highlight this beachfront property. — Gayot

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

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

Brings the whole W-brand mix of luxury, hipness and overblown cool to Miami Beach in a big way. — Lonely Planet

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

Nuzzling the beach and arts and entertainment district, four blocks north of the subdued Raleigh, a few more blocks from the far superior Setai, this crafty crossover serves sophisticated... — Star Service

A perennial hotspot since the day it opened. — The Telegraph

Built on a colorful stretch of South Beach, this contemporary hotel has much to offer. — 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

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

The recently opened The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort offers some of the most luxurious accommodations in northern Miami, furnished in a contemporary residential style. — Forbes Travel Guide

In every facet of design and operation, the St. Regis is magnificent. — Fodor's

Nearly hidden behind a tall row of hedges is Delano South Beach, a landmarked hotel built in 1947 and renovated by Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck in 1995. — Afar Magazine

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

A Philippe Starck-designed beauty with exceptional dining and a luxurious pool – includes a resort credit. — Jetsetter

Philippe Starck cool on the beach. Swank. — Not For Tourists

This 790-room Art Deco District hotel caters to the whole family. — Condé Nast Traveler

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

This massive convention hotel is peppered with name-tagged conventioneers, but if you like big, it's got your name on it too: 790 rooms, including 57 suites, some with sea views. — Time Out

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

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

A spalike oasis... the service is also configured for ultimate relaxation. — Concierge

South Beach sophisticate in an Art Deco icon with mesmerizing ocean views, a mezzanine pool and destination restaurant. — Jetsetter

The exceptionally tactful personalized service makes every guest feel like a celebrity, and the hotel looks like no other in the city. — Fodor's

A beautifully designed hotel with pomp-free service at all levels... King and Grove brings rarely seen substance to the price tag. — Oyster

Celebrity designers Philippe Starck and Lenny Kravitz designed the rooms, which are stylish and sexy, but remarkably small for the price. — Oyster

Some Miami hotels lead with their spa or stunning beach views but the SLS South Beach puts its star ingredient—its restaurants—front and center. The Bazaar by José Andrés and master sushi... — Jetsetter

The reception is inspired by a retro-styled American 'sleep-away' camp... while the guest rooms have a traditional old world feel, echoing France's pre-Revolutionary royal court. — Wallpaper

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

One of the trendiest spots for party people along South Beach’s glittering Collins Avenue, the SLS South Beach is home to Hyde Beach nightclub, The Bazaar by José Andrés and Katsuya restaurants. — The Telegraph

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

Between rounds of martinis, take in the opulent pineapple-shaped pool: Esther Williams used to shoot aquatic routines for her movies here. — BlackBook

A classic Art Deco hideaway in the heart of South Beach, The Raleigh is famous for its lovely, baroque swimming pool. — The Telegraph

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

The French-inflected Raleigh is like France itself: effortlessly chic, impossibly seductive, and occasionally vexing. — Condé Nast Traveler

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

The latest "it" hotel to grace South Beach, the James Royal Palm is a daily celebration of art deco, Art Basel, modernity, and design detail... "luxury liberated." — Fodor's

Ocean-hued rooms offer free WiFi, organic bath products, all-natural bedding and water or city views, and on-site restaurants specialize in locally sourced seafood. — Zagat

Lots of cool amenities to make you feel good about staying here ( organic toiletries, fancy bedding, high end goodies for your dog). — Afar Magazine

Located at 15th Street, next to the busier but better Loews, in the heart of South Beach—not to be mistaken for the superior Palms Hotel and Spa—this property has received a makeover that... — Star Service

A showstopper resort that's a bold step away from the Federal-style-and-Oriental-rug look of its sister properties. — Concierge

A huge (though relaxed) beachfront resort with reliable service, a great pool, a top-notch spa, and a modern fitness center, the Ritz offers more for the money. — Oyster

Midcentury Modern gem with a sceney beach club and stellar spa in a prime spot on the South Beach strip. — Jetsetter

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

At once one of Miami’s trendiest and most affordable hotels. There is a lush, inviting courtyard and pool. — The Telegraph

27’s menu has an interesting set of globally inspired dishes made with fresh ingredients from local farms and purveyors. — Time Out

Get your room key – attached to a plastic alligator – and walk through the old Miami lobby, spruced up with souvenir-stand schlock, to your comfortable, earthy-warm digs. — Lonely Planet

Located off the beaten path, the Indian Creek Hotel is a meticulously restored 1936 building with one of the first operating elevators in Miami Beach. — Frommer's

Just two blocks from the beach, the Freehand Miami has repurposed the 1930s Indian Creek Hotel with outstanding results. — Gayot

One of only two hotels right on Biscayne Bay (the other is the Standard), rooms at Mondrian South Beach are coveted by guests wanting a stellar view. — Afar Magazine

Fontainebleau and now Morgan’s Hotel Group brings their sexy, successful brand to mellow, tree-shaded, 90%-residential West Avenue. — BlackBook

If you can't join 'em, beat 'em. That seems to be the idea behind this self-conscious off-center dynamo. Overlooking Biscayne Bay and Flamingo Park, on what most visitors consider the... — Star Service

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

Much to everyone's surprise, the latest offering from the Morgans Hotel Group of Delano fame isn't just another humdrum, been-there-done-that homage to all things painfully trendy. — Frommer's

Historic glamour parallels modern relaxation from the palm-fringed marble lobby to the beachy guest rooms. Technology fuses with style, convenience is matched with service. — Fodor's

A unique, intricately designed oceanfront complex offering pretty much everything you could even conjure up — dining, nightlife, socializing, recreation, culture and even meeting space for work. — Forbes Travel Guide

Ian Schrager’s sceney South Beach sleep, with two pools, a nightclub, an ice rink and a celeb chef–helmed restaurant. — Jetsetter

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

Tucked just north of lively South Beach, The Miami Beach Edition is a masterpiece of mid-century style in a sea of art deco dames. — Mr & Mrs Smith