Miami

Miami grande dame with legendary champagne high tea, cooking school, spa, golf course and tennis program. — Jetsetter

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

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

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

On an exclusive 44-acre island, this property attracts international business travelers and guests who demand impeccable accommodations and attention to detail. — Gayot

Guests "get exactly what they pay for" -- a "completely tranquil and relaxing" vacation helmed by "top-notch", "attentive" staffers. — Zagat

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

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

Worlds (well, 20 minutes) away from the mania of South Beach, this serene, stylish property on a private island near the Brickell business district has stunning views. — Concierge

Asian touches (antique jade, teak accents) throughout this "very sophisticated" property yield a "peaceful" ambiance that extends to the "spacious", "sexy" art deco rooms. — 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

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

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

The epitome of mid-century Miami glamour,this place is as famous for its storied past as it is for being one of the hottest Miami hotels. — The Telegraph

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

"Feel like a celebrity" at this "classic grande dame of Miami Beach", which dazzles "the jet-set crowd" with pumping music and "great" bars. — Zagat

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

Fabulously retro, the Fontainebleu a flamboyant Las Vegas-style with Art Deco grandeur. Rooms have been renovated and the hotel is expanding into a condo-hotel. — DK Eyewitness

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

SoBe’s demure Southern Belle is a standout in a sea of flamboyant Art Deco divas. — Jetsetter

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

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

Following a complete renovation, this Ocean Drive landmark with its impressive colonial facade has become one of the freshest faces in Miami Beach. — Gayot

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

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

Once you get upstairs to the real hotel entrance, you find an art lover's nirvana, particularly if you like the voluptuous statues of Fernando Botero. — Concierge

A favorite of business travelers visiting downtown's busy, business-centric Brickell Avenue, this plush sanctuary offers a respite from the nine-to-five mayhem. — Fodor's

A Brickell beauty overlooking Biscayne Bay with a two-acre terrace and three pools. — Jetsetter

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

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

A lovely beachside resort that offers a distinct European feel with its Mediterranean villa décor and terraces where guests can soak in the ocean or Intracoastal views. — Forbes Travel Guide

A seaside retreat in Sunny Isles Beach—just 12 miles north of South Beach—the five-star Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach is all luxury. — The Telegraph

Four pools, great Italian cuisine, a luxurious spa, 97 huge, modern rooms, and some of Miami's most attentive service -- this is family-oriented Sunny Isles' best hotel. — Oyster

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

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

The Ritz-Carlton takes Key Biscayne to the height of luxury with 44 acres of tropical gardens, a 20,000-square-foot destination spa, and a world-class tennis center. — Frommer's

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

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

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

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

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

South Beach's newest "it" girl, the W is so stunning it has been referred to as the Starwood brand's signature property even though it's hardly the first. — Frommer's

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

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

The Loews is a conventioneer’s dream come true, with lush tropical landscaping, Emeril’s Miami Beach restaurant, a big tropically landscaped pool, and the occasional celebrity sighting. — DK Eyewitness

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

The grandiose Loews Miami Beach Hotel has a prime beachfront spot in Miami’s glittery South Beach neighborhood. — Forbes Travel Guide

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

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

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

All rooms are at least twice the size of a typical South Beach hotel room and have a breathtaking panoramic view of the ocean. — Frommer's

An Art Deco masterpiece, the all-suite Tides resembles a luxury ocean liner. All rooms are large and the soundproofed lobby is quiet despite the salsa beats and bass on Ocean Drive. — DK Eyewitness

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

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

Designer Philippe Starck's signature white decor includes a French twist in this beachfront boutique's guestrooms, where wall hangings evoke 18th-century carved headboards. — Zagat

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

Rooms are almost painfully white and bright; all long, smooth lines, reflective surfaces and sexy, modern, luxurious amenities. — Lonely Planet

The Delano's 195 all-white rooms don't come cheap, but you're paying for surreal, Philippe Starck style and all-night parties at the "water salon.". — Oyster

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

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

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

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

Esther Williams swam here. — Not For Tourists

Hip, haute, historic masterpiece with a must-see pool and Art Deco flair. — Jetsetter

One of the most significant buildings in the South Beach Art Deco district, the Raleigh is centered around the area's most beautiful and famous swimming pool—. — Concierge

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

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

St. Regis brings oceanfront luxury to Art Basel devotees tired of the loud and glitzy South Beach scene. — BlackBook

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

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

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

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

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

Pool + Beach service is ace, they have a great team here. The hotel is pretty large but manageable and I really like the style. Lots of cool amenities to make you feel good about staying... — Afar Magazine

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

No other Ritz in the world has a tricked-out poolside DJ who looks as if he stepped straight out of Studio 54 circa 1978. — BlackBook

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Located on Collins Avenue, this Art Deco hotel is enhanced by the colorful interior design of famed decorator Todd Oldham. — Travel + Leisure

The mosaic-tiled bathrooms and tie-dye robes lend a whimsical feel to the small but avant-garde rooms. — Time Out

Centrally located in a historic Art Deco building, this is a darling little hotel by designer Todd Oldham and developer/hotelier Tony Goldman. — Oyster

Designer Todd Oldham oversaw every element in the renovation of this hotel, and his colourful yet thoughtful makeover makes it one of the best luxury options on the beach. — Rough Guide

There's no need to pay more for an oceanfront view here -- go up to the rooftop, where the hip and funky Spire Bar and pool are located, and you'll have an amazing view of the Atlantic. — 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

Don’t be ashamed Conrad: you’re a credit to the genre, from the 25th-floor power-broker sky lobby to a location in the heart of Brickell’s flash and finance. — Lonely Planet

Lux hotel starts on the 25th floor of the concave glass and steel bank building in the heart of the financial district. — BlackBook

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