Cookie cutter rooms. Uncomfortable beds. Crowded pools. Lackluster service. Less-than-fresh bed clothes. Skimpy bath towels. Generic food. Watered-down drinks. Almost everyone has, at some point, experienced one or more of these at a run-of-the-mill hotel. If you refuse to settle for the mediocre and average accommodations simply won't do, you're probably in the club of travelers for whom luxury is the only option. If so, South Beach won't disappoint. Being a magnet for jet-setters, there are no shortage of high-end area offerings that are much more than just a place to lay one's head: top-shelf furnishings, world-class amenities, in-the-know concierges, award-winning restaurants, pampering spas, high-level service, plush linens-the list goes on. We may be the types who are always on the look out for a bargain, but we can't deny that it's easy to fall for luxe hotels. The problem is with so many fine establishments to choose from, narrowing down the prospects can be one of the most daunting aspects of making travel plans. To help with decision-making process (so you can focus on other things), here are our favorite upscale retreats, from tried-and-true perennial favorites to more recent arrivals with just as much cachet.
4441 Collins Avenue
Best Rate Access/ Exclusive Inventory...
944 Collins Ave
Merv Griffin's ivory palace...
1020 Ocean Drive
Party all the time...
801 Collins Ave
Perfect in every detail...
3025 Collins Avenue
Elegant, tropical resort...
1 Fisher Island Dr
Best Vacation Resort...
1825 Collins Avenue
Great Value!...
350 Ocean Drive
The neon sign winks "Lord Balfour," beckoning South Beach vacationers to the chic Wave Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla...
1751 Collins Ave
Sea Jewel!...
1757 Collins Ave
Tropical, waterfront luxury...
436 Ocean Dr
Original "Deco on the Drive"...