where to stay in Miami - just me and DH

[BarrelOfOtters]

Want to see a bit of life, nice restaurants, beach (it'll be March) but not too rowdy. In our 50s and like a quiet room in a hotel.

I'm a bit baffled by which bit of Miami to look at. Probably 2 or 3 nights.

For 2-3 nights and w/o kids I'd stick to Miami Beach, north of Ocean Drive. Lots of nice hotels off Collins Ave. Plenty of places to eat within easy reach, a gorgeous beach. I don't have specific recommendations, we stay with family.

Mid-Beach is a lot calmer than South Beach, yet it still has decent nightclubs and some fancy restaurants. Altogether it has a much more relaxed vibe, much like North Beach.

I would also say Mid Beach or north of 16th street near Collins Ave. Are you planning on driving around?.

We were going to Uber. I was looking at South Beach but thought it might be a bit full on!

There are indeed lots of hotels and restaurants along/adjacent to Collins Ave, but I thought it was rather seedy TBH, with lots of homeless people. I didn't like Miami and although the restaurants often looked nice, I thought the food was generally disappointing. Biscayne Bay is stunning though, so I was to go back, I'd probably get a room or an apartment with a view over that.

Ritz Carton South Beach was amazing for us when we went on a grown-ups only trip a few years ago. In the middle of it all but it really feels quite calm in the hotel and round the hotel pool. Might be worth a look. All might have changed post covid but recent Trip Advisor reviews should give you a sense of that. Good luck - Miami is bonkers but good fun (for a short time...!)

I've no real idea what to expect, last time I was there was late 80s and it was well seedy and dodge.

Was a bit shocked by San Fransisco just before the pandemic - so much homelessness.

Its changed an awful lot since those days and there has been a lot of redevelopment happening. Another area you could possibly look at is Brickell between downtown and Key Biscayne.

We are only there because husband is at a conference in Fort Lauderdale and we thought we'd stay on a couple of days.

@BarrelOfOtters you should, it's great. We love MIA!

Like another poster upthread I also love Key Biscayne, but it's probably a bit out of the way considering the time you have. Also loved Wynwood.

I prefer Fort Lauderdale actually. I like the Riverside hotel in Las Olas area and also the areas slightly north of the town - Lauderdale by the sea and Pompano beach and further north to Del Ray.

In that case, stay in Fort Lauderdale, which we thought was MUCH nicer! It's a small city with a nice, laid-back vibe, some decent restaurants and it's a wealthy place too, so it feels quite safe. I'd stay in the W Hotel or one of the others along the beachfront, or somewhere in the downtown near the Riverwalk.

March is Spring Break time which means lots of rowdy University kids piling onto the beaches looking to get drunk and party. You will probably want to avoid that, so google Spring Break and the area you are looking at to see if it has been an issue in previous years

I'm hoping Mid beach might avoid Spring Break rowdiness - I'm thinking So Beach sounds a bit Magaluf.

Bit worried by a trip advisor post that Mid beach isn't 'so walkable'....