With the best months to visit sunny Miami being November to March, and with flights taking less than 10 hours from London, Miami is up there with some of the best short winter break destinations from UK. South Beach is where most visitors head to in Miami, but venture into Bal Harbour, the Design District, Little Havana or downtown Miami and you will find world class shopping centres, an amazing arts scene, and a vibrant culture. Here we take you through our 5 favourite neighbourhoods in Miami, plus some of the best places to stay in the city. When you are ready to go, contact Brightsun Travel about their year round cheap flights to Miami.
South Beach
In the heart of Miami Beach is the tourist hub of the South Beach district, where Art Deco buildings and some of the city's best hotels line the streets. Here you will find the Lincoln Road Mall, South Beach's central pedestrianised strip, oozing with cafes, shops, restaurants and bars.
Hotel Pick: In Miami Beach you can stay at the incredible Delano hotel, a unique 5 star hotel on the waterfront of South Beach, designed by Philippe Starck, and frequented by Hollywood movie stars, with a rooftop spa, on-site cocktail bar and club, plus an incredible outdoor pool.
Bal Harbor
Head north on Miami Beach and you enter a different world in Miami. Here residents flock from New York for the winter months, and exclusive clubs, hotels and boutiques line the streets. Head to Bal Harbor Shops for glamorous stores and some of the best restaurants in the area.
Hotel Pick: At the northern tip of Miami Beach is the highly decadent St Regis Bal Harbor Resort that overlooks some of the best beach frontage in Miami, just a stone's throw from Bal Harbor Shops, arguably Miami's most exclusive shopping centre.
Design District
The Design District offers flagship designer stores and a shopper's heaven, as well as an art lover's delight, where you can find independent galleries and up and coming restaurants side by side, down backstreets once occupied by factories and industrial units.
Little Havana & Little Haiti
To explore Miami even further head to the vibrant neighbourhood of Little Havana where you'll find jazz, salsa, experimental Latin restaurants, and welcoming street parties. Or, visit Little Haiti for countless exhibitions and concerts, plus an array of arts and crafts.
Downtown Miami
In downtown Miami you could visit the Perez Art Museum of Miami, which is fast becoming a destination in its own right in the city, with spectacular views across Biscayne Bay, famous hanging gardens and a wealth of American and Latin American art.
Faena District
The 'Faena District' is a real estate project in mid-beach Miami that was conceived by property developer Alan Faena. This six-block project is transforming a small area of Miami in to one of the hottest destinations in the city with cool new hotels, restaurants and arts centres.
Hotel Pick: At the centre of it all in the Faena District is the Faena Hotel Miami Beach, awarded 5 stars by Forbes Travel Guide, and the first independent hotel to be awarded 5 stars in its opening year. The stylish hotel offers prime beach access and some of the best views in the city.
Flights
Contact Brightsun Travel about a wide range of Miami flights from UK, where you can fly direct with Delta Airlines or British Airways from London in less than 10 hours – perfect for that short winter break.
Martin Wynn
