Miami Travel Guide

How to Make the Most of Your Trip to Miami with American Express Travel®

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A multicultural hot spot, Miami is the place to see and be seen. Visitors flock here for the year-round beach weather, trendy nightlife and shopping, and a booming arts scene that encompasses the murals of Wynwood Walls, museums, and events like Art Basel Miami. You’re also spoilt for choice with a bevy of luxury Miami hotels and resorts.

Explore tips below from our Travel Consultants and get more out of your next visit by booking your hotel stay through American Express Travel®. At Fine Hotels + Resorts® properties, Platinum Card® Members can enjoy elevated benefits* such as a $100 credit to use towards eligible charges1, a room upgrade upon arrival, when available2 daily breakfast for two, and guaranteed 4pm check-out. And at The Hotel Collection properties3, you can also expect a $100 credit to use towards eligible charges1, a room upgrade upon arrival, when available2, and 12pm check-in and late check-out, both when available.*

Plus, you get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection3 bookings through American Express Travel when you pay with your eligible Platinum Card*.

Calendar

Best Time to Visit

December through April when the weather is warm; avoid the summer humidity and risks of hurricane season, which can last into November.

Airplane

Getting There

Miami International Airport (MIA)

8 miles

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

25 miles

Where to Stay in Miami

INTERACT WITH MAP TO EXPLORE OUR FEATURED HOTELS:
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Fine Hotels + Resorts
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1 Hotel South Beach

Serene and spacious, the 425 rooms and suites at 1 Hotel South Beach start at 550 square feet and expand significantly; Platinum Card Members can get a room upgrade at check-in, when available. (Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade.) The design lets the beach vibes in, with floor-to-ceiling windows and salvaged driftwood walls, live-edge wood desks, and glass terrariums. Get your fun in the sun at four pools, including an adults-only rooftop option, and 600 feet of private white-sand beach. Seedlings Camp hosts daily kids’ nature and art activities, and there are complimentary beach cruisers for joy rides along Miami Beach Boardwalk. You can also explore the art scene; the Bass Museum is nearby, and Art Basel Miami takes place in South Beach.

Perfect for Couples, Families

TRAVEL CONSULTANT TIP

“Make time for an evening at Tala Beach, a sprawling al fresco restaurant and lounge with Mediterranean shared plates, cocktails, and live music.”

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Fine Hotels + Resorts
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The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour, Miami

With only two rooms per floor, staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour, promises quiet and seclusion. The elegant, neutral interiors put the focus on the blue water beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, which you can admire from your terrace and your freestanding bathtub. Apartment-style suites are also equipped with kitchens. Platinum Card Members might use the $100 credit towards a meal at Artisan Beach House, which hosts a popular Sunday brunch. Take advantage of guaranteed 4pm check-out to stick around for a splash in the pool or at the semi-private beach.

Perfect for Couples, Shoppers, the Quiet Luxury Crowd

TRAVEL CONSULTANT TIP

“Book a session with the hotel’s in-house personal shopper at nearby Bal Harbour Shops or take advantage of complimentary access to local museums and private collections with the hotel’s Art Access pass.”

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Fine Hotels + Resorts
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Mandarin Oriental, Miami

Set on three lush acres, Mandarin Oriental, Miami is an urban resort in the heart of the city’s financial hub and yet secluded – accessible by a bridge that connects downtown with Brickell Key. Accommodations feature Asian-inspired accents and bathrooms outfitted in marble and bamboo wood floors. Platinum Card Members can use their $100 credit at the tri-level spa, with treatment rooms featuring rice paper and linen. You can also unwind with your toes in the sand overlooking Biscayne Bay, and sample Peruvian food and drinks at award-winning restaurant Yaku.

Perfect for Business Travelers, Wellness Seekers

TRAVEL CONSULTANT TIP

“Check out the complimentary weekend yoga classes on the hotel’s private beach; it’s a great way to reconnect with yourself and nature.”

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Fine Hotels + Resorts
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The Setai, Miami Beach

East meets West at The Setai, Miami Beach, an all-suites hotel that exemplifies Asian Art Deco style, with dark woods, sumptuous furnishings, and artifacts. It’s an intimate size and occupies a 1936 beachfront landmark on palm-tree-lined Collins Avenue, so Platinum Card Members can take advantage of early check-in, when available, and head right for the ocean. Don’t sleep on the Sunday Jazz Brunch, featuring a lavish buffet of culinary delights – including carving stations and an array of sweet treats – set to a live jazz soundtrack.

Perfect for Couples, Foodies, Groups

TRAVEL CONSULTANT TIP

“If you’re feeling adventurous, rent one of the hotel’s jet skis. Plus, there are plenty of daybeds for relaxing afterwards.”

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The Hotel Collection
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Kimpton EPIC Miami

Take in the big city’s bright lights or views of Biscayne Bay from your private balcony at the Kimpton EPIC Miami, where rooms and suites have airy, contemporary interiors and yoga mats. Card Members will receive a room upgrade at check-in, when available. There are two sparkling rooftop pools, complete with cabanas, and a marina with departures for deep sea fishing and sightseeing tours. In fact, you can even cruise up to the hotel and check-in dockside at the marina. Minutes away, explore the sprawling Bayfront Park and the Brickell City Centre shopping complex. Swing by the hotel’s Area 31 beforehand for complimentary coffee and tea or upon your return for the nightly wine hour.

Perfect for Families, Yachters

TRAVEL CONSULTANT TIP

“Check with the front desk about bike rentals and Micro Kickboard scooters and helmets for kids, accessible for free during your stay.”

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The Hotel Collection
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SLS Hotel South Beach

Right on the beach and a block away from the Lincoln Road hot spots, SLS Hotel South Beach mixes elegance with playful art and Louis XV–inspired décor such as chandeliers and trompe l’oeil wall designs. Lounge at the pool next to a massive silver ducky sculpture or get your heart pumping with an outdoor fitness class. Shop your way through the boutiques of Ocean Drive and prepare for a glamorous night. You can use your $100 credit towards dinner at Katsuya South Beach, which pairs inventive sushi and cocktails like their famous Burning Mandarin (vodka, juices, simple syrup, and jalapeño).

Perfect for Gen Z, Design Fans

TRAVEL CONSULTANT TIP

“SLS South Beach is a Card Member Favorite and goes beyond The Hotel Collection's standard benefits to offer the additional benefit of complimentary daily breakfast for two.”

Explore all Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection properties in Miami
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