Let’s face it, if you’re on holiday in Miami you’ll want to be based near the beach, which, fortunately, is where the city’s most glamorous hotels are located.

South Beach is known for its distinctive Art Deco hotels, mostly built in the 1920s and 30s and often painted in bright pastel colors. South Beach’s Art Deco originals have been protected since the 1970s, and many have since been renovated to the highest specifications.

Collins Avenue is home to more than its fair share of boutique hotels. The Delano (1685 Collins Avenue, doubles from $400) dates back to the 1940s and is crowned with streamlined fins that are pure Deco.South Beach, or SoBe, is Miami Beach’s buzziest bit. The vibrant area, with its pastel-hued buildings, hip

nightclubs, trendy shops and see-and-be-seen restaurants, attracts socialites and their satellites year-round. The Art Deco District and Haulover Beach (home to the city’s only legal haven for nudists) are other attractions. The Beach can be affordable, depending on where you stay, eat and play. Plan to spend some time in SoBe’s cool bars; things start heating up when the sun goes down.

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