The Top 5 Amenities of a Miami Beach Hotel

Miami Beach is fast becoming one of the top vacation destinations for families and travelers alike.  Miami Beach offers sun, fun and a variety of activities to choose from.  No that you have decided to vacation in Miami Beach, it is time to choose the hotel that you will reside in for your vacation.  With a plethora of hotel options how does one pick the perfect Miami Beach hotel?  A good way to choose a hotel is by the amenities that the hotel has to offer.  One of the biggest disappointments that I have encountered is getting to a hotel and expecting a service that the hotel does not offer.  With all the travel tools that are available on the web, you can do a little research before you go to make sure you get what you want.  Listed below are what I feel are the top 5 amenities that a hotel can offer to you and your family to make your accommodation choice perfect for you.

#1 Amenity - Beach Access and Pool
When you are in Miami you are there for a reason.  Chances are you are there to have fun on the beach.  Many hotels in Miami have beach access right at the hotel.  While some don't, chances are there is a beach not far, usually within walking distance from the hotel.  When it comes to beach access, determine how much time you will be spending on the beach, and how long you want to travel to get to one.  Another consideration is cost.  Hotels that have private beach access tend to be more expensive than hotels that don't. 

When choosing a Miami Beach hotel, consider whether or not you would like the hotel to have a pool, and make sure that the pool is open.  Hotels do go through renovations and sometimes they don't list whether the pool is open while you are there.  It can ruin a vacation if the kids want to go to the pool and you find out it is closed due to renovation while you are there.  A hotel may list that they have a poll on their website, but it is still a good ides to give the hotel a call to make sure the pool will be open while you are there.

#2 Amenity - Onsite Dining
While it is nice to experience dining outside your hotel, sometimes vacationing can make you tired and you may not want to leave your hotel.  When choosing a hotel, check to see what kind of dining options the hotel offers.  Some hotels offer only 1 or 2 choices for dining, while others offer an assortment of options.  Many of the hotels offer fine dining in the evening so it might be good to check on what type of attire is suitable for this type of restaurant. 

#3 Amenity - Spa and/or Health Club
Many Hotels today offer an onsite spa or fitness center.  If you are looking to pamper yourself while you are on vacation, check into these choices.  While some hotels offer onsite spas and fitness centers, others offer affiliate programs.  These programs offer discounts to nearby spas or fitness centers.  A lot of times when a spa is offsite the hotel will provide transportation.  It is still a good idea to check with the hotel to see what they do and do not offer in regards to a spa and health club.  Many hotels also offer spa packages or specials that are included in the packages, so check into this and save some money by booking it all together.

#4 Amenity - Children's Activities
Miami Beach is a great family destination.  When choosing a hotel, make sure it offers something for everyone.  Many hotels offer things for children, such as a kiddy pool and playground equipment.  Others offer activities for older children such as table games and arcades right in the hotel.  Check these out before you go to make sure the whole family is happy.

#5 Amenity - Onsite Entertainment
Many hotels offer entertainment right at the hotel.  This can be a major consideration when booking a room.  While many people enjoy the onsite entertainment some people don't.  Check to see what kind of entertainment the hotel offers, and what time it ends.  If events end later than you would like, and you still like the hotel, request a room away from the area where the entertainment or event is being held.  If onsite entertainment is your thing, it is a good idea to talk with the hotel's concierge to get a list of events going on at the hotel.

Every Miami Beach Hotel offers something a little bit different.  Before choosing one, consider the above amenities and others that I have not mentioned before planning your next vacation.  View the hotel's website as well as other online sources to see what other guests have said about the hotel you are thinking about.

2 Great Ways To Discover Florida

For fun and adventure and culture, yes culture! Read on…

Here are Some Great Ways to Discover Florida.

# 1. Fun and Adventure

With over 34 million visitors each year, Orlando is the undisputed theme park capital of the world. But if you are after more fun and adventure after visiting the theme parks at Disneyworld, Universal Orlando Resort and Seaworld, you should try the sensational Busch Gardens in Tampa, the world famous Daytona International Speedway and exploring the Everglades national park.

Don’t Miss a Space Shuttle launch…

Cape Canaveral on Florida’s ‘Space Coast’ is the only place in the West where people are launched into space. Being there when the Space Shuttle blasts into space is a truly incredible experience.

Don’t Miss Florida’s largest and fastest roller coaster…

Is Busch Gardens, Tampa

Prepare for the thrill of your life on Sheikra, Florida’s tallest roller coaster and the world’s tallest dive coaster. 70mph of pure adrenaline-pumping excitement. Travel 200 feet up and then plunge to the depths of an underground tunnel, with water!

Don’t Miss Bush Gardens Zoo…

With over 2600 animals, the zoo at Busch Gardens is one of America’s top zoos

# 2. Culture

Look beyond the more obvious tourist attractions and you will be surprised at what you find.
There is an abundance of architecture, museums, forts, art galleries.

Don’t Miss Historic Wrecks…

Pensacola has fascinating wrecks to explore. This includes the 500-foot World War 1 battleship USS Massachusetts, the Russian freighter San Pablo and an A-7 Corsair aircraft that fell off the deck of the USS Lexington.

Don’t Miss Art Deco Buildings…

Take a stroll down Ocean Drive, Miami, and enjoy South Beach’s Art deco buildings. Painted pink, lavender and turquoise, they line the palm-fringed walkway.

Don’t Miss a Driving Tour…

If you have a car whilst visiting Miami, do yourself a favour, and take a driving tour of Coral gables. Coral Gables Driving Tour isn’t just one of the country’s richest neighbourhoods, it’s a separate city within Greater Miami. Known as ‘The City Beautiful’ for good reason, its elegant homes line winding avenues shaded by banyans and live oaks. This driving tour winds its way along the lush peaceful lanes and is both relaxing and cultural.

Along the tour are these beautiful sights:

1. The Granada Entrance – a replica of the gate to Granada in Spain.
2. The Country Club Prado Entrance – complete with ornamental pillars.
3. Alhambra water Tower – built in 1925.
4. Coral Way – lined by live oaks and Spanish-style houses.
5. Venetian Pool – a beautiful public swimming pool.
6. Coral Gables Congregational Church – built in Spanish Baroque style.
7. Biltmore Hotel – one of the most stunning hotels in the country, beautifully restored to its 1920s century grandeur.
8. The Lowe Art Museum – contains European and Native American Art.
9. French City Village – one of several international villages built to add variety to the city.
10. Dutch South African Village.
11. French Country Village.
12. Chinese Village.
13. French Normandy Village.
14. Coral Gables City Hall
15. Miracle Mile – the district’s most important shopping street.

Other Bits of Culture:

- Hemingway’s House in Key West, where the novelist lived from 1931-1940.

- Little Havana in Miami – 3.5 square miles of Cuban culture and life.

- The Ringling Museum of Art and Ringling Museum (Sarasota).

- Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island – a charming Victorian resort.

- Salvador Dali Museum, St Petersburg.

Where To Stay

Choose your home away from home. If you are after home comforts, fully equipped Orlando and Gulf Coast homes can be rented directed from the owners at http://www.milkriver.co.uk and http://www.worldwidevillas.net They have their own separate pools and are set in private communities and offer you and your family the freedom to do what you want and the space to do it in.