Holidays in Miami

Miami’s trendiest neighbourhood, South Beach, is like a scene straight from Baywatch. Bronzed locals stroll the promenade, rollerbladers whizz past palms and the dazzling white sands are sprinkled with sun-worshippers. South Beach (or SoBe as it’s popularly called) is possibly the coolest slice of coastline in the country, a strip where hip bars and restaurants aren’t in short supply and the nightlife is so vibrant you can’t help but be sucked in by its magnetism.

While Ocean Drive runs parallel to South Beach, even if the sparkling sands weren’t there its treasure trove of art deco architecture means it’s a landmark in itself. It has the largest concentration of 1920s and 30s resort-style architecture in the world and the sight of the pastel-coloured buildings lining the boulevard is like a throwback to the great American summers of the past. Boutique hotels now inhabit many of them, so you can stay in a piece of living history. Geometric grandeur has never looked so good, with tropical motifs adding a Miami twist to their facades.

A truly amazing wilderness, Everglades National Park lies right on Miami’s doorstep. It’s a tangle of mangroves, marshes, forests and lakes that represent a unique ecosystem, and the only one where you can see crocodiles and alligators together. Weaving boardwalk trails mean you can immerse yourself in this enchanting landscape, while its iconic airboats ford the waterways so you can catch a glimpse of wading herons and its famous reptiles. It’s a peaceful place to wander, watching the wildlife going about their business in these fine but fragile natural surroundings.

Modelled on a grand European villa, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is worth visiting, if only for its unashamed opulence. The vision of industrialist James Deering in 1916, he employed 1,000 people (10% of Miami’s population at the time) to build his whitewashed renaissance-inspired mansion, lavishly furnishing it. Each room is adorned with furniture, tapestries and paintings dating as far back as the 15th-century, all of which double to form the museum it is today. Outside the mansion lies 10 acres of landscaped Italian gardens, complete with water features. The first of its kind, Vizcaya was the blueprint for more lavish builds to spring up across the city.

The palm-flecked boulevard Collins Avenue that runs along North Beach is a great place for those who are seeking a bit of retail therapy. High-end fashion shops sit alongside art deco designer boutiques and at night, neon signs sparkle against an ink-black sky. Like South Beach, the nightlife here is buzzing and a brilliant option for an evening to let your hair down.

No vaccinations are recommended for Miami. Despite this, we’d recommend you consult your GP at least four to six weeks prior to travel for current advice.

The time difference is GMT -5 hours.

The flight time from London to Miami is around nine hours.

The currency is the US dollar.

British passport holders don’t need a visa but need to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) prior to your holiday. It costs US$14.