Based in South Florida, Angela Caraway-Carlton is a hotel junkie who’s visited more than 45 countries. As both a broadcast and print journalist, she’s worked at some of the nation’s top TV stations and served as Group Editor of a South Florida lifestyle publication.

Angela regularly covers travel and lifestyle trends for the Miami Herald, Boca Magazine, LUXE Interiors Miami, Good Grit magazine and many more. When she’s not jet-setting or scouting the next must-stay hotel, you’ll likely find her sipping an affogato at a cafe, plotting her next escape.

Angela Caraway-Carlton

Angela Caraway-Carlton

Contributor

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Articles (3)

The 15 best spa hotels in Miami for 2025

The 15 best spa hotels in Miami for 2025

We all need a bit of rest and relaxation every now and then, and Miami is one hell of a place to be for some seriously outstanding spa hotels. From ocean-view saunas and sleekly-designed steam rooms to hydrotherapy circuits and full-body algae wraps, there’s sure to be a treatment that’ll hit the spot on our freshly-curated list. Read on for Time Out’s picks on the best spa hotels in Miami, with new inclusions the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort & Spa, the Gale Miami Hotel & Residences, and The Shelborne by Proper for Fall 2025.  Miami’s best spa hotels at a glance: 💎 Biggest splurge: Four Seasons at The Surf Club 👛 Most affordable: The Betsy Hotel 🏊 Best pool: JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa đŸ’€ Best massage: EPIC Hotel đŸ‹ïžâ€â™€ïž Best fitness center: Gale Miami Hotel & Residences 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in Miami Which area is best to stay in Miami? Picking the right place to make the most of your trip is integral, particularly if you’re visiting Miami for the first time. Newcomers will be smack-dab in the heart of the action at hotels in Downtown or Brickell, but if you’re craving some much-need Vitamin D, head to South Beach (to don your dancing shoes), Mid-Beach or Bal Harbour (if you like your sleep).  🛏 Check out the best Airbnbs in Miami
The 8 best hotels in Miami Beach for 2025

The 8 best hotels in Miami Beach for 2025

Miami Beach is awash with hotels, but not all of them were created equal, and because we know just how important your vacation to the seaside is, we’ve trawled the length of these gleaming white sands to bring you a handpicked roundup of the best places to stay.  From shiny new resorts to lovingly-restored landmarks, sexy spas, palm-tree-lined pools and even an ice-rink, there’s bound to be a hotel on this list that suits you and your party, whether it’s big or small. So, scroll on for our curated list, which features new inclusions for Fall 2025 in The Betsy Hotel, Andaz Miami Beach and The Shelborne By Proper, and make your dream of some much-needed Vitamin D a reality. 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in Miami How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 🛏 Check out the best Airbnbs in Miami  
The 15 best hotels in Miami for 2025

The 15 best hotels in Miami for 2025

Decided it’s finally time to pay a visit to Miami? We don’t blame you. This coastal metropolis is packed with gorgeous restaurants, stylish cocktail bars and fun things to do—not to mention amazing nightclubs where you can dance the night away. And that’s before we get started on the city’s jaw-dropping beaches.  So, if you’re looking for somewhere to stay while you visit this center of coastal cool (you deserve a comfy bed after all of that sight-seeing and indulgence, of course), then look no further. Miami also happens to have its fair share of excellent hotels for you to rest your head in, from South Beach mega resorts to Downtown boutiques and beachfront spas. Read on for our pick of the best hotels in Miami—we’d be surprised if at least one isn’t the ideal spot for you.  📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best spa hotels in Miami How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 🛏 Check out the best Airbnbs in Miami

Listings and reviews (5)

The Shelborne By Proper

The Shelborne By Proper

4 out of 5 stars
Longtime locals often wax poetic about the good old days of Miami’s South Beach, reminiscing about bygone glamor and iconic Art Deco hotels, many of which are now in need of cosmetic upgrades. But plot twist: the dazzle is back, at least at The Shelborne By Proper, a 1940’s Art Deco hotel that recently reopened under the By Proper brand with a fresh dose of retro-cool. In one of Miami’s best examples of plastic surgery done right—to the tune of $100-million—the beachfront hotel, with a prime perch on Collins Avenue, is once again a sophisticated oasis for dining, cocktailing and sunbathing by the pool or on the beach—you know, the kinda old-Hollywood ambiance that used to draw celebrities in its heyday. But they’re not letting the makeover go to their heads: their aim is to be the friendliest hotel on South Beach, and they’re doing a solid job with that mission. Why stay at The Shelborne by Proper Every inch of this landmark hotel has been retouched, but somehow it still honors its past lives in Art Deco and Miami Modern (MiMo) design. Originally built in 1941 by visionary architect Igor B. Polevitzky, it was then reimagined in 1958 by the legendary Morris Lapidus, and this latest upgrade has really done its design justice.  Prepare to swoon over the photogenic entryway lined with terracotta pots, towering greenery and pastel-drenched spaces. The stretching lobby bar brings the drama with high ceilings and enough mid-century modern swagger to conjure up images of old-school c
Andaz Miami Beach

Andaz Miami Beach

4 out of 5 stars
If the friendly staff’s snazzy, brightly patterned uniforms at Andaz Miami Beach are any clue, you know you’re in for a fun-loving vacation at this stylish newcomer. Set in the ever-trendy Mid-Beach Miami neighborhood, just north of South Beach, the 287-room oceanfront hotel is the Andaz brand’s first Florida property, and it totally gets Miami. A casual-cool tone is set at check-in, where guests are led to the living room-style lobby, offered a welcome cocktail (or mocktail), and checked in while lounging.  The laidback check-in offers a moment to drink in the lobby’s striking design details. The hotel is intentionally free of straight lines, with architectural details like arched doorways, soft, curvy furniture, and low-profile furnishings in the lobby which allow the pool and ocean to take center stage from the windows. A visual reminder to switch into vacation mode—though that might be the cocktail’s job. Why stay at Andaz Miami Beach, By Hyatt You’re close enough to party-centric South Beach—a 10-minute drive away—but far enough away to feel the beach chill. You’re also staying in a piece of history: the landmark property was one of the first Art Deco skyscrapers in Miami, with rooms and suites spread across three distinct buildings (look up: the radio tower that was used in World War II still sits atop the hotel). While the hotel has lived several lives under different brands since opening in the 1940s, Andaz has wiped it clean of the last hotel’s aesthetic, and every i
EAST, Miami

EAST, Miami

4 out of 5 stars
In Brickell’s booked-and-busy financial district, where glittering high-rises stand tall and buttoned-up finance bros and altheisure-donned young professionals are on a constant march, EAST Miami stands as a high-end home base. Staying there means experiencing the daily hum of Miami’s urban core, then retreating to sleek skyscraper-rooms and a pool deck that’ll almost fool you into thinking you’ve landed in Bali.  With a dark and moody Asian-inspired design, the high-rise hotel and residences defy Miami’s typical coastal blueprint—it’s sexy, in the best way, with cinematic views that paint this city in the best light. Oh, and you can zip down the elevator to a city-chic mall, thanks to its perch atop Brickell City Centre. Why stay at EAST Miami? Not everyone that comes to Miami wants to stay on South Beach. For those city-savvy travelers who aim to experience Miami’s big live-work energy, yet still feel like they’re on a vacation—tanning by the pool and sipping cocktails at a rooftop bar—EAST Miami is your move. Plus, if walking is your way of getting to know a city, the hotel is convenient to neighboring downtown Miami’s cultural and entertainment attractions. You’re also at EAST Miami for the views, with floor-to-ceiling windows that scan the skyline, Biscayne Bay and the Miami River. The hotel’s biggest power move is its location within Brickell City Centre, where you can take the elevator down to the three-story mall to set your credit card on fire at stores like Saks Fif
InterContinental Miami

InterContinental Miami

4 out of 5 stars
While the InterContinental Miami, an IHG hotel, has lorded over the sparkling turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay in Downtown Miami for more than 40 years, it has evolved – much like the city itself. Fresh off a multi-million-dollar renovation, the iconic hotel shed its former business-centric persona in favor of a more luxe vacation vibe, with rooms and suites that match the enviable bayfront setting. What hasn’t changed? It’s prime perch near Miami’s top cultural and entertainment attractions. From some rooms, you can even spot the cruise port – so, cruisers may catch a glimpse of their ship before setting sail. Why stay at InterContinental Miami If you want a pulse-check on Miami, the hotel’s lobby scene captures the city’s international energy. A swirl of languages babbles through the air as a steady stream of global travelers passes through. You’ll still spot the suits riding the lobby escalators to the sprawling conference rooms and ballrooms, but there’s also a solid mix of groups and families celebrating milestone occasions, pre-and post-cruise guests, and dog parents like me, who want to take advantage of the hotel’s pet-friendly perks. Everyone is here for the convenient location: parks, museums and the Miami Heat sports arena are just steps outside the hotel’s front doors. It’s also close to public transportation that will zip guests to the airport and around Miami. The massive lobby is a lot to visually unpack—grandly wrapped in Florentine marble and bathed in neon l
The Elser Hotel Miami

The Elser Hotel Miami

4 out of 5 stars
With its sleek profile, glassy façade and rooftop pool towering over the busy streets of downtown Miami, The Elser Hotel Miami easily stands out as the ‘cool kid’ among the neighborhood’s more conventional hotel chains. Part residence, part hotel, it draws a diverse mix of guests, from business travelers to giddy cruise-bound vacationers and pet-toting visitors, who easily intermingle with residents going about their daily lives. The hotel’s welcoming, contemporary vibe envelops one upon arrival—perhaps even prompting a relaxed exhale amid the downtown rush—with industrial brick walls, warm lighting and a defining signature scent: Diptyque’s 34 BLVD St. Germain, which boldly wafts through the lobby. (The front desk attendant rattled off the fragrance’s name instantly—apparently, guests regularly ask.) While the woody scent channels the bohemian spirit of Paris, the hotel experience is pure Miami—from a welcome drink spiked with tequila and mango juice, to elevators with artsy backdrops and club-like music, and a prime location within easy walking distance of the city’s top attractions. Why stay at The Elser Hotel Miami? If you’re a first-timer or looking to check off a Miami bucket list, from kitschy tourist stops to top-tier cultural attractions, The Elser offers a sophisticated home base for easy exploration with all the comforts of home. That is, if your home is a posh condo in the sky. With a bevy of attractions located just across the street, you can skip the rental car