Often considered the “gateway to Latin America,” Florida’s cultural cool kid is a major international hub. With Miami International Airport and PortMiami’s cruise ship terminal, hundreds of thousands of travellers are en route to South America, Central America and the Caribbean daily. Of course, Miami is a glittering destination unto itself with plenty of attractions, from the beaches and raucous nightlife of famed South Beach to a world-class contemporary art scene and sizzling restaurants.
For those looking at Miami airport hotels – whether that’s because of an early flight or simple convenience – a handful of neighbourhoods with great places to stay will get you to the check-in counter in about 15 minutes, including Downtown Miami, Brickell, Coral Gables and Midtown.
Though Miami airport hotels with free shuttles are few and far between, some have partnerships with local services, and concierges will always be on hand to help with transfers. We have also highlighted Miami hotels with parking facilities available, and what they cost at the time of publishing.
W Miami, formerly the Viceroy, is a slick, stylish hotel, perfect for business or leisure travellers. Set on 10 bay-front acres amidst Brickell’s high-rises, it’s located in downtown’s business district, and just a 12-minute drive from Miami International Airport (valet parking costs $50/£41 per day). Inside, LA designer Kelly Wearstler shows off her chops with decorative abandon, mixing up zany Beverly Hills Rococo, cool modernism and Asian accents, while Philippe Starck designed the spa. There’s an impressive 300-foot long infinity pool on the 15th floor with incredible bay views and a chilled-out party scene, often with a DJ spinning on weekends.
From
£
339
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
• The best hotels in Miami
One of the swankiest hotels near Miami International Airport, the Epic is a glittering 54-storey tower with sweeping views of the Miami River and Biscayne Bay, just a 15-minute drive from the airport (on-site parking is $24/£20 during the day; $48/£39 overnight). This luxurious retreat is also home to one of the city’s hottest eateries, Zuma – London’s Japanese fine-dining transplant. Guestrooms are modern and spacious with glass balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. The 29th and 30th floors have club rooms with a private members lounge and complimentary food service. In addition to a chic 16th-floor pool, the hotel features multiple nightlife destinations and the tranquil Exhale Spa.
From
£
173
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
This flashy high rise in Brickell’s most desirable area is arguably the most luxurious with huge, dreamy suites, a rooftop pool and bar with sparkling views of Brickell’s skyline, and an intimate Ciel spa. The property is housed inside a modern tower by Arquitectonica, and is home to museum-quality contemporary art, including a bronze Fernando Botero sculpture near the entrance and line drawings by Salvador Dalí in the hallway to the spa. Other neighbourhoods worth exploring, such as South Beach, Wynwood and the Design District, are accessible in about a 20- to 30-minute drive, and the airport is 12 minutes away by car.
From
£
250
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Despite being one of the top hotels in the city for business travellers, JW Marriott Marquis, situated in the heart of downtown Miami, is flush with facilities, featuring a spa, rooftop pool, gym and full-sized basketball court, as well as a restaurant by chef Daniel Boulud. It sits by the water’s edge on Biscayne Bay at the foot of the Miami River, surrounded by sleek high-rise apartments and office towers, and is just over 10 minutes from the airport by car, so very convenient (valet parking costs from $55/£45 a day). Rooms are plush and classic, in a palette of chocolate, caramel and honey hues, and boast floor-to-ceiling views of the bay and downtown skyline.
From
£
318
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Within 15 minutes of Miami International, this Brickell spot offers the best of all worlds: easy access to the airport, ample dining and nightlife destinations reachable on foot, and trips to neighbourhoods such as Wynwood and South Beach just a 20-minute drive. The East-meets-West design aesthetic, which pays homage to its Chinese roots through clean and spare design, draws on Miami’s reputation as a cultural melting pot with international influences ranging from South American cuisine to a Bali-inspired rooftop bar. The hotel boasts an impressive swimming deck with two pools, a hot tub and cold plunge pool with a nearby fitness centre. Overall, the whole vibe is modern, youthful and luxurious.
From
£
230
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Coral Gables is filled with wide, tree-lined avenues, plazas with fountains and Mediterranean Revival architecture and streets named after Spanish cities – and Hotel Colonnade is at the centre of it all, surrounded by cafés, bars, restaurants, bookstores, office towers and art galleries. Few hotels in Miami exude the grandeur of this one; inside, it’s all polished marble, vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, renovated rooms and cushy lounges with low-slung sofas. While many meetings, events and weddings add to the bustling atmosphere, there’s plenty for leisure travellers, with a rooftop swimming pool, multiple restaurants, a fitness centre and a stylish games room. And it’s only 12 minutes from the airport (parking is $35/£29 per day).
From
£
171
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Occupying coveted real estate at the foot of the Miami River and Biscayne Bay downtown, the InterContinental is located at the edge of downtown at the foot of the Miami River and Biscayne Bay. Though it’s one of Miami’s original luxury business hotels, with its sprawling lobby, Latin restaurant and buzzy bar, it also attracts leisure travellers and Miami’s post-work crowd. There’s plenty to explore on the doorstep – from the landmark Peréz Art Museum Miami and the American Airlines Arena to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. South Beach, Wynwood and the Design Districts can be accessed in a 20-minute drive, and the airport can be reached in 15 minutes. Shuttle services to and from the hotel are available from $16 (£13), and overnight valet parking costs from $45 (£37).
From
£
169
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Two blocks off of bustling Brickell Avenue (and the traffic congestion that comes with it), this comfortable and stylish hotel offers guests a relief from the neighbourhood’s frenetic energy while remaining accessible. The Brickell Metromover Station is two short blocks away, the airport is 13 minutes by car, and the hotel’s 12 storeys overlook Simpson Park, a rare nature preserve in the heart of the city, with views that extend to glittering Biscayne Bay just beyond. Although it does feel like you’re inside a business hotel, the design is bright, fresh and inviting throughout, and the contemporary rooms, rooftop pool and a lobby bar serving up great signature cocktails, set holidaymakers up for a good stay. Parking costs $35 (£29) for 24 hours.
From
£
110
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Amongst the high-rise condominiums of Midtown, this stylish hotel boasts a luxurious and edgy aesthetic, industrial-style rooms, a pool surrounded by cabanas, small spa and spacious fitness centre in a residential neighbourhood popular with Miami’s young professionals. In a city with plenty of personality, Midtown has a decidedly suburban energy, lacking the edge of Wynwood to its south, the luxury of the Design District to the north and the beach and nightlife of South Beach to the east. However, it’s surrounded by plenty of conveniences and located in the centre of it all, making it easy to access almost any neighbourhood in about a 20-minute drive. A mere 10 minutes to the airport by car, this is one of the closest in pour pick of miami airport hotels.
From
£
151
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
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This article was originally published by Telegraph.co.uk. Read the original article here.