My husband and I will be going to Miami in early November for our first child-free vacation. I'm looking for a hotel where the beach, pools, outdoors are the main thing, although we'd like to be walking distance to shops and restaurants. Any suggestions? Thanks!

A bit broad. Give a little more info:

-- How much do you want to spend?

-- Do you want large or small hotel?

-- Old or new?

-- MUST you have a pool? The ocean is still swimmable at that time.

-- When you say "outdoors", are you looking for a self-contained resort with landscaped grounds? That is, can you be happy at a hotel that doesn't have that insulated feel?

I have concrete suggestions in South Beach, but I feel I should wait until you give us a few more concrete criteria.

It'd be great not to spend a fortune on this trip, but cost isn't a major concern. I'm thinking more of a larger hotel, preferably new or really kept up well. A pool isn't totally necessary but we were hoping for kind of a resort feeling, landscaped grounds etc. Thanks!

The Loews Hotel on Miami Beach would be perfect. It's in walking distance to Lincoln Road - if you can get yourself to leave the hotel! http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/miamibeach/

I suggest The Loews,definitely a resort.Beach,pool,excellent service,super location and might even spot a celeb!Treat your self to a cabana complete with a butler for a day.The butlers are expert grape peelers.

I think early November is more or less a shoulder season for Miami Beach, so prices aren't as high as they will be in January. I usually stay in a small Deco-era hotel on the beach, but there are very nice larger properties near there:

-- The National would be my first choice. Classic hotel from the Deco era, lovingly restored, beautiful pool. The rooms tend to be a bit small, but you really should only be in there to shower and rest, so....

-- The Sagamore is an all-suites property not far from the National. It's marketed as a super-luxury hotel, but they've been offering rock-bottom deals on rooms, so you should check into it.

-- The Royal Palm Crowne Plaza is basically brand-new, although it incorporates two old hotels (one was so dilapidated, they tore it down and re-built it brick by brick). Very large for South Beach, clean, nice, a bit sterile for my tastes, but highly-regarded.

-- The Loews Miami Beach is huge-- 800 rooms. It gets a more business-oriented crowd, but it's a Loews, so you're getting a known, pretty high level of luxury.

-- The Park Central, on Ocean, is a total blast from the past-- a 30s hotel and proud of it. Not super-luxurious, but comfortable, charming, beautiful. You expect Charles Boyer and Jean Harlow to be stepping out of the elevator when you're in the lobby.

All of these are in the heart of South Beach, within walking distance to Lincoln Road, the boutiques farther down on Collins, and great gobs of restaurants in the area.

If you want my preferences for the smaller boutique hotels, let me know.

Hi, personally I do not like hotels with 800+ rooms,..... the National would be my choice of a classic art deco, with style, right in the center of things but not that crazy as others.

The Crown Plaza is next door to the Loews and I agree with rjw's post. Might I add that there are some great deals to be had. Three star priceline hotels are coming up for under $50 during that time frame. The Surfcomber Doubletree was recently won for that and is a great hotel in a great location.

Smaller hotels I like are both the South Seas and The Avelon.

Also, Wyndham just emailed me a couple of days ago with a special on the Wyndham Miami Beach (just north of South Beach in Mid Beach) for $50 per night through mid December.

Thank you all very much for the suggestions!!! Once my child is down for a nap I'll start booking a room!

Crowne Plaza is a great hotel. The rooms are brand new and very clean. The public areas are not spectacular by any stretch of imagination but the location right next to Lowes is great.