I have 3 nights prior to flying out of Miami and need help for chilled out 3 days with good beachfront/shopping and hotel not too far away.We will have spent time in Miami and Key West but open to any ideas. Also hotels.

The closest area to Miami is Ft Lauderdale..I would pick it for a 3 day stay..

The area on LAS OLAS is filled with neat little shops and TONS of GREAT restaurants..and the beach is huge...

The Keys is a 4 hr drive from Miami...whereas Ft Lauderdale is 1/2 hour and Naples is 2 hr..

I WOULD suggest Naples fills the bill nicely, but I am now under strict orders not to encourage any more visitors to our fair city. The sleepy little town of Naples I've known since the early 70's has been discovered as a "world class" destination. Scary.

I would opt for the Marriott Harbor Beach resort in Fort Lauderdale. It is an excellent hotel, near to good shopping and great restaurants. Also very convenient to Miami's airport.

thanks for repilies so far--any other suggestions for Fort Lauderdale hotels as Marriott Harbour Beach is coming up full on my dates and tripadvisor doesnt come up an obvious alternative.We are looking for somewhere quiet, well located and nice with a pool.

Have you tried Lago Mar in Fort Lauderdale? It is ocean front and away from the commercial strip.

http://lagomar.com

LMF

if you are not on a tight budget there is the Diplomat in hallandale 5 star and the Trump Sonesta just south of hallandale 5 star

Did you try calling the Marriott Harbor Beach directly? Also, I would second the suggestion for Lago Mar. Have been there and it is very nice-a bit more affordable than Harbor Beach, too.

Another suggestion would be the Sheraton Bal Harbour.

We always stay at the Hyatt Pier 66-it is on the Intracoastal with view of the Ocean..request a room in the towers..

The pool area is secluded with a waterfall, small bar/restaurant/ and a guitarist on the weekend...

We love this hotel as it is ON the 17th st causeway.

While we LOVE Naples to death, I feel you would spend more time driving to get to the Miami airport than you would from Ft Lauderdale...

IF you want to stay in Boca, then the Boca Raton Hotel is super ritzy...ask for a room on the beach-it is a separate hotel area for the hotel ..and this hotel has an award winning golf course , if you are into that...

Boca Raton Resort is very expensive. Like more than Ritz Carlton expensive. The resort is fabulous and a good example of Floridian Mizner architecture. The spa is one of the nicest I've been too. Shopping area not too far away but I think it is best experienced as an old style resort hotel, where you just hole up and spend all your time there. Very relaxing and a nice beach. LMF

I second the Boca Raton Hotel. Beautiful beach facility even if you are at the main hotel on the Intercoastal with a boat to transport you to the beach. Boca Raton has wonderful restaurants and lovely shopping around Mizner Park. I first stayerd at the hotel in 1955 and they have done a wonderful job keeping it up-to-date while retaining the Old Florida flavor.

We have stayed the the Sheraton Bal Harbor and thought it was very nice with a beautiful pool and beach. The shopping is fabulous at the Bal Harbour Shops.

thanks for all the replies--decided to try the Lago Mar as Fort Lauderdale sounds good but will file away Boca Raton for our next trip to Florida.

Anybody have any opinions on whether Lago Mar is kid friendly, for a toddler of 20 months?