I am finalizing the last details for our March trip to Miami Beach. The reason we are going is for a conference for my husband. However, he has not been out of town in a solid year (not even on holidays), so I am trying to plan ahead so that our free time will be spent as if it is vacation.

We are staying at the Eden Roc, which is next door to the conference at the Fountainebleau. We plan to take a cab to and from South Beach when necessary, which will likely be often. I am beginning to wonder if I should just rent a car instead, but I am worried about parking in the Eden Roc area and also traffic and parking down towards South Beach (and probably drinking too...). I keep waffling back and forth...any advice is appreciated.

For dinner: We will be there for 4 nights. One night will be booked by and with other associates. I have made reservations at Wish and The Forge. If you have any suggestions for our last night, please let me know. I am considering either Nexxt or A Fish called Avalon, but I am open to suggestions. $100 per person or less, any kind of cuisine, either fun or romantic ambiance (or both fun and romantic!). Not a fan of theme-ish restaurants like BED.

We hope to break away for local flavor for breakfast or lunch a couple of times at some of the places mentioned in other Fodors threads.

Any suggestions for hot night spots? We like clubbing, but probably only once while we are there, and we like people watching. We've been to South Beach quite a few times, but it's been a while and it seems the hot spots change each time.

While he is in the conference, I plan to visit the spa at Eden Roc, lie on the beach, shop the Lincoln Road area and others, and try to book either an Art Deco tour or something similar that will be interesting and maybe even a little educational. Suggestions?

I'd like to get us on a boat at some point as well, for a sunset or dolphin cruise or something of that sort...?

I know you're thinking "when will he go to the conference?" But I am hoping that he will just show up for the sessions that he needs to go to (i.e, the session he is teaching and maybe a couple others), and skip out on the rest for some R&R. We are paying for this ourselves, not on "the company's dime" so I don't feel like I'm cheating anyone.

Your suggestions are appreciated!

ttt

Kelly, parking is next to impossible and very expensive in South Beach so I would cab it there and back. It shouldn't cost more than $5 each way. Once you are in South Beach, you can walk anywhere you want to go such as a nightclub after dinner or just walk around and sightsee.

I would rent a car in that area. Drive up to Bal Harbour and check out the Shops at Bal Harbour. Women's Wear Daily called it the most lux mall in the US. Makes Rodeo Drive look like the Gap and Banana Republic. They have valet parking.

Sounds great! I knew you'd have the inside scoop. Thanks!

Make sure to walk over and prowl around the lobby of the Fountainbleau.
They have a Cartier Jewelry store with display windows.(last time we were their they had real Fabrage eggs displayed) Take the escelator to the bottom floor and they have a couple of souvenier stores that are quite reasonable. Go out the doors by the shop to the outside and they have georgous landscaping all the way to the ocean.

We were in Key Biscayne in February and really enjoyed Miami.

My husband and I got away for one evening and we chose Wish as well. The food was great, and the service, even better. I hope you enjoy this special place.

As for your other evening, you should check the chowhound website. There are lots of good suggestions for Miami Beach.

If you like Cuban/Spanish food, you could go to Little Havana and check out some of the places. Calle Ocho (or NW 8th Street) is where most of the restaurants are located. I have heard great things about "Casa Juancho" and "Versailles".

Also, if you want an excellent small Italian restaurant, there is a place called Ragazzi in Surfside on Harding Avenue(around 95th I think).

Another great area for restaurants is Coral Gables. There is a street called Giralda that is lined with places to dine. When we were there we really wanted to try a place called "Randazzo's" with Italian-American cuisine, but we couldn't get in, and were with our hungry children so we couldn't wait. It looked like fun and the food looked great - not fancy - just hearty Italian, red-sauced dishes.

Hope you have fun - report back!

Oh yeah, forgot to report that I heard that the most "in" place for steak in South Beach is called Prime 112. If you are even thinking about going, I would call for a reservation now.

Great info! Thank you!

We were just at the Eden Roc in November, we did not rent a car, but the taxi fare back and forth from the airport was like $30.00. Something to keep in mind. Also, one word of caution at the Eden Roc spa, the area where they do nails and hair is in the salon where they do facials and it is not as nice as the area where they do massages and body treatments. While I loved my massage and I did not enjoy my facial. I am a bit picky, but the facial room was a bit dirty and the tools dirty too.
But all in all, the Eden Roc is a great place, you are going to love it.

Good info jbrab. Funny, I saw that on a tripadvisor post about the facials and all. Kinda scary, but I am glad I know because I probably would have gotten a facial. Maybe I'll just get a manicure/pedicaure and a massage. Ahhh, decisions, decisions...

Thanks for the tip.

As for the car, rentals are extremely high--cheapest I could find was over $200. I guess because of the days we are going (Fri-Weds)?? Not sure, but very high rates. Also worried about parking costs added on to that. I still think we'd come out cheaper doing the cab thing...?

Cab fare to and from the airport is a fixed rate and with tip, it ends up being $30 each way.

You will have to cab anywhere you go if you don't rent a car.

I think parking is close to $20 per day.

You can always take the city bus to Bal Harbour and down to South Beach.

This is exactly what I was thinking, GT. With rental plus parking fees (not to mention trying to find parking places in South Beach)...I just think a cab will either come out the same or even less, for a lot less hassle. So I think we'll stick with cabs and the bus if necessary for now. I'm so excited about the trip! Counting down the days now...