I spontaneously booked a flight to Miami for next month (mid September) since the fares went down ($190 RT from Houston on Continental). I'm a single woman traveling with a married couple who have a much higher budget than me, so I will probably have to stay at a different hotel. Can anybody recommend a hotel around $75/night near the beach? I don't need to be on the water, but maybe a block away would be nice. In addition to price, I care about safety and cleanliness. Any recommendations would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Aggiegirl,

Try Haddon Hall Hotel. It's not the nicest place in the world, but the price is right.

Pros: Price, $75/night, $100 on the weekends during off-season. Location in South Beach. On Collins Ave, near the action of Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive. A 5-minute walk to the beach, just a block away. Pool. Kitchenettes in each room. Young crowd, if you want to meet people. Safe. Clean sheets and rooms.

Cons: Pillows are thin. Water pressure in shower is REALLY strong (but that's better than the pressure being weak). Service isn't great (not bad, just not overtly pleasant). Parking on-site is limited and more expensive than the parking garage three blocks away (a car is not necessary on South Beach anyway). Hallways are a little smelly (but rooms are not). Young crowd, if you're concerned about kids partying around the pool.

Overall, no major complaints, and we'd stay there again.

Thanks for the suggestion, but the rate coming up is $96/night (inc. tax) and that's too much. Anybody else? I just found out my friends will be staying at the Palms Hotel at 3025 Collins. It would be great if I could find a budget place really close.

Hmm, might be tough for a budget place near the Palms. The Palms is a little far from South Beach, which is really fun. There are many budget places and hostels in South Beach. If you're open to staying a bit of a ways away from your friends, and in a hostel, check out www.miamibeach411.com and click on Hostels and Cheap Hotels.

Still no luck. Either too expensive places or fleabag places! Anybody out there with someplace good?

Atlantic Beach Hotel...3400 Collins...$70.00 per night

The last time I passed the Haddon Hall it was an extreme old peoples home/hotel.

Nothing wrong with old people but that may not be what you want.

A friend of mine used to own the Carlton Hotel on South Beach. Around 14th street.

I looked up their web site and they have recently renovated.

Excellent location and it looks like the price is good. You may want to ask them if you are compatible with their average customer.

Myer, interesting you say that about Haddon Hall, because I was there for a week, and it was nothing but younglings partying and drinking and sunbathing by the pool. Literally zero "old people."

Beachboi, the Atlantic Hotel is probably too expensive for Aggiegirl after taxes, because her overall budget per night is $75 bucks.

Yes, looks like Carlton Hotel is a good option if you're not open to hostels. It's several blocks from the Palms, but not that big a deal.

I just checked the Carlton and it's $130/night plus tax. The search continues. I will check the Atlantic.

I would consider Priceline for this, there were wins for the Roayl Palms back in Feb for $75/nt. Another possibility to come up in that price range would be the Clinton Hotel. Go to www.biddingfortravel.com for info on winning bids. We've stayed at the Palms and the Clinton before via Priceline.

TwoFatFeet,
I knew somebody who used to stay there but she's no longer with us. Maybe after she passed on the clientele changed.

aggiegirl,
When are you going?
I checked the Carlton Sewpt 11 for 3 nights and it's between 20 and 85 dollars average per night depending on the room type. I think it jumped to about 130. for Fri and Sat.

It's on Collins (A1A) a short block from the ocean and not very far from Lincoln Rd shopping and restaurants.
.

Myer,
It's Sept. 14 & 15, Friday and Saturday that I'm trying for.

I'll have to read up on the bidding option, never tried that.

Like I mentioned, the price jumps about $40 per night for the weekend.

Aggiegirl, truth be told, for a weekend stay you may have to up your budget or downgrade your requirements. But do post when you find a place that fits your requirements!

TwoFatFeet, you are probably right. I've seen a couple of places I'd be comfortable with at $90-100/night. I guess I'd rather rework my budget than stay somewhere unacceptable.

Since it appears you're only going for 2 nights, reworking you budget to the 125. range shouldn't be too painful. I was going to suggest reworking the budget but i was hesitant to spend somebody else's money.

I know the Carlton location is in the middle of "it".

Looking at Hotwire they have the Clinton Hotel for $126/nt. I would bid 20% less than that or $102. Alternatively there is the 2 1/2* Wave Hotel at $74/nt on Hotwire, again bid on Prliceline 15-20% less than Hotwire's rate. Priceline's rates are lower than Hotwire's rates 90% of the time. Again, visit biddingfortravel.com to learn about free rebidding so you can take care of the hotel in one try.