We are looking to stay at a hotel on South Beach and would appreciate any suggestions. We would like to be around the action of South Beach, with an ocean view and stay in an upper end hotel ($200-$300 a night). Any suggestions?

Myself and 3 girlfriends have been to South Beach several times but wanted to "step it up a notch" to a nicer hotel this past June. We stayed at the Loews hotel. It was everything and much much more than I could have imagined. Yes- a bit pricey to drink and eat by the pool BUT the pool was beautiful, the crowd was a good crowd, the rooms updated and spotless and the staff friendly. To say the least, we loved it.

sweetnis...You dont say when you will be going.....if during the summer, go whole hog and stay at the Ritz Carlton South Beach..cant get any more Upper End...They have a Bed and Breakfast rate for 2 of $239 per night plus tax.Deluxe room and full breakfast for 2, valet parking and spa discount.....Enjoy!

The Ritz-Carlton is a great idea, if you can get a low rate. This is a very high-end property (having seen the website and talked to R-C personnel here in CA), and priced accordingly. It is also a new renovation that I'm dying to see in person when I go in August.

The Loews is a huge hotel, quite nice, but for my tastes very impersonal and corporate. Step through the doors of the main tower (built in the late 90s) and you could be in any large downtown hotel in any city in the US. You can't beat the location, however.

Other possibilities on Collins: The National is beautiful, historic, high-end, and exudes Deco-era class and glitz. The Delano is over-the-top Schrager excess, but worth the once-in-a-lifetime expense. The Sagamore is an all-suite property, exquisitely decorated, very luxurious.

On Ocean Drive, the Tides is a very expensive, very high-end property. You might find a deal in the off-season.

Bear in mind that South Beach is maybe 1 or 2 square miles in area-- quite compact. Everything is near the Action.

I checked into the Loews and can get a good deal for next March. Is Loews close to the night life action?

As I said in my first post-- YES. Everything in South Beach is near The Action. It's a small neighborhood of Miami Beach.

If you can get a deal at the Loews, and you can't get a deal at a property with a little more South Beach character, go for it. It's a very nice hotel. But it's like their property here in Santa Monica: It's perfectly fine, with a high level of amenities and service, but just not charming. And if you're going to bother going to South Beach, I'd pay a bit more for a little charm and character.... But that's me.

From the Loews, you can walk to all of the nightlife or you can easily jump in a 5 minute cab to anywhere on the strip. CAbs are always waiting at the door. I loved the loews, beautful, new, updated and something for everyone...If you can get a deal, you won't be disappointed!

Agree with above posts. My first choice is the Ritz-Carlton, then in no particular order: Delano, Shore Club, Tides, Casa Grande, The Hotel.