Catalina Hotel & Beach Club

Trendy and funky designs create a youthful vibe at this property that’s made up of three retro buildings -- the Catalina, Dorset, and Maxine. Red and white designs dominate the lobby which features wispy, white drapes covering floor-to-ceiling windows and retro red stools at the bar. Valet attendants -- also in red shirts -- stand under a red awning over the entrance, where there’s a front patio that offers white and red seating. A lovely bamboo garden with dining tables, a cabana bed, and a koi pond offers a serene escape from the Miami party scene. These chic designs make this hotel a popular choice for TV show tapings like the “Janice Dickenson Modeling Agency” and MTV’s “The City.” Overall most guests are young party-minded travelers -- although board games in the lobby are available for families with kids and the close proximity to the Miami Beach Convention Center appeals to business travelers. 

This central location on Collins Avenue is between 17th and 18th streets and one block from the beach, with the Catalina Beach Club that offers guests two free lounge chairs a day, towels, and (for a fee) umbrellas. The bustling Lincoln Road Mall -- with street performers, shops, restaurants, and bars -- is 10 minutes away on foot. For business travelers, the Miami Beach Convention Center is in walking distance. It’s a 15-minute walk to Crunch Gym that offers discounted passes for guests. Free yoga classes at Hotel Croydon can be reached in five minutes via a free shuttle. North of the hotel, in walking distance, is Mynt Lounge, Nobu, the Bass Museum of Art, and Mokai Lounge. Other nightclubs and bars are reachable by cab or Uber. It’s a 30-minute drive to the Miami International Airport. The drive to Fort Lauderdale takes one hour.

Spread out in three different buildings, rooms feature sleek, neutral interior designs that allow colorful decor to stand out. White leather bed frames, wooden floors, and neutrally painted wainscotting create a simple, modern look. Other rooms have damask patterned drapes and white leather wingback chairs. Every room has air-conditioning, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, minibars, bathrobes, irons/ironing boards, and safes. King Rooms and Double Rooms are either in the Catalina or Maxine buildings. Living Large Rooms (with 245 square feet) are in the Dorset building and some offer Juliet balconies. The largest option, El Grande, has 280 square feet of space, an open design with sofa beds in sitting areas, and bathtubs in some. Free snacks and newspapers are in upgraded rooms. With white or blue tiles, bathrooms are modern and offer hairdryers, designer toiletries, and showers. Twitter and Facebook promos for followers are often available. 

Most travelers come to Miami for the beach that’s one block away, but this hotel has many trendy facilities to keep guests on-site. To escape the Miami heat, there’s a rooftop pool, poolside cabanas, and water misters at a bar. More cushioned lounge chairs are on another terrace with artificial grass. Bamboo trees create a secluded vibe at the garden pool, which is surrounded by bright orange lounge chairs and cabanas. Unfortunately, there isn’t a spa, but poolside manicures and pedicures can be booked. Free drinks are provided from 7 to 8 p.m. for happy hour, and there are four bars and two restaurants. The 24-hour Maxine’s Bistro & Bar serves casual American fare -- burgers and fries, pizza, and more -- in an eclectically decorated dining room with a pool table and on a sidewalk patio. Open late, FKU Sushi is designed in yellow and black modern decor with leather white furniture on the sidewalk.The concierge desk can arrange boat tours and excursions. Parking can be difficult to find, so the hotel management suggests not renting a car. For those driving there’s street parking, private garages, or valet parking on-site.