Miami also known as the “Magic City,” is the southernmost city of Florida. Part of the South Florida region, it is 20 miles from Fort Lauderdale, 106 miles from Naples and 156 miles from Key West. It was founded in 1843 by William F. English and a group of settlers and slaves that followed him to the area. The city was finally incorporated in 1896 thanks to a deal made by Julia Tuttle to extend the Florida East Coast Railroad into Miami. The population of the city itself is around 404,000 people

Nightlife in Miami consists of upscale hotel clubs, independent bars frequented by locals including sports bars and nightclubs. Most hotel bars and independent bars turn the other cheek at your physical appearance, but you have to be dressed to impress to get into a nightclub. Also remember to never, under any circumstances, insult the doormen and/or nightclub employees that will grant you entry or touch the velvet ropes or you may as well be sitting on the opposite side of the clamoring masses trying to get in. Attempting to tip the doormen and claiming that you know employees that work in the nightclubs unless you actually called and reserved a table or a spot on the VIP list is also considered an affront.

Miami is known for its boutique hotels. Designers such as Ian Schrager, Andre Balazs and the hotel Todd Oldham with their creative hotel designs. The downside of many of the boutique hotels is that rooms can be small especially if the building was built during the height of the Art Deco period in Miami. If you’re a person that values space a boutique hotel may not be the type of hotel for you. For those people that wish to spend hundreds of dollars a night on a room but don’t want to spend time in an upscale South Beach hotel like the Delano or the Raleigh, Miami has several upscale high-rise hotels north and south of South Beach as well as near the downtown area. Miami does have its share of less costly chain hotels, however, for those who value space and/or money.

The high season for hotels is around November to April because of the lower temperatures in Miami as well as the various events held around that time, starting around the time of the White Party and ending around the time of the Winter Music Conference. Spring break on college campuses also puts a strain on rooms around this time. If you wish to reserve a room during Miami’s high season, especially at a boutique hotel and/or a hotel on South Beach, book months in advance to beat out people reserving rooms for Miami’s various events.