Where to stay in Miami

The Setai

What's so special

This hotel is widely regarded as one of the most luxurious on Miami's South Beach. It has a price tag to match you can pay close to £3,000 a night if you opt for a truly flash room.

How they rate it

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up

"There's a linga in the lobby nothing says high-end luxury like a Hindu phallus," says the Lonely Planet. "It's all part of the aesthetic at Miami's most expensive sleep, where a well-realised theme mixes southeast Asian temple architecture, Chinese furniture [and] contemporary luxury."

When booking, avoid the studio: "we think it is small for four figures". The Setai "is truly for that 1% of society who can afford it", says travel guide Frommer's. "But if you want to splurge, this is where to do it. All the suites are gorgeous apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows, full kitchens and Jacuzzis bigger than a small swimming pool."

The menu

The restaurant serves up authentic Asian cuisine with dishes including macchi tikka Indian tandoor-roasted sea bass.

The cost

A studio suite costs from £800; the top-rate is £2,800 for a two-bed loft suite. For more information, visit www.setai.com or call 00 1 305 520 6110.

The Betsy

What's so special

For something a little more low-key, try the recently renovated Betsy hotel. Situated at the quiet northern end of Ocean Drive in South Beach, this is a historic hotel that offers ocean views and buckets of charm.

How they rate it

The Betsy is a "little gem", says Lucie Young in The Daily Telegraph. "Small enough to feel intimate, but super-stylish and right on the ocean front in South Beach." The hotel was built in 1942, but has a colonial style with "plantation shutters and crisp white interiors banded with jewel colours".

The rooms themselves are "small but well equipped" and "beautifully designed by former Ralph Lauren interior designers Diamante Pedersoli and Carmelina Santoro". This is "one of the most affordable top-price hotels and one of the most intimate and charming".

The menu

The BLT steak house is situated in the hotel lobby. It serves a range of steaks, including Wagyu skirt and Porterhouse, alongside good-quality seafood dishes. Be sure to stop for a drink at the "excellent lobby bar".

The cost

Doubles start from £229. Find out more at Thebetsyhotel.com, or call 00 1 305 531 6100.