Though the Versace Mansion is known for being the abode of the late haute couture designer Gianni Versace, the lavish estate has been a part of Miami culture since 1930. The building was originally called Casa Casuarina and built to mimic Alcazar de Colon, a palatial estate in the Dominican Republic. In 1992, Versace purchased the property. Ever since the designer was killed in 1997, it has become a tourist attraction; as of 2011, tours of the mansion are offered at $65 a person. Luckily for visitors, there are a multitude of hotels nearby.
Situated in the Art Deco area of Miami Beach, The Setai prides itself on being an oasis of tranquility. The hotel has an Asiatic ambiance that is reflected in its accommodations, which have teak walls and antiques purchased from Chinese markets. The hotel is comprised of two buildings: the Art Deco Building and The Tower. While the Art Deco building has studio suites and junior suites, the Tower has more spacious accommodations with one- and two-bedroom suites as well as specialty suites that come equipped with kitchens and sitting areas.
The hotel also has an in-house spa. The spa's menu is flush with remedies of the East, such as the Ancient Balinese Massage that utilizes a stretching technique to soothe the palms and boost blood circulation, a Traditional Thai Massage where herbs are used to energize the body, and the Himalayan Crystal Body Polish where oils and salt crystals revitalize the skin. Other relaxing amenities include three pools as well as the fact that the hotel sits aplomb on South Beach. In terms of distance, the hotel is only 1.54 kilometers away from the Versace Mansion.
Located approximately 1.03 kilometers from the Versace Mansion, the Ritz-Carlton on South Beach is a lavish resort. One example of the hotel's room types is the Deluxe Ocean Front Room with Balcony that offer guests views of the Atlantic Ocean and the South Beach. Club Level rooms have marble baths and iPod docking stations, while the Ritz-Carlton Suite has windows that stretch from floor to ceiling as well as a dining room.
There are also dining establishments within the hotel. The Dilido Beach Club is a restaurant with a view of South Beach and where guests can relax under cabanas and sip cocktails such as the Peach Sangria. The Bistro One LR invites visitors to sit poolside and dine on steak and seafood before capping off a meal with soufflés. In addition, the hotel is business-friendly, with computer workstations, as well as access to laser printers, express mail services and office supplies.
For the eco-friendly traveler, there is The Clifton, a mere .31 kilometers away from the mansion. The Clifton is part of the Cambean Earth string of hotels that prides itself on being earth-friendly. The hotel's 35 rooms fit this criteria by featuring water heating systems that conserve energy, carpets woven from recycled materials, furniture made from bamboo, a cache of natural bathroom products and the option to rent a hybrid car.
The hotel has a private patch on South Beach for guests. It also has an on-site pool. The hotel's bar serves organic wines and meals that consist of locally grown food. For those who want to relish the Miami nightlife, the hotel is located near such hot spots as Opium Group, Mynt Lounge and Sky Bar.
Debuting in 1942, the Betsy Hotel is an old-school hotel amid the Art Deco scene. Situated .53 kilometers away from the Versace Mansion, the hotel's façade has shuttered windows in the plantation style and four-column portico. Each of the 63 rooms helps guests relax with fresh orchids that the hotel staff provides and décor that comes in shades of lavender, light sienna and sea green. Bathroom mirrors double as flat-panel television screens, and walk-in showers are made of marble.
The Betsy Hotel provides picnic baskets stocked with wine, magazines and snacks to beach-bound guests. There is also a Spa and Wellness Garden that overlooks the ocean where guests can relax amid bamboo and palm fronds or take a yoga class. Dining options include the restaurant BLT Steak, helmed by Chef Laurent Tourondel, who was named Restaurateur of the Year in 2007 by Bon Appétit magazine. Tourondel oversees a menu that includes spiced grilled swordfish dashed with an olive oil and lemon sauce and Alaskan black cod marinated with acacia honey.
