The area south of Miami Beach, known as South Beach, is home to the National Register Art Deco District. According to the Miami Design Preservation League, Art Deco style is characterized by symmetrical features, stepped rooflines, neon lighting, round windows, decorative sculptural panels, design elements in groups of three, curved edges and terrazzo floors. The buildings in this area were primarily built in the 1930s but underwent renovations in the 1980s. The area is now a bustling tourist mecca filled with Art Deco hotels in bright, tropical colors.
Famous Art Deco architect Henry Hohauser constructed the Colony Hotel in 1935. Today, the hotel and its soaring column in blue neon is probably one of the most photographed buildings in the area. The hotel offers a location convenient to South Beach’s shopping, dining and nightlife, authentic art deco lobby, beach access, valet parking, on-site café, gift shop and wireless Internet access.
Guests can choose from a mini-suite, ocean-front room with king bed, or standard room with one queen or two double beds. All rooms come equipped with hardwood floors, in-room safe, wireless Internet access, plasma television and custom-made furniture with deluxe bedding. The hotel is not a luxury hotel and the rooms offer few amenities. It is best suited for young travelers who prefer to be in the heart of the nightlife.
Colony Hotel
738 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
(305) 673-0088
colonymiami.com
The Beacon Hotel is located in the heart of Miami Beach’s Art Deco District and was built in 1937. Both the interior and exterior have been remodeled in true Art Deco style with punches of blue neon and fluid, curving lines. The 75-room hotel is all about luxury and customer service. It offers on-site business and fitness centers, complimentary continental breakfast, concierge services, valet parking, laundry service, on-site restaurant, lobby bar, room service and wireless Internet in the common areas.
The hotel’s 73 spacious standard rooms are roughly 240 square feet in size, while the two one-bedroom VIP suites are 500 square feet. The rooms feature luxury linens, turn-down service, marble floors, in-room safe, mini-bar, flat-screen television, wireless high-speed Internet and room service.
Beacon Hotel
720 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
(305) 674-8200
mybeaconhotel.com
The National Hotel’s ambiance is part luxury hotel and part Art Deco boutique hotel. Its façade shuns the typical neon blue and sports pale yellow punctuated with bright pink accents. The National has updated Art Deco, which is evidenced by the fluid lines and geometric shapes found throughout. Hotel amenities include concierge services, wireless Internet in the common areas, laundry and valet service, infinity pool, leisure pool, full beach services, on-site fitness center, on-site dining and valet parking.
Guests can choose from one of 115 Historic Tower rooms, 36 deluxe rooms or the three-level Triplex. All rooms provide room service, housekeeping services two times per day, television with DVD and VCR, wireless Internet, mini-bar, in-room safe and robes and slippers.
The National Hotel
1677 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
(305) 532-2311
nationalhotel.com
