Where to stay in Miami / South Florida

Downtown Miami/Brickell

Distance to loanDepot Park: 2-3 miles
What’s here: Bayfront Park, Kaseya Center (Miami Heat), Bayside Marketplace
You Should Stay Here if: you’re looking to embrace the big city parts of Miami

The closest hotel zone on our list is Downtown Miami and Brickell. Technically, Downtown refers to the area north of the mouth of the Miami River and Brickell refers to the area to the south, but there are hotel options in both areas. These densely urban areas have experienced a lot of business investment and population growth over the past decade, and the result is a big-city feel placed right next to the water. So, if tropical hustle and bustle is what you’re after, this is your spot.

Safety is the criterion where the distinction between Brickell and Downtown Miami is most prevalent. Brickell is well-built-up with many shops, restaurants, and bars that are fun and safe by day and at night. You will deal with the expected drunk partiers on the weekends, but there is enough going on around you that crime shouldn’t be a huge concern. 

Downtown Miami, on the other hand, will feel a lot less safe at night as there are many vacant lots and empty office buildings after work hours. Downtown still has a lot of really good places to stay, but long walks around the neighborhood aren’t your best bet. As a general rule for both areas: the closer you stay to the water, the safer it will feel. And if you are close to the water on the north side of the river, you’ll be near Bayside Marketplace and Kaseya Center, which is where the Miami Heat play. So if you’re attending an event at the arena, downtown Miami can be a convenient place to stay.

The other concern here is that the area is very expensive; it seems to cost five bucks just to breathe some days. If you’re staying in either of these areas (and especially in Brickell), be aware that higher prices for everything from food, to parking, to hotels will add up in a big way.

Our advice: for safety reasons, if you want to stay in downtown Miami, either stay right near the water near Bayside Marketplace, or at one of the nicer hotels along the river. But for the latter, plan on taking a rideshare or driving from location to location. If you want to be able to walk around, then stay to the south of the river in Brickell.

Coconut Grove

Distance to loanDepot Park: about 4 miles
What’s here: Cocowalk, Regatta Park, Grove Marina
You Should Stay Here If: You like great food, drink, and entertainment without the hassle of downtown

Coconut Grove is a smaller neighborhood on the water, nestled between Coral Gables and Biscayne Bay. If Coconut Grove were placed into a mid-sized Mid-Atlantic city, you’d call it a bustling hotbed for nightlife, but it’s in Miami so most people think of it as a little bit tame. This is good news, though, as you can have the same amount of fun as you’d have in Brickell without the immense prices, large crowds, or safety concerns. 

There are many incredible restaurants, a few popular bars, and some fun shopping spots in the neighborhood. There is also a lot of park area near the water and a large marina on the bay. Most of the seven hotels that are directly in Coconut Grove are within a block of the park or marina areas. There is no public ocean access, so it isn’t a spot for fans of the beach, but it is one of the most homey-feeling neighborhoods in all of Miami. 

What’s more, safety is less of an issue in Coconut Grove. The area is well-lit and many locals and tourists alike are on the streets at night; it is known as one of the safest parts of the city. You may want to avoid Thursday nights in the Grove, as it is a weekly party spot for University of Miami students, but these intoxicated leaders of tomorrow are more annoying than dangerous.

Because of all this – and the fact that it’s still pretty close to the park – circle the Grove as one of your best options for lodging.

Coral Gables

Distance to loanDepot Park: 4 miles
What’s here: Miracle Mile, Biltmore Club, Venetian Pool
You Should Stay Here If: You like cute neighborhoods

The City of Coral Gables began as a 1920’s planned community whose main priority was to be visually beautiful, and even 100 years later, it is just that. Whether it’s comfy residential neighborhoods with sprawling trees, a well-planned downtown area, or historic spanish style architecture, Coral Gables is just a really nice place to be. 

Coral Gables offers a few boutique shopping areas and a number of really good restaurants, and its main street, known as Miracle Mile, is home to both. The Gables isn’t big on the bar or entertainment scene, but even just walking past historic buildings such as the Coral Gables City Hall, the Coral Gables Congregational Church, and the Biltmore Hotel will be worth your time. Other attractions include the University of Miami campus, which is quite beautiful, and the Biltmore and Granada golf courses, two picturesque tracks just outside of the Miracle Mile area. 

Because the zoning laws of the city have always been incredibly strict, there aren’t as many hotel options as you might expect. However, this same tendency for strict governance means Coral Gables, like Coconut Grove, is kept incredibly safe. The area isn’t close to any major highways, so traffic at peak times can get pretty excessive on the city streets within and getting out from the Gables, so if you do choose to stay here, set some time and patience aside to deal with that.

Near the Airport/Doral

Distance to loanDepot Park: 3-9 miles
What’s here: Premier golf courses, less expensive hotels
You Should Stay Here If: you only care about convenience and price… or golf

If quick access to the airport and/or a stay that’s lighter on your wallet are your main priorities, then the area around the airport and the commercial area of neighboring Doral are a good choice. Because these areas are a fair distance away from the more popular areas of the city, you’re only paying for room quality and not location, making hotel prices considerably cheaper. 

But there really isn’t much to do there, and you’ll have to jump in your rental car or a rideshare to do any sightseeing. Rest assured though, this is still a pretty safe area. You won’t be walking anywhere at night because there just isn’t anything interesting in walking distance (and, usually, Miami isn’t really a walking city), but we consider the area to be appropriate for tourists to stay in.

If you’re someone who’s looking to spend a lot of your Miami trip on the golf course, then the airport area and Doral become a lot more interesting, not just practical. Doral is home to Costa del Sol Golf Club and the historic Miami Springs Golf Course, amongst others. These courses are a bit of a hike from every one of our other recommended lodging areas, so if premier golf is part of your plan, this is the spot for you.

South Beach

Distance to loanDepot Park: 7-8 miles, but can feel like more with traffic
What’s here: Famous beaches, top nightclubs, Art Deco District
You Should Stay Here If: You want the beach and the full Miami experience

South Beach is Miami’s most famous neighborhood; Lebron didn’t say he was taking his talents there for no reason (even though he played all his games in Downtown Miami). For those unfamiliar, South Beach refers to the southernmost neighborhood of the City of Miami Beach, and is known for famous nightclubs, art deco architecture, and of course, the beach. 

The oceanfront is obviously the main attraction here, but if the beach is all you want, keep reading further in this chapter for more options. 

South Beach is a completely different experience that you have to be ready to sign up for. The area is full of interesting characters: club promoters trying to entice you, fitness influencers working out outside, myriad bachelor or bachelorette party groups, and a lot of shirtless men who seem to have sunbathed every day of their lives. If you’re all in for encountering all of this (and for looking at floating billboards advertising the same clubs as the promoters), then South Beach is for you. Similar to Times Square in New York, all tourists should experience South Beach once or twice, but most locals stay away. 

South Beach, despite all that’s going on, is pretty safe, BUT you may want to think twice about staying there if your Marlins trip is set for the first month of the season. Spring Break tourists to Miami caused a lot of destruction and even violence in Miami Beach over the past few years. In response, the City of Miami Beach has essentially banned Spring Break travel starting in 2024, but it is unclear how effective that will be. You are better off not risking it if that’s not the scene you’re looking for. But aside from that, outside of March and April you should have no safety concerns other than making sure you don’t leave your stuff unattended on the beach. 

A year-round concern, however, is traffic to and from Miami Beach. Since you will be traveling on and off the island to get to the ballpark and there are only a few roads that connect the two, be prepared for those roads to get packed at peak hours. Additionally, parking is usually difficult and expensive if you plan on venturing within Miami Beach by car.

North Miami Beach

Distance to loanDepot Park: 11-12 miles, but feels like more with traffic
What’s here: North Beach Oceanside Park, Miami Beach Bandshell, easy access to South Beach
You Should Stay Here If: You want a calmer version of Miami Beach

The area I’m calling “North Miami Beach” is really three different areas – North Beach, Surfside, and Bal Harbour – but they all have hotels that will present a visitor to Miami with a really good lodging experience. You get unparalleled beach access and a comfortable proximity to everything you’d like to do in Miami with some distance from the busyness of South Beach. And, if you want to get in the mix for a little bit, South Beach is literally just down the road. 

The North Miami Beach area is quieter, safer, and cheaper than South Beach, and, most importantly, the beaches themselves are less crowded. You won’t see any club promoters and very few tourists, mostly just locals looking for some relaxation or room for their dog to run around. In some cases, your hotel may even have a private closed-off portion of the beach. 

Note that the further north you go on the beach, the more expensive and private your options become; some of the most expensive stays in South Florida are in the Surfside/Bal Harbour area, but there are still a number of reasonable options in the North Beach area that will have all of the great characteristics mentioned above. 

The issues with traffic that plague all of Miami Beach do still apply here, and any time you save by avoiding the hustle and bustle of South Beach will be made up by the extra distance to the stadium. While we’re talking downsides, you won’t have as much entertainment and excitement immediately surrounding you the further you go up the beach. But for those who want to enjoy the water and stay in a nicely-appointed hotel, you can’t do much better than this area.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Distance to loanDepot Park: about 20 miles
What’s here: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Dolphins, University of Miami football), Hard Rock Casino, shows at Hard Rock Live
You Should Stay Here If: You want your Miami trip to have shades of Vegas, or would enjoy a self-contained resort

There is one spot that doesn’t fit into any of our recommended zones, but certainly warrants mentioning. The Hard Rock complex is actually three different hotels (only one of them looks like a massive guitar) centered around a Vegas-size casino. The complex also has an immense pool/resort area and a whole host of dining and bar options. 

Hard Rock Live is a 7,000 person theater that hosts Vegas-style shows from famous comedians to musicians three to four times a week, so you won’t be wanting for entertainment on your time off from baseball either. Thanks to new state legislation, Hard Rock even opened a sportsbook recently for any visitors looking to place a few parlays. 

Rooms can often start around $450 a night and get up to $4,500, so this certainly isn’t your cheapest option, but maybe you’ll make it up at the tables, right? It’s also worth mentioning that the “neighborhood” around the hotel isn’t very interesting, but if you’re staying here, you’re probably not leaving for much.

Baseball fans who are in for this kind of trip should prepare for a bit of a drive to the park from Hard Rock’s location in Hollywood, but it’s not too bad. The 22-mile trek will take anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic (but traffic should be much lighter coming back after an evening game). You should also note that the complex is much closer to the Fort Lauderdale airport than Miami International, so make your flight plans accordingly. 

Also of note: this is one of the closer hotels to Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins and Hurricanes. So if you happen to be in town for a Marlins/football doubleheader in September, this is a good spot for you to consider.

Broward County Beaches (Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood)

Distance to loanDepot Park: 20-30 miles
What’s here: Las Olas Blvd, Aventura Mall, Gulfstream Park
You Should Stay Here If: You want to mostly stay away from Miami

Our last recommended lodging zone includes anywhere along the beaches to the north of Miami in Broward County, home to Fort Lauderdale Beach and Hollywood Beach. Hotels along these beaches will either be on the water or a short walk away, and there are options for every price range. 

Fort Lauderdale Beach has large, resort-style hotels on the water a couple miles removed from downtown Fort Lauderdale. As with any of the hotels in this zone, the ocean is the main attraction, but there are actually a number of things to do if you head inland into Fort Lauderdale. The city’s downtown area is well-built up, and Las Olas Boulevard specifically has a lot of great restaurants, bars, and shops. There are a lot of good food options and some really popular bars along the beach as well. Be aware though that Fort Lauderdale Beach has become a bit of a re-creation of South Beach and is a party zone around the calendar, and especially during spring break time. This may only increase with Miami Beach’s push back against spring breakers.

Hollywood Beach is very similar to Fort Lauderdale Beach in many ways but has smaller hotels, is further from big city centers, and is overall tamer. There are a lot of big highrise hotels, but quite a few smaller, cuter one- and two-story hotels dot the beach as well. For entertainment, the Aventura Mall, which boasts many premium designer brands and stores, is nearby, as is Gulfstream Park for any horse racing (or gambling) enthusiasts. Still, the main attraction here is the beach. 

Transit time to the ballpark will depend on where along the coast you are staying, but any of the Broward beaches will be a significant drive (up to an hour from Fort Lauderdale, but likely shorter after the game is over when there’s no rush hour traffic). As such, we only recommend staying in this zone if you don’t have a lot to do in Miami other than the Marlins game. Driving back and forth on I-95 isn’t fun or enjoyable in any way, so don’t spend your vacation time doing it more than you have to.