I WAS MIA for FOUR DAYS!

Miami, Florida aka MIA aka South Beach aka SoBe…

Many things can be said about South Beach, but I wanted to experience it for myself!

Historically, South Beach was originally farmland for coconuts back in 1870. A group of four men collaborated their ideas and their capital to incorporate the Town of Miami Beach which was suitable for residential living by 1920. Many millionaires bought homes in South Beach such as Harvey Firestone, J.C. Penny, Harry Stutz and Rockwell LaGorce to name a few.

Maybe a decade later, an architectural change came about and this artistic change was labeled Art Deco. I didn’t know Art Deco was founded so long ago.

By the 1940’s, South Beach became a hot tourist attraction bringing millions to the sunny beaches and fancy hotels, while still having much presence of residential living for retirees!

South Beach is also famous for filming television shows and movies such as Miami Vice, Will Smith’s Bad Boy’s I & II and The Birdcage.

But who would’ve known that South Beach was once considered to be a poor area with a high crime rate after the cocaine era set in. Despite all of that, SoBe has been historically preserved by a group of activists and is currently in the National Register of Historic Places.

SoBe is a perfect replica that you can keep anything alive if you nurture and revitalize it.

I was impressed by my SoBe Experience.

SoBe has many hotels to choose from, and most of the hotels have cafés out front to enjoy delectable food and drinks, or people watch, you will feel the magical southern breeze and partake in that Oceanic drive energy.

For this trip, I really had to dig deep to find something special. I wanted to chose something close to the beach, with recent renovations, but still had that Art Deco vibe. I noticed most of these historic hotels rooms were small, but I found something bigger! My choice was The Fairwind Hotel!

This hotel was one of my favorites, because it did not carry the big brand name, but it came with a really big value! I literally love boutique hotels, only because it sets them apart from everyone else. Boutique hotels give meaning to the average traveler, who is big on value but wants to stay within a frugal budget!

Located on Collins Dr., The Fairwind is a short two minute walk to the infamous Ocean Drive and the beach. This may not be your five star resort with exercise equipment and butlers, but it has the professional service for a pleasant stay without the extravagant price.

Not all of the rooms have a balcony with a view, but I really felt as if my room was assigned just for me! Top floor Room #519

Some of the amenities that I liked (I call these scenic amenities) were the palm tree courtyard, here you can order your lunch or dinner with drinks from the 100 Collins bar, who mixed up a mean Margarita.

The Parisian Café

Last~ the Rooftop Pool view!

You can travel with out the resort-brand experience and still get the most out of your mini vacation! My preferences were met all under $500! My flight was $100 roundtrip with a basic economy fare and a split on the room accommodations for a 3 night/4 day vacation is all you need if you really wanna get away!

Colllins Ave is also close to shopping and other restaurants. Find yourself a reputable travel partner and get going!