Guide
Miami Beach, explained before you land.
One long barrier island, four or five distinct moods, and a season that changes the trip entirely. Here is how it fits together.
Daily Resort Fee: $29 + tax, charged per room, per night.
Location
The shape of the island.
Miami Beach is not part of Miami. It is a separate city on a barrier island, connected to the mainland by causeways, and it runs roughly seven miles north to south. Collins Avenue is the spine: nearly everything you have heard of sits on it or one block from it.
South Beach occupies the bottom of the island — the Art Deco hotels, Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road. Mid-Beach is the resort corridor in the middle. North Beach, where MB Hotel stands, is the residential end, defined by MIMO architecture and a wide, quiet public beach. Bal Harbour and Surfside continue north from there.
Understanding that geography solves most trip-planning arguments. The island is small enough that the whole of it is reachable from anywhere on it, so the real decision is which end you want to wake up in.
- Island length
- Roughly seven miles, north to south
- MB Hotel sits in
- North Beach, the MIMO district, at 6525 Collins Avenue [VERIFY]
- To South Beach
- About 12–15 min by car from the property [VERIFY]
- To the mainland
- 20–35 min by car via the causeways [VERIFY]
Why MB Hotel
Choosing where to stay.
If you want quiet with access
North Beach gives you a calm beach and a residential street, with South Beach a short ride away when you want it. This is the trade MB Hotel guests make on purpose.
If you want to be in the noise
South Beach puts you inside the Art Deco District and the nightlife, at the cost of crowds, price and sleep. Worth it for a short first trip; harder over a week.
If you are here for a specific reason
Convention business, a cruise sailing or an airport connection each pull toward different parts of the map. Distance from the thing you came for matters more than the neighbourhood's reputation.
Photography
The island, in five frames.
Getting Here
Getting around.
- From Miami International (MIA)
- About 12 miles, 25–35 min by car [VERIFY]
- From Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- About 25 miles, 35–50 min by car [VERIFY]
- Rideshare
- The default on the island; consistent coverage along Collins Avenue
- Bus & trolley
- Miami Beach routes run the length of Collins; the trolley is free — check current routes [VERIFY]
- Driving & parking
- Street parking is metered and scarce in South Beach; on-site parking at MB Hotel is $25 plus tax per day, limited availability
- Walking & cycling
- The beachwalk and boardwalk run much of the island's length
Neighbourhoods
Five ends of one island.
North Beach & MIMO
The stretch MB Hotel stands in. Mid-century Miami Modern buildings, a residential rhythm, and a wide public beach that stays calm even in season. Quiet evenings, neighbourhood restaurants, easy parking by island standards.
Mid-Beach
The corridor between the two ends of the island — larger resorts, the boardwalk, and the Faena and Fontainebleau stretches. Useful as a walking route more than a destination.
South Beach
The Art Deco District, Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road and Española Way. Dense, loud, photogenic and worth a day. Most visitors enjoy it more when they are not sleeping in the middle of it.
Bal Harbour & Surfside
North of the property. Open-air luxury retail at Bal Harbour Shops, and a slower village feel in Surfside. A short drive rather than an expedition.
The mainland
Over the causeways: Wynwood's street-art warehouses, Little Havana's Calle Ocho, and downtown. Twenty to thirty-five minutes depending on traffic and the bridge.
When To Visit
The year, season by season.
December – April
High season. Dry, warm and reliably sunny, which is why rates and crowds peak. Book early, especially around holidays and major events.
May – June
The sweet spot for many visitors. Water is warm, the winter crowds have thinned, and afternoon storms have not fully set in.
July – September
Hot and humid, with daily afternoon showers that usually pass quickly. It is also hurricane season, so travel insurance and a flexible rate are sensible.
October – November
Quieter and still warm. Ocean temperatures stay swimmable and the light in November is the best of the year.
FAQ
Trip-planning questions.
Book Direct
Now pick where to wake up.
MB Hotel is at the quiet end of the island, with the whole of Miami Beach within a short drive. Book direct for our best available rate and Wyndham Rewards points. [VERIFY]
Daily Resort Fee: $29 + tax, charged per room, per night.