Where to stay? Help!

We are going on a cruise and would like to stay on the beach the nights before and after we board the ship (in February). It is my husband, myself and 2 daughters (14 and 7). Is the area around LUMMUS PARK safe? Is it fairly quiet? Please give me some recommendations for a decent hotel a couple of blocks or less from the beach (preferably on Ocean Drive) for under $250 per night. I am going crazy with all the options! Thank you for your time!

Where to stay? Help!

Lummus park is between Ocean Drive and the Beach.

There are a lot of hotels and lots of action on Ocean Drive. If you are looking for a quiet place, this is definately NOT the place you want to stay.

Where to stay? Help!

Try these places, in the quieter sections of Ocean, or on Collins (one block away from Ocean):

Crescent Suites Hotel, 1400 block of Ocean Drive

Nassau Suites, same area, Collins Ave.

both are clean, in good locations to walk to beach, restaurants, shopping, and quiet. As far as accommodations for four, I have no experience with that, but as they are suite hotels, you should be ok. I usually just travel with my husband. As far as being safe on Lummus park, just don%26#39;t go alone after dark. Use common sense. There are a lot of homelesss people there.

I have rarely not felt safe in south beach. Just use your head and be sensible.

It%26#39;s a great place- great beach, great food, great people watching!!!

A few blocks north of Lummus Park is where the high-end hotels (Ritz-Carlton, Delano, Shore Club, National, etc.). The beach access there is perfectly safe. We always hang out near the 17th Street Beach Access where there is a lifeguard stand and plenty of people just like you. I wouldn%26#39;t go swimming at night but early morning to sunset is perfectly safe.

Also, it%26#39;s much less noisy and ';active'; a few blocks north. We%26#39;ve never had problem getting a good night sleep.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,

I do not understand why the others are telling you that the Lummus Park area is not a good place to be, or that it is not in the centre of the action.

Not everyone want to be in the thich of the action. When we visit South Beach we love to hang out but we also like to get a good night%26#39;s sleep. When I%26#39;m in Beach and want to socialise yes I will head for 17th or Lincoln but I also want to be guaranteed a good night%26#39;s sleep, and you cannot get better than the area around Lummusn on Ocean and Fifth.

We always stay at the Bentley which is directly opposite Lummus Park. We get a great deal by booking with one of the owners, the suites are comfortable and have kitchens. There%26#39;s a large pool, awedome views from the terrace, access to the gym and private beach, what more could you want.

We have stayed on Collins and Washington before but could not get a wink%26#39;s sleep from the constant noise of thumping disco music and drunks rolling out of the nightclubs at all hours. the worst was when we stayed on Washington next to Mansion. We had a permanent headache.

Ocean %26amp; Fifth is the best location on South Beach, you%26#39;ve chosen well. check out vacation rentals you%26#39;ll find a selection of condos and suites available. We usually book with thebentleyhotel@yahoo.com.

Have a great vacation.

Lummus is safe, by all means and it is a nice place to party, with tons of things to do, as is Collins and Lincoln Road,.

However, I have consistently heard that it is difficult to get a good nights sleep staying on Ocean Drive. In addition, even if you stay on Collins where the Delano, Raleigh, etc are - try to avoid a lower floor facing Collins as it may get noisy.

Keep in mind South Beach is a party town, and no matter where you stay you will not be immune to the partiers.

To the contrary Mr. Lopez I have stayed on Collins and found it very difficult to get a good night%26#39;s sleep. Washington and Collins have become non stop party central.

By comparison I have stayed on Ocean Drive, close to Lummus and it has always been very peaceful. the beach also is lovely, clean and not too crowded.

Ocean and Fifth is most definitely the calmest and nicest part of the strip. There is little or no development. Whereas north of Fifth there is a lot of construction work going on.

We have stayed in the past at the Shelborne and did not sleep all night. the noise frm Spring Break and party revellers kept us awake all night.

When we returned we opted to stay on Ocean and slept peacfeully. It is also very safe for women travellers.

When you see pictures of South Beach and Miami it is always the stretch of Ocean Drive around Lummus which is depictred. We see the pastel coloured buildings the palm trees. The area around Lummus on Ocean and Fifth happens to be the most aesthetically beautiful part of Miami Beach. Why else would it have been immortalised on film by so many phtographers.

One of the posters recomended the Ritz Carlton, well not unless you%26#39;ve won the lttery would I recommend the Ritz. Rates start frm $400 and upwards.

We have stayed at Wave on Ocean, close to Lummus Park. We have also stayed at the Bentley. I can highly recommend both hotels.

SiennaB,

Lets just agree to disagree

I am a part time resident and have stayed at both Ocean and Collins many times and while I like (no LOVE )Ocean Dr, I have not found it to be a place to get a good nights sleep, especially if you stay in a hotel on the strip.

Most of the people I know feel the same way. It also depends on where your accomodations are on either of the locations.

Spring break or the WMC will be noisy REGARDLESS of where you stay, lol. There are relentess parties during those times so that is NOT a good time for comparison.

About which place is better, that is open to debate. Ocean Drive is beautiful indeed. Don%26#39;t get me wrong, I love going there.

My preference is the Area where the Raleigh, Shelborne, Delano, Shore Club and Lincoln Road is. You are directlyt on the beach with the plenty to do, including the nice hotel lounges, and Lincoln Road is great.

Anyway, whatever makes you happy is what matters

Mr. Lopez just read what you wrote in your previous post.....Lummus Park is definitely NOT the place to stay if you want a quiet night%26#39;s sleep.

I have been spending my vacations in South Beach for many years. I have family there. I know the area extremely well. You cannot say that the area around Lummus Parks is noisy, by comparison to Collins or Washington is is quiet as a church hall.

There are no nightclubs around Ocean and Fifth, no bars, just one restaurant TGI Fridays, other than that nothing. In fact it%26#39;s a conservation area.

Any visitor to South Beach who has stayed on that strip of Ocean Drive will confirm this to be true.

By contract Washington and Collins 17th 18th Street, is the centre of the South Beach action the nightclub and bar scene. Nothing wrong with that, many want that, but when you go for a relaxing vacation it%26#39;s hardly the place to book a room . Go there to party yes but book a hotel in a quieter location.

SiennaB,

You visit.

I LIVE there part time. If you feel it is quieter - you are entitled to your opinion.

I can only tell you my opinion and most of the people I know that disagree, There are many bars in that vicinity, contrary to what you say.

So let%26#39;s just agree to disagree, ok..?

Enjoy.

SiennaB,

It is interesting how 2 people that have frequented the same areas so often can have differing views..

I want to reiterate that that area (the Bentley) is very nice and I go there quite often. Nice restaurants -Vivi, Prime 112. And always full of people, which is not a bad thing!

Lummus Park is perfectly safe and I did not mean to imply anything negative, only a different viewpoint on being able to sleep

I will also admit that during spring break and the WMC the are around the Shelborne is party central, especially if you rent a unit overlooking the pool.

Washington I will also agree is as noisy as any, because of the high concentration of Clubs.