Stylish with a smidgen of trendy, the unique and luxurious Tides overlooks the beach and is one of the first stops on the Art Deco District tour. This restored 1936 grande dame sits on bustling Ocean Drive right in the middle of the pulsating nightlife, cafes and boutique shops that symbolize the Miami Beach good life. Guests need only stroll across Lummus Park to the beach, where they will receive complimentary towels, loungers and umbrellas. However, those brave ones who want a view of multicultural Miami should join the locals at the beach and park area just south of the hotel. One caution: many sunbathers go topless.

Renovated in 1997, the Tides retains much of its original art deco feature, including terrazzo floors and streamlined ocean-liner details. The simple and elegant décor is stylish without going to the odd extremes typical of other "celebrity hotels."

Guests will go gonzo over the rooftop pool area with cabanas, where attendants wait on them hand and foot and bring them beverages from the poolside bar. The hotel's 1220 at the Tides serves progressive American fare, such as Caribbean-cured Scottish salmon, blue crab mussel chowder and key lime cannoli.

Oversized guestrooms provide nifty views of the oceans and even telescopes for habit-forming people watching. The rooms are festooned with dark beige carpeting and brightened with all-white bedding. Amenities include DVD players, three phones, bathrobes, slippers, CD players and libraries, fancy Aveda toiletries, and Internet access.

Quieter than most hotels in South Beach, the Tides caters to a more upscale, mature clientele. Guests include celebrities, entertainers, fashion industry big shots and others who appreciate upscale surroundings and a quiet, private atmosphere.