What to expect: Centrally located in Miami's popular Coconut Grove neighborhood, the Mayfair Hotel & Spa welcomes guests with etched wooden doors, stained-glass windows, and antiques. An atrium courtyard with lush plants, fountains, and comfortable seating provides tranquil spots for relaxing and mingling.

Amenity highlights: Setting the mood with Asian-inspired furnishings and accents, Ginger Grove Restaurant serves innovative dishes blending Chinese, Thai, and Japanese flavors. Eastern and Western philosophies meet at the Jurlique Spa, which offers a range of treatments using organically grown, plant-based products. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel.

What to expect: The 22-story Sonesta Bayfront Hotel is located in Coconut Grove, which offers dining, shopping, and entertainment options late into the night.

The hotel attracts a mix of businesspeople and vacationers from the U.S. and abroad. Business travelers find it a convenient location with easy access to downtown Miami and Coral Gables, while vacationers enjoy Coconut Grove and proximity to South Beach.

Amenity highlights: Squash courts are a rarity in Miami, and the hotel has two located in its 8th-floor recreation area, near the pool. Poolside perks include great views of the city and bay as well as a fitness center and cocktail bar.

Insider tip: The fashionable shopping, dining and nightlife of CocoWalk is just one block from the hotel. The Mediterranean-style shopping village includes outdoor cafés, a movie theater, and almost 40 shops.

What to expect: The hotel showcases expansive views of Biscayne Bay, gold columns topped with green-metal palm fronds, and murals of jungle scenes. On weekdays, guests are primarily business travelers and corporate groups; during weekends it fills with vacationers.

Amenity highlights: The hotel offers an outdoor pool, spa tub, and poolside bar. A 111-slip marina provides moorage for guests arriving by yacht; fishing and sailing can be arranged. Recreation options include 12 lighted tennis courts, a complimentary fitness center, and a three-quarter-mile-long island jogging track. New in 2005, the Spa Terre offers a salon, meditation room, yoga platform, two outdoor massage areas, and Watsu pool with waterfall and spa tub.

Insider tip: The hotel is two miles from CocoWalk, an indoor-outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment center in the heart of Coconut Grove. CocoWalk, built around an open courtyard full of vendors’ carts, has several outdoor cafes, a multiplex, shops, and street entertainers. It’s a lively destination well into the night.