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: Guests can swim in the heated outdoor pool, lounge in the private cabanas, and sip cocktails at the bar all on the hotel's rooftop. Eastern and Western philosophies meet at the Jurlique Spa, which offers a range of treatments using organically grown, plant-based products. The hotel's restaurant, Angelo and Maxie's, is a steakhouse with a raw bar. 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.