To escape the winter a good destination is with no doubt South Beach. We make a stop over for few days on our way to Saint Barth. The best hotel to stay there is the Delano even if I can complain about the rooms and shower rooms which are ridiculously small for the price they charge. You also need to be award that they will charge you with every thing they can like the umbrella on the beach. And that you may have to share your room with a Cockroach like we experience and that they absolutely don't care...no apologize. And you need to be award that they will not reply to your complain.
However, the Delano lobby is amazing, after 10 years it is still very hip, glamour and trendy.
We visit the new Mandrian...no interest, the location is bad, the design very "plastic fantastic". If you have seen the picture on a travel review you had seen all.
The Satay looks like a Disney setting
The Victor Hotel is very very faded
The Shore club don't bother... looks nice only in the dark
All the other hotel have no interest.
If you travel during the Stone Crab period make sure you have some. You can go to Joe Stone Crab restaurant we did not it was closed on Monday.
Best restaurant for Lunch: Satay restaurant on the beach
Best diner : Azul at the Mandarin oriental downtown Miami
Best shopping place and experience: Webster
What to do: people watching at the Delano swimming pool, Chill out at the D beach and of course run, walk on the front beach path.