The Best Hotels Near Miami International Airport, Florida

A quick 15-minute cab ride from MIA will land you at the Vagabond Hotel, a former hangout of the (in)famous ‘50s Rat Pack. Retro-chic rooms with original wood floors and oversized walk-in showers are as bold and beautiful as the clientele. For more splashes of color, chatty characters and ice-cold cocktails, head out to join the various vagabonds chilling at the pool bar. Don’t leave without snapping a photo of the magnificently restored mermaid and dolphin tile mosaic. Your Instagram will go crazy with likes.

This is one chic all-suite hotel, a little more than 10 minutes from MIA by cab. Check in, and prepare to be spoiled with blissful beauty treatments at Spa Azul. Relaxed and refreshed, head for seared signature steaks at the 5300 Chop House. When you’re ready to rest, the spacious suites – with full kitchens and living rooms – are only moments away from the pool deck. If golf is your thing, why not pit your clubbing skills against the Blue Monster: the most popular course in Miami, right behind the resort.

A quick half-hour rideshare from the airport, and you’ll be checking in at Shula’s Hotel & Golf Club. If you’re cramped from that flight, you’ll be able to stretch your legs: 18 holes of classic championship golf will loosen up those sore muscles; or, if it’s wet, the sprawling 45,000sqft (4,180sqm) athletic club will do the trick. If all that sounds too energetic, take a stroll around Miami Lakes to get your steps in before you return for dinner: steakhouses, Latin cuisine and a beer garden are almost on the doorstep of your pool-view room.

In thick traffic, it can seem like a bit of a hike as you head south from the airport. In fact, this highly rated property is just 20 minutes away by cab. South Beach it isn’t, but don’t worry – there are many ways to enjoy a sunny day here. Try Zoo Miami, go manatee-spotting at the Matheson County Preserve, or take an airboat tour into the Everglades for a real taste of the wild. Back at the Hilton, you’ll appreciate the laid-back lounge, yoga classes in the wellness center and strong drinks at Table 55.

It’s just under 30 minutes away from MIA in a taxi – and you won’t regret the time spent getting here, as you’ll be within a block of the Atlantic and a paltry 15 minutes from South Beach. Good luck making it that far – the hotel’s relaxing pool, along with the Blue Beer Garden gastropub, will reel you in like a snook on a short line. Happy hour here means potent drinks by half, so you can party South Beach-style at North Beach prices.

Hop into a cab for the 10-minute ride from the airport to the lush Coral Gables neighborhood in Miami, and settle in – but don’t think you have to forgo your exercise program. The hotel has introduced a complete Peloton set-up in the fitness center, so there’s no need to skip leg day on vacay. The Italian menu at Zucca is eccezionale, but the restaurant is far from the only renowned option in the area – the Miracle Mile, only a five-minute walk away, is the place for dining, shopping and people-watching, as is the nearby Village of Merrick Park.

True, getting here is a bit of an odyssey – literally, since the 40-minute jaunt from MIA includes a ferry ride. But the sheer exclusivity of this private hotel makes the Homeric transfer worthwhile. The property’s widely acclaimed luxury cottages were clearly designed to emulate holidaying with the Vanderbilts. How best to spend your time at this magic place? Try cruising around the island on your own private golf cart, play a game of racquetball, and drink deep from the fully stocked service bar in your room.

Save the cab fare for drinks by the beach, and flag down the express bus from MIA to South Beach. Within the hour, you’ll be sipping mai tais at the Savoy’s poolside bar. You’ll never tire of late-morning wake-ups to oceanfront views, but there’s more than the surf to capture your attention. Murals line the lobby and pools, showcasing Miami’s vibrant history from the time of the Savoy’s construction in 1935. For a more atmospheric period Miami, step out, and wander the famous Ocean Drive, lined with art deco hotels to photograph.

It’ll only take you around 30 minutes in a taxi or an Uber to get here – before you know it, you’ll be rubbing in your sunscreen at this magnificent beachside residence. Apply liberally and frequently, as they say; after all, you’ll be spending your waking hours out in the balmy Florida sunshine: choose between three outdoor pools, a soccer field, a basketball court and acres (hectares) of beachfront. When you’re ready to retreat from the heat, head up to your room, blast the air conditioning, and dive into a novel from the Bedside Reading Program.