Sitting on one of the most prized pieces of land at South Beach, The Setai is sexy, sleek and the perfect place for a quick trip to Miami. Notably, this sublime tropical hideaway has been a fixture on Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” for the last five years running and Forbes Traveler has dubbed it one of the “sexiest hotels in America.”

The A-lister hot spot is situated in the art deco hub of South Beach, with modern nods to the era with its use of Shanghai brick and bronze, teak, stone and art. The rooms and suites feature in-room bathtubs for personal spa treatments, rain showers, teak floors, Lavazza espresso machines, personalized housekeeping service and a 24-hour concierge, among other luxury amenities.
It’s off-season during the hot, summer months, and deals are easy to find. The Setai’s Girls’ Getaway and Gentleman’s Retreat packages offer private shopping experiences, spa treatments, breakfast, complimentary spirits and VIP access to Miami’s nightlife. (Rates begin at $595 per night with a minimum two-night stay.)

To tone down on price, but not on style, stay at TownHouse Hotel. Smack dab in the middle of South Beach, flanked by high-end neighboring hotels, sits TownHouse. “It’s great because of the location,” says Colleen Graham, director of sales. “It’s nestled in with the big guns [and is a real] home away from home.”

Highly utilized for studio and magazine production shoots, TownHouse is as much appreciated for its creative, minimalist lines, and all-around fun and flirty decor as it is for its comfort and unassuming prices.
Brought to South Beach at the turn of the millennium by Jonathan Morr, who is well-known for his Manhattan eateries, Republic and BondST, this 69-room, two-suite, Parisian-designed boutique hotel is frankly a steal at $145 a night midweek, and $175 a night on the weekends, through August and September. A Parisian breakfast is included.
The rooms are clad in white, with striking pops of color, and hallways, specked with benches, comics and other good reads, are engulfed with cool soundtracks. The rooftop, fitted with various table settings and lounge chairs, transforms at night into one of South Beach’s hottest weekend hangouts, and the highlight is sushi sent up from the ground floor BondST Lounge. Zagat Miami has named its tuna “the best on the planet.”

Images by Sean Murdock
Written by Melanie Bowden Simón
Read more on our August/September Issue now!

Got a few days to get out on the water?
Try one of these semi-secret sailing spots right here along Savannah’s coast

Savannah is one the top wedding destinations in the country, but if you are not from the Lowcountry, you may not know where to start. Luckily, South is your complete guide to the perfect Savannah wedding. Here are our choices of where to have your wedding in Savannah.

According to Savannah’s tourism stats, our tourists most often come from Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Jacksonville and Charleston. And while it’s nice kicking back and showing these out-of-towners where to shop, eat and hang out when they come into town, it’s time for us to return the favor with an impromptu visit of our own.

Creating a memorable vacation is all about the right balance between planning and cutting loose, and skiing is no different. If our Beech Mountain article in the Health and Wellness Issue got your inner ski bunny revving, here are five helpful hints for making the most of your trip:

Take a trip over the Talmadge Bridge and explore Hilton Head, Beaufort or Bluffton.

When craving fast-paced city life in a place with world-class restaurants, shopping, events and festivals, it’s nice to know that you don’t have to travel outside of state lines for a good vacation. For a nonstop week or weekend, indulge a little and live it up in the Peach City.

When it comes to an active winter oasis, things don’t get much better than Beech Mountain, North Carolina. Just shy of eight hours from the Hostess City and only a few miles from Boone and Roan Mountain, this slope-side town boasts killer, Western-style slopes with the convenient and cost-effective lures of the South. Highlighted by cozy inns, belly-warming foods and the enthralling majesty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this small Appalachian town sits well with adventurous souls.

There’s something about the change in colors, the richness of hues and the crispness of skies in late fall that demands recognition via the good old-fashioned road trip. And with nearby Bluffton, Beaufort and Hilton Head beckoning adventurers to drive the short hour-long distance, it’s both easy and necessary to take a weekend away on a sudden whim. Whether you fancy a stroll through Southern architectural history, a quaint shopping excursion through stores that look like jewelry boxes, or a romantic walk on pristine beaches, three of the finest options for glorious autumnal getaways are just a bridge’s length away.

Train of Terror

St. Augustine, Florida

Travel time: 3 hours

Whispers from the grave or a dark figure appearing in a corner are only a few paranormal instances visitors may encounter on the Ghost Train Adventure tour in St. Augustine (ghosttrainadventure.com). Starting at the presumed haunted Ripley’s Museum, the tour ($26 for adults) lures guests onto the second and third floors of the former hotel, known as The Castle Warden, where two women perished in a mysterious fire in 1944. The train slowly creeps by The Spanish Military Hospital, Tolomato Cemetery and the Old Drug Store, all which have been “visited” by spirits from the past. Insider’s tip: With each admission ticket, guests receive an EMF (electromagnetic field) ghost meter and disposable camera and are encouraged to post their photos and findings on the web site. Remember to arrive 15 minutes prior to train departure time. Group rates are available.