hotel/condo recommendation

[marvel]

Me and some buddies are coming to South beach for a 5 day vacation in February. We will have between 7 and 10 guys on the trip. We are looking for lodging. We came last year and stayed at the Shelborne, but wanted something nicer this year. We will book the lodging first and then get our flights, so the trip will be either from 2/8 to 2/12 or 2/9 to 2/13. We would like to be on/near the beach somewhere between 1st and 15th street. The Roney looks good. We would also consider the Flamingo, event though it isn't on the "strip". We definitely need 2 rooms with 2 or 3 bedrooms each (some people will have to sleep on pull out beds or air mattresses or on the couch). The more square footage, the better (I'm hoping for 1500+ sq ft per unit) so we won't feel cramped. I don't want to pay more than 4,000 to 5,000 for the rooms, but hopefully that should get us something nice since we aren't even staying a full week (5 days/4 nights).

[Christy]

Hi Marvel,

If you want to stay between 15th and 1st the Roney is way north, on 23rd St, so you'll have a bit of a walk before you feel like you're in South Beach. You would be super close to the Gansevort and W, but Roney is a condo building that probably has vacation rentals.

I would skip the Flamingo. You'll be trapped at a pool with families and need to take a bus or taxi to the beach.

For a fun, happening hotel that's nicer than the Shelborne I would look into the Shore Club or the Clevelandar. The National and Catalina are nice too. The suites at the Hilton Bentley are spacious and have kitchens, but you're all the way down on 1st so you might feel a little isolated.

[rk]

Keep in mind many condo buildings (incl Roney Palace, Flamingo, Decoplage) only allow rentals of 1 month or more, minimum.

Here are some links for looking up vacation rentals:

http://www.vacationhomerentals.com/v...th-Florida.htm
http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacat...h-Florida.html
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals...st/miami-beach
http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationR...n_Rentals.html
http://www.condo.com/Vacations.aspx
http://www.ownerdirect.com/accommoda...mi/miami-beach
http://www.floridavacationrentalsinf...cation-rentals
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-ren...iami-area/r229
http://www.airbnb.com/
http://www.alwaysonvacation.com/flor...ls/c45600.html
http://www.miamisofivacationrentals.com/
http://www.msfa.us/
http://www.miamihabitat.com/
http://www.sunspotmiami.com/

[Mario]

Check out the Hotel Victor too. It's right on Ocean. Skip the Flamingo, since you would have to walk or take a taxi, for 7 block distance to the main "strip" area.