Miami hotels

Under sultry Florida skies, chaotic nightlife and the insistent Latino rhythm of Cuban culture have electrified the city formerly denigrated as "God's waiting room". Bring an attitude and lose your inhibitions in this cosmopolitan hotspot bounded by the Atlantic on one side and the mysterious Everglades on the other.

The sensuous, white-crushed coral coast of Miami Beach contrasts with the nightly neon glow of Ocean Drive. School yourself in opposing art forms among the Dutch and Italian tapestries of the upstanding Bass Museum of Art and the prurient collections of the snicker-inducing World Erotic Art Museum. Calle Ocho throbs to a Cuban beat, while soothing Mediterranean tastes pervade Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

Shop for designer labels at Bal Harbour or brand-name stores at Bayside Marketplace. New fashion and art trends fill the shelves in the Design District and Little Havana sells Latin style and Cuban cigars. Aventura Mall on Biscayne Boulevard is home to department stores Bloomingdale’s and Macy's. Coral Gables' Miracle Mile is all about luxury boutiques and art galleries.

From watersports and sunbathing on Miami Beach to alligators in the Everglades, Miami lives outdoors. Play golf at Crandon Park, watch manatees on Coconut Grove's waterfront and then retreat to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. There are charter boats from Sunny Isles, primates to feed at Monkey Jungle and tropical birds at Jungle Island. Swim with dolphins at the Miami Seaquarium.

Classical arts meet Broadway lights at the Jackie Gleason Theater and the Colony Theater off Washington Avenue. The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) focuses on mainstream, while the Wolfsonian plays with propaganda. Jazz, flamenco and national bands rock out at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. The HistoryMiami museum answers all questions on the city's humble beginnings.

The powerful taste of spice, tropical fruit, and pork create a Floribbean taste that permeates many restaurants. Find deliciously sloppy 24-hour taco joints, plus Thai, Japanese and five-star sensations in South Beach and along Lincoln Road. Upscale chains live in the downtown area. Try Cuban along Calle Ocho, Haitian in Overtown, casual comfort food int the Grove, and Mediterranean in Coral Gables.

See Miami from the water on a sunset cruise aboard an old schooner. Indulge in Afternoon Tea at The Villa By Barton G., a luxurious hotel housed in Gianni Versace's former mansion.