At night, Ocean Drive in South Beach glows. Neon signs on the hotels provide cool light above the cool people strutting along sidewalks and spilling out from the area’s hot restaurants and clubs. The distinctive neon shines above the neighborhood’s trendy hotels, which were built during the Art Deco era of the 1930s.

Make Yourself At Home

The Miami Design Preservation League offers an Art Deco walking tour, but the best way to really appreciate the hotels’ streamlined, nautical-inspired details is to stay in one of them. The hotels have been updated with modern comforts, and their location near the beach makes them perfect for quiet days as well as exciting nights. Look for one of these Miami hotels to add a touch of history to your vacation escape.

Park Central

The lower-numbered streets along Ocean Drive are more subdued and calmer at night, and a stay at the Park Central is perfect for travelers who want to be near the action but not in the center of it. Go up to the rooftop sundeck to enjoy views overlooking it all, or sunbathe at the street-level pool.

Ocean Views

Carry your complimentary beach chairs from the Beacon Hotel to lounge by the shore, or enjoy a drink in the hotel’s Mojito Bar. If you need room to spread out, the hotel’s suites provide studio apartment-sized space with views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Experience a Landmark

The tall sign above the Breakwater Hotel is an icon, and the hotel is right across from the Art Deco Welcome Center. The hotel offers guests complimentary bicycles if you get tired of lying alongside the pool.

Party Perpetually

If you’re looking for a party, stay at the Clevelander Hotel. It’s been the center of the action since it was built in 1938. The fun starts the moment you check in and are handed a “Clevelander Frozen Favorite” welcome drink. There are nightly shows and a Saturday pool party with an emcee and live entertainment.

Vintage Glamour

The Avalon Hotel is easy to spot even when the neon sign is dark, with a 1950s vintage car parked outside. The hotel is a budget-friendly choice for travelers looking for cheap hotels in Miami, partly because it doesn’t have a pool of its own. Guests here can enjoy the pool at a sister property just up the street, the South Seas Hotel.

Vacationers looking for the South Beach experience of sun and fun find these art deco South Beach hotels perfectly located to take advantage of the area’s world-famous beach, dining, entertainment, and shopping options.