My friend and I are planning to go early November for a week.
How will the weather be there? Is it warm enough to the beach? Also, if you've been, are the beaches clean? I've read lots of mixed reviews, but I'm curious what my shopping buddies think. :) I've read there are a lot of homeless people begging and garbage is everywhere. :\
I've never been to FL, so I thought SoBe would be a good choice- lots of clubs, a beach, shopping, and relaxation at a hotel with a pool & spa services. We're pretty sure we're going to stay at the Catalina. It looks really nice. Any other suggestions on where to stay would be nice. We'd like to keep the price under $150 a night, if possible.
It seems like there's a good mix of everything there, but I'd love to hear opinions from people who've been.
Also, any decent restaurants that aren't wicked expensive? I realize it's a city, but we want to spend most of our money shopping and going out.
I looked up the prices in early November and it should be right in your price range for a standard room with a queen bed. Call them and ask them if they can offer you any deals since it would be your first time staying with them. I really like it because it is not right on Ocean Drive which can be so noisy.
We have a place in South Beach so we go there a ton.
The beaches are very clean and I've never once had an issue with homeles people begging. The weather is ok in November but it may not be laying out weather.
As far as shopping I second Lincoln Road and well as Ocean for cha cha stuff, bathing suits etc and Collins is nice shopping as well. A couple of beach shops but they also have Barney's Co-Op, Nicole Miller and other high end stores.
As far as resteraunts that are not too expensive pretty much walk along Ocean or Lincoln (different areas) and you'll find pleny of places. Tirimasu is a gret Italian place on Lincoln, Van Dyke has great Jazz and you can eat downstairs (be warned the service typically sucks though) on Ocean the news cafe is pretty popular for people watching. Love Big Pink for breakfast or lunch or super late night eats. It's definateyl a local place. Monty's is another place alot of locals hang out. It's on the yacht club, it's outside, you can eat in your bathing suit, they have a pool and a great late nigh crowd of boat people. Very casual but great food.
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