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The Best Mid-Range Hotels
Chesterfield Hotel, Suites & Day Spa (South Beach; tel. 305/673-3767): A true value, this charismatic and hip sliver of property has won the loyalty of fashion industrialists and romantics alike. Built in 1929 and restored in 1996, the hotel retains many original details such as facades, woodwork, and fireplaces.
The Catalina Hotel & Beach Club (South Beach; tel. 877/SOBEGRP or 305/674-1160): Affordable and hip, the Catalina is a retro fab stay with stylish rooms, Swedish Tempur-Pedic mattresses, a hot bar, and VIP hookups at all the clubs in South Beach.
Pelican Hotel (South Beach; tel. 800/7-PELICAN or 305/673-3373): Owned by the creative owners of the Diesel jeans company, the Pelican is South Beach's only self-professed "toy-hotel," and each of its 30 rooms and suites is decorated as outrageously as some of the area's more colorful drag queens.
Whitelaw Hotel (South Beach; tel. 305/398-7000): With a slogan that reads, "Clean sheets, hot water, and stiff drinks," the Whitelaw stands apart from the other boutique hotels with its fierce sense of humor and happening happy hours.
Conch Key Cottages (Marathon; tel. 800/330-1577 or 305/289-1377): This oceanfront hideaway offers rustic but immaculate and well-outfitted cottages that are especially popular with families. Each has a hammock, barbecue grill, and kitchen.
Courtyard Villa on the Ocean (Fort Lauderdale; tel. 800/291-3560 or 954/776-1164): These fabulous, plush accommodations are located right on the beach, but if you prefer to stay off the sand, the heated spa pool is sublime.
Hotel Biba (West Palm Beach; tel. 561/832-0094): The mod squad has adopted -- and adapted -- this '40s-style motel into a futuristic, kitschy, jet-set hangout that provides swank and sleek shelter from the upper-crust hotels that surround it.
Island's End Resort (St. Pete Beach; tel. 727/360-5023): A wonderful respite from the madding crowd and a great bargain to boot, this little all-cottage hideaway sits on the southern tip of St. Pete Beach, smack-dab on Pass-a-Grille, where the Gulf of Mexico meets Tampa Bay. You can step from the six contemporary cottages right onto the beach. One unit even has a private pool.
Disney's Port Orleans Resort (Lake Buena Vista; tel. 407/934-7639 or 934-5000): With the refined surroundings of the French Quarter, the casual atmosphere of Alligator Bayou, and the stately air of Magnolia Bend (the latter two at Riverside), this resort's Southern charm appeals to all tastes. The French Quarter's pool sports a water slide that curves from the mouth of a colorful sea serpent, while Riverside's Ol' Man Island has a water hole and playground with a very Tom Sawyer-ish feel.
Staybridge Suites (Lake Buena Vista; tel. 800/866-4549 or 407/238-0777): Close to the action of Downtown Disney and the theme parks, this resort's one- and two-bedroom suites have full kitchens and are larger and more comfortable than most of the competition's. To help you relax, the resort will do your grocery shopping so you don't have to deal with the hassle.
Casa Monica Hotel (St. Augustine; tel. 800/648-1888 or 904/827-1888): Built in 1888 as a luxury hotel, this Spanish-style building was gutted and restored to its previous elegance in 1998. The most interesting of the guest quarters are suites installed in two tile-topped towers and a fortresslike central turret. One suite in the turret has a half-round living room with gun-port windows overlooking St. Augustine's historic district.
Gibson Inn (Apalachicola; tel. 850/653-2191): Built in 1907 as a seamen's hotel and gorgeously restored in 1985, this cupola-topped inn is such a brilliant example of Victorian architecture that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Inns. No two guest rooms are alike (some still have the original sinks in the sleeping areas), but all are richly furnished with period reproductions. Grab a drink from the bar and relax in one of the high-backed rockers on the old-fashioned veranda.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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