The Ultimate South Florida Spring Break Destination Guide

It's that time of the year when Florida is the hottest destination for travelers seeking sun, sand, and sea with exciting activities in between. With its pristine beaches, bustling nightlife, and wide range of accommodation options, South Florida is the perfect destination for anyone in need of a break from the daily grind (even locals!). From Fort Lauderdale to Miami to Key West, we've rounded up a South Florida destination guide with something for everyone.

For the Party

Gabriel South Beach

The Gabriel South Beach is a boutique property centrally located on Ocean Drive in the heart South Beach. The 132-room hotel has two pools, including a show stopping glass-bottom pool on the roof overlooking bustling Ocean Drive, and South Beach all within close proximity to all the action.

Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort

The new Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort offers a healthy mix of tropical serenity with a buzzing social scene; it all depends on which way you want to turn the tide. With two pools, a coastal-inspired restaurant and bar, and lush, secluded courtyards, each setting is a postcard of possibility. Grab a cocktail, listen to live music, watch yachts drift by or simply claim a moment of calm in your modern, bright guestroom. Like the ocean nearby, this local hideaway is there with a rush of adrenaline – and a breath of fresh air.

The Marker Key West Harbor Resort

The Marker Key West Harbor Resort is ideally located on the Key West Historic Seaport, just steps from lively Duval Street and Mallory Square. Recently named the “#1 Resort in the Florida Keys” by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, this modern waterfront resort offers a sanctuary of lush tropical grounds, three saltwater pools, an open-air restaurant and bar for alfresco dining. Each of its 96 spacious and luxurious guest rooms features a private balcony, perfectly appointed design elements and Key West-inspired touches.

Magic Mike Live: The Tour

MAGIC MIKE LIVE, a first-class entertainment experience based on the hit Magic Mike film series, opened in the Magic City as part of its North American tour. Serving as “the cure to the common male revue” (Las Vegas Sun), the steamy production features the hottest and most talented men in the country performing in front of, behind, above, and all around the audience. Conceived by Channing Tatum and co-directed by Tatum and film franchise choreographer Alison Faulk, with choreography by Faulk, Teresa Espinosa and Luke Broadlick, the show features sexy and daring routines punctuated by one-of-a-kind acts from a diverse cast of performers. MAGIC MIKE LIVE is a 360-degree dance and acrobatic spectacular guaranteed to bring on the heat. MAGIC MIKE LIVE: The Tour performs in a custom venue at the Miami Marine Stadium site on Rickenbacker Causeway. Shows take place at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. every Wednesday through Sunday. Guests are invited to come early and stay late to enjoy a delectable meal from the full-service restaurant, Wildfire by Meat N’ Bone.

On The Beach

The Sagamore South Beach

Sagamore South Beach, the historic art deco hotel known for its year-round art programming and museum-quality exhibitions, has been a destination for both locals and tourists alike since the Art Deco District was created in the 1940s. The iconic hotel is framed by palm trees, sits steps from the water, and offers a sea of amenities and activities, including an outdoor heated swimming pool and a poolside bar to take bites and cocktails back to your lounge chair. The 101-room hotel, with ample suites, boasts some of the largest standard rooms in the area.

Nautilus by Arlo

With the Atlantic Ocean just steps away, Nautilus by Arlo offers guests both pool and beach access. Beach lovers will adore the bamboo-lined path that delivers you straight onto South Beach, in all its turquoise sea glory. Guests are welcome to recline and relax on the hotel's complimentary lounges, beach umbrellas, and enjoy Nautilus Cabana Club food and drinks delivered right to the sand. Nautilus by Arlo has one of the best addresses of all beachfront hotels in Miami Beach, turning the beach into one's backyard.

Shelborne South Beach

Originally built in 1940, Shelborne South Beach was designed by famed art deco architects Igor Polevitsky and Thomas Triplett Russell, then embellished in the 1950s by neo-baroque design master Morris Lapidus. The property houses an iconic art deco pool, David’s Café (for authentic Cuban coffee) and The Drawing Room bar. Head to the pool for a relaxed vibe and traditional South Beach nostalgia, or visit the amazing Oasis Garden, which offers various moon-watching events and fitness programming on weekends.

City Escapes/Staycations

The Gabriel Miami

The Gabriel Miami is a 129-key lifestyle hotel in Downtown Miami offering spacious rooms and suites and views of Biscayne Bay. Adjacent to the hotel’s palm tree-lined sun deck on the 14th floor is a rectangular pool with views of the Intracoastal waterway, Miami Beach, PortMiami and Biscayne Bay, providing guests with the ultimate venue for relaxation in the city’s cultural epicenter. Select rooms feature balconies with outdoor seating, perfect for watching the sunrise over the Miami skyline.

The Elser Hotel & Residences

The Elser Hotel is an all-new 49-story, 646-room property with accommodations ranging from studios to three-bedroom suites and direct proximity to world-class entertainment, arts and dining. Guests enjoy access to an abundance of well-appointed amenities, including a two-story state-of-the-art fitness center and a 19,000-square-foot sun deck offering sweeping views of Biscayne Bay, a 132-foot-long pool, a 16-foot LED screen and an expansive event lawn serving as the ultimate destination for outdoor celebrations.

THesis Hotel: The Ultimate Hideaway

THesis Hotel Miami, a modern property that serves as a cultural hub in Coral Gables, has 245 contemporary guest rooms and suites in a strikingly designed building. Amenities include a sun-filled rooftop pool with tropical views, a poolside bar perfect for soaking up the Florida sun and two on-site restaurants, Mamey and Orno, led by Food & Wine’s “Best New Chef of 2020” and James Beard nominee Niven Patel. With a robust year-round calendar of programming and events – all open to the public – THesis is not only a hotel but a destination where curious, like-minded individuals exchange ideas, celebrate art, discover new cultural experiences and engage with the community.

Arlo Wynwood

Recently opened in November 2022, Arlo Wynwood is the first-ever hotel in Miami’s preeminent creative and cultural district, which is home to the largest concentration of street art in the world. An experience-driven boutique hotel, the 217-room, nine-story hotel serves as the cultural hub for residents and visitors while offering savvy travelers prime access to the best of the region. Designed by Meyer Davis, an award-winning firm at the forefront of global, upscale commercial design, Arlo Wynwood draws on the neighborhood’s bold and curated artistic nature while embracing an eclectic industrial aesthetic where organic meets modern. Arlo Wynwood has an all-star culinary team led by award-winning Bar Lab and James Beard alum Chef Brad Kilgore. The hotel also has more than 250 works of art throughout the property and offers guests multiple complimentary wellness activities and live music programming.