Worth considering if staying in Miami or Miami Beach for more than just a couple of days is a stay in an apartment or vacation rental. This is a particular great option for families or if traveling with a group of friends.
Vacation rentals and apartments have much to offer... it is quite convenient having a little extra space, a kitchen for quick meals or snacks... or a living room, den, your own small space to hang out together... and overall a more "local" experience...
Although many properties require a minimum stay of 3-4 days, many do not and can be rented for only one night.
Renting an apartment involves a little more work but is definitely worth it. Sometimes but not always, the savings can be substantial when traveling with a group and is definitely a lot more fun.
Luckily, there has been a surge of interest in the apartment/home rental market with apps and specialised rental agencies that make the whole process much safer and easier for both the apartment owner and the visitor. But of course, unlike a well-established hotel or resort with an expected level of service and standard, the process of booking and staying in an apartment might be a little more involved.
In most cases it requires communicating with the owner or property manager directly, making arrangements for picking up keys on arrival, etc. and there is always the risk that the property is not as advertised or as it "looks in the pictures".
Since each property is different, be sure to pay attention to the descriptions and previous customer reviews for each property, they are a good indication of what you're getting and how the entire experience worked out.
Searching for a Miami Beach Vacation Rental
One of the easiest ways to search for studios and apartments we have found is with Booking.com where many of the properties are listed, in most cases are profesionally managed properties rather than individually-owned units. The big advantage is being able to receive an instant confirmation for your desired dates with many also offering free cancellation if your plans happen to change.
Although the selection is perhaps a bit limited, it gives you an idea of the types of property, how much you can expect to pay and is a good starting point for your search. Here are a handful of properties which offer great locations and excellent value for money, specially for the South Beach area where as you know, the sky is the limit...
Superb Location: The Franklin ApartHotel South Beach
Excellent location on Collins Avenue, two blocks from the beach and Ocean Drive shopping, bars, restaurants, and nightlife
- Modern and comfortable property with newly renovated rooms and apartments
- Rooms and apartments located in two buildings can accomodate up to 6 people per unit
- Suites, Studios and 2-Bedroom apartments offer kitchenettes with fridge and dishwasher and lots of space
- Restaurant onsite
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- No Parking onsite, public parking nearby $35/day
- Great value and excellent option for families
Franklin Hotel South Beach:
860 Collins Avenue, South Beach, Miami Beach, FL 33139SoFi: The Fountains Vacation Rentals South Beach
Excellent location in SoFi (South of Fifth) just a short 6-minute walk from the beach close to the Ocean Drive action but in quieter area
- Beautiful property in a 1924 Art Deco building
- Features outdoor pool, barbecue facilities, garden, patio and terrace
- Spacious Suites, Studios and 1-Bedroom apartments sleep up to 4
- Sitting area, full kitchens, and washer and dryer
- Property provides beach chairs, towels, cooler and umbrellas for guests' use
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- All spaces non-smoking
- No Parking onsite, public parking nearby $15/day with reservation
- Great value and excellent option for families
The Fountains Vacation Rentals:
334 Euclid Avenue, South Beach, Miami Beach, FL 33139Amethyst Apartments
Location, Location, Location... on Collins Avenue in the heart of South Beach
- Features outdoor pool and sun deck
- Spacious and modern 1 and 2-Bedroom apartments sleep up to 6
- Sitting area and full kitchen equipped with a dishwasher, oven, microwave
- Bike rental on premise
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- Pets allowed on request
- No Parking onsite, public parking nearby $100/week with reservation
Amethyst Apartments South Beach:
1300 Collins Avenue, South Beach, Miami Beach, FL 33139Great Value South Beach: Sunshine Apartments
Superb location 4 blocks from the beach and minutes to Ocean Drive and the shopping, bars, restaurants, nightlife
- Offers spacious Studios and Studios with sofa beds to accomodate from 2 - 3 people
- Units feature kitchenette with microwave, toaster, refrigerator, stovetop and coffee machine
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- No Parking, public parking nearby $25/night
- Overall excellent value, this property sells out quick
Sunshine Apartments South Beach:
761 Euclid Avenue, South Beach, Miami Beach, 33139Great Value Beachfront: Monte Carlo Miami Beach
Newly renovated Beachfront Property in Mid-Beach, a much quieter area away from the hustle and bustle of South Beach (about 20-minute drive away)
- Gorgeous city, bay and/or ocean views from these spacious and modern 1-Bedroom apartments with balconies
- On the path of the Miami Beach Walk
- Walk to restaurants, supermarkets, rental car
- Features 2 outdoor heated pools, jacuzzi, fitness centre
- Sitting area / living room, full kitchen equipped with a dishwasher, oven, microwave, washer and dryer
- Beach chairs, towels and umbrellas provided free of charge
- Complimentary bike rental
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)
- Free limited valet parking
- NO daily cleaning service / housekeeping
- Reservations for the Monte Carlo are handled by several management and rental companies and for the most part they are all quite efficient but be sure to reconfirm your reservations as overbooking for this property is known to happen. Also compare rates and availability with the different companies as your preferred type of accomodation (ocean view, deluxe, etc.) might be sold out on one company but available on another.
- Excellent value for a beachfront property, a top choice for families
Monte Carlo Miami Beach:
6551 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141Great Value Mid-Beach: Tradewinds ApartHotel Miami Beach
Great location in Mid-Beach in a quiet area and 2 blocks from the beach.
- Spacious and modern studios, 1 and 2-Bedroom apartments sleeping up to 6
- Beautiful grounds and outdoor pool
- FREE Airport Shuttle transfers
- Sitting area and full kitchen equipped with fridge, stove, oven, microwave
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- Pets allowed with no extra charge
- All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)
- No Parking onsite, public parking nearby $40/day
Tradewinds Aparthotel Miami Beach:
2365 Pinetree Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33140Under $100: Beach Corner Miami Beach
No frills property with an amazing location 2-minute walk from the beach
- Property features beach studios with private OR shared bathrooms, pay attention when you book!
- Location is NOT in the middle of the melee of South Beach (a plus for many) but rather in North Miami Beach, about 20-minute drive to South Beach
- Studios include a sitting area, kitchennette with small refrigerator, toaster and microwave.
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- Free public parking available nearby
- Adults only
Beach Corner Miami Beach:
8440 Harding Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141Ocean Drive: Netherland Apartments
Upscale apartments on prime location at the north end of Ocean Drive
- 2-minute walk to the beach
- Steps from the action and the hustle and bustle of South Beach
- 10-minute walk to Lincoln Road Mall
- Spacious living/dining area, offers full kitchens with refrigerator, stove, microwave
- Free Wi-Fi in all areas
- No Parking available
Netherland Two-Bedroom Apartments by Royal Stays:
1330 Ocean Drive, South Beach, Miami Beach, FL 33139
More Vacation Rentals in Miami Beach
We have used the following companies when booking our vacation rentals wherever our travels take us and they can help you on your search for a Miami apartment, studio, penthouse, 5-bedroom villa or whatever you might require...
Tips when booking your apartment or vacation rental in Miami
- During high season or holidays the popular vacation rentals go fast! Plan on booking six months to a year in advance, and don't hesitate to contact multiple properties at a time.
- You can book some properties directly online; however, many properties, especially homes managed directly by the owner, require personal contact. In this case, fill out the e-mail form provided on the site and the owner will reply directly to you. Responses typically take 24 to 48 hours. Besides the regular e-mail communication, we normally call and speak to the owner directly, which we recommend you do specially if you have any doubts or concerns.
- Make sure you know what is included in the price. If it's not indicated in the property description, you need to ask. Things like: WiFi, sheets and towels, appliances in the kitchen if you require something in particular i.e. microwave, washer/dryer, etc.
- There could be extra fees involved, taxes, resort fees, owner fees, cleaning fees are the most common. Be sure to know what is included in your rate.
- Some apartments will be serviced and include daily housekeeping, some might be serviced once in the middle of your stay, some not at all. Most charge a cleaning fee per stay.
- Review and sign a rental agreement and read it carefully as each rental typically has their own cancellation policies and house rules
- Payment and Deposit policies vary among properties with most requiring a security deposit.
- All the online booking platforms offer a secure payment system so you are protected in case of something going terribly wrong, i.e. you are denied access to the property, the rental was substantially misrepresented, etc. so basically a "Book with Confidence" feature, which you should take advantage of.
Remember, the range of ammenities varies greatly among properties, so know what to expect to avoid dissapointment. Be sure to check the reviews, I can't stress this enough, and just as important when reading the reviews is to make sure they are recent. Have a wonderful time and enjoy your vacation rental in Miami!
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