The beautiful Bacara Resort & Spa property made me feel like a professional photographer. Sunset at Bacara will always be memorable.

I knew I should have gotten a new overnight bag.

Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to visit Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, CA for a quick trip out of Los Angeles to recharge my batteries.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Bacara Resort & Spa, the resort is about 15 minutes north of Downtown Santa Barbara and is primarily known for the venue of their spa as well as their spa treaments and services. 

According to one of the people working at the hotel, Bacara houses one of the largest Spa facilities in the state of California.

The famous Bacara spa. As beautiful inside as it is outside.

What most people may not know about this venue, is how secluded and beautiful the property is.

The pool and jacuzzi of Bacara Resort & Spa. If you look between the trees, you will see the ocean, which is a 5-minute walk away from the resort.

My wife and I had a chance to walk around the property and it really felt like we were in our own world, far away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.

Through a short trail and a quick 5-minute walk we discovered one of the most amazing views we had ever seen.

The back of most hotels are alleys. The back of Bacara Resort and Spa is this. Luigi enjoying the view.

Beyond the beauty of the architecture and surrounding environment, what made our stay extremely enjoyable was the service and the food.

The entire staff was friendly, attentive and made you feel at home.    Given the fact Bacara is a high-end hotel, it was refreshing to see the staff providing the same service for everyone that walked through their doors. 

Everyone made us feel comfortable throughout our entire stay.

Additionally, (although we only stayed for a night) we had a chance to eat at their Bistro (by the pool) and Miro, their fine dining restaurant. 

The food and service at both venues were amazing.  In fact, we’re going to do a follow-up article on Miro later this week (the experience was that good).

Our room, on the other hand was spacious and above average (we got the regular room with a fireplace).  It was designed in-line with the rest of the hotel with Spanish influences and was very comfortable.

If we had any issue with our stay, it would be the fact we could hear our neighbors if they spoke loud enough.  But to be honest, the rest of the experience was so good, we easily overlooked that minor detail.

So if you’ve got plans to visit the Santa Barbara area, we would highly recommend going to Bacara Resort & Spa.  It may be a little pricier than some of the other hotels in the area, but well worth it.

Luigi basking in awesomeness at Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, CA.

The only real problem with Bacara is the location is so beautiful, you may never leave the resort to check out the rest of Santa Barbara.

For more information about Bacara Resort & Spa, you can check out their official site at http://www.bacararesort.com/.

Many travellers, who find their way to evocative Cuba, come for the music, the dancing, the culture and of course… the cigars. It’s hard to come to Cuba without getting a whiff of the unmistakable scent of freshly rolled cigars and cigar smoke trailing out of clubs and pubs, or even just from those sat on street corners, a locally made cigar between their lips.

There is a reason that Cuban cigars are considered some of the most coveted in the world and this is not just because of the controversy tied in with the Cuban cigar ban still lingering in the United States. Cuban cigars are coveted because they are in a class by themselves. Most cigar aficionados will confirm, and American cigar lovers will sigh as they admit: cigars from Cuba are something special. They would be special even without a US ban.

Even if you don’t want to smoke a cigar while in Cuba, there is something tantalising about the flavours and smells of the unlit cigar and you’ll likely enjoy the scent. Try lifting a fresh cigar to your nose. The smell is intoxicating.

If while enjoying a holiday in Cuba you decide to try a cigar for the first time or to purchase a few for later, or for friends, there are a few things to keep in mind: length, colour, and diameter are all part of the flavour of the cigar.

Length Matters

The length of the cigar affects the smoke. Look for a cigar that is at least five inches long. Cooler smoke is better.

Colour is Key

The colour of the cigar indicates its strength:  The colours range from a light green to yellow shade (Double Claro), to a light tan (Claro), light brown (Colorado Claro), reddish to dark brown (Colorado), very dark brown, almost black (Maduro), to black (Obscuro). If you’re new to cigars, a mild to medium cigar or the lighter coloured selections will be best.

Diameter & Diversity

Cigars diameter is measured in rings (1/64 of an inch). The thicker the cigar, the wider its diameter, and the more likely it is to contain various tobacco blends. A 46 ring is recommended. This will ensure the taste is mellow and pleasing; additionally, it will burn cooler. You don’t want your cigar to burn too hot. Corona, Robusto or Churchill are a good place to start.

Let it Shine

Keep an eye out for the shine of the cigar. Shine demonstrates good aging. Avoid cigars with lumps or bumps. You want to see the veins running smoothly for the whole length of the cigar, texture should be consistent.  Also, a bloom or fine dust forms on naturally aged cigars. This is different from mold. Keep an eye out for this.

So whatever you decide to do while in Cuba, if cigars are on your mind and you’re looking to try a few or pick out some great gifts to bring home, remember when it comes to great Cuban cigars look at the colour, diameter, length, and shine. Expensive does not always equal high quality.

The U.S. National Whitewater Center. Image from http://usnwc.org.

There are a lot of things you can expect to find in North Carolina.

Beautiful women.  Glorious barbeque.  Michael Jordan on vacation.

But one thing you wouldn’t expect (especially if you weren’t in the know) is a U.S. National Whitewater Center and Olympic training center that is open to the public.  That’s right, it’s open to people like you and me.

The US National Whitewater Center. Image from http://usnwc.org.

I was fortunate enough to visit the center over the weekend and it is an amazing place.  Not only do you have 3 different whitewater courses you can maneuver through with professional guides, but you have a plethora of other outdoor activites you can take advantage of, such as:

Water Sports

• Whitewater Rafting
• Flatwater Kayaking
• Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
• Whitewater Kayaking

Land Sports

• Canyon Crossing
• Rock Climbing
• Mountain Biking
• Mega Zip
• Mega Jump
• Adventure Course
• Climb 2 Zip
• Eco Trekking
• The Trail System

All of this in a super-clean, well-organized and beautiful location.  In North Carolina.

We were only there for 5 hours (yeah only) and we were able to do the whitewater rafting, Mega Zip line, Mega Jump, flatwater kayaking and stand up paddleboard.  They were all really amazing and fun.  Except maybe for the Mega Jump.  I almost peed myself before I jumped off the three-story high controlled jump.

So the next time you are in North Carolina for the beautiful women, barbeque and the occassional Michael Jordan sighting, you have to check out the U.S. National Whitewater Center to try out their activities.  You, your family and your friends will have  a blast.

For more information about The U.S. National Whitewater Center, you can go to their official website at http://usnwc.org/

The patio of Lexington Social House. Now imagine yourself snuggling with a hottie (or two) in a secluded corner. Image from lexingtonsocialhouse.com.

Everyone has a great story about a night out at a club.

Whether it is the venue, or the DJ, or the super hot girl you met and danced with all night, there are many elements that contribute to an amazing evening with your friends. 

But rarely do you find a place where all of these elements come together so well on a regular basis.

Until now, with the introduction of Lexington Social House in Hollywood.

Lexington Social House. The home of style and where ESM goes out to play. Image from lexingtonsocialhouse.com.

It’s no secret the boys from ESM like to party. 

We’ve seen the best and the brightest clubs in L.A., Vegas and Miami.  Believe us when we say Lexington Social House has high marks on everything we look for in a club, from beautiful women to good music to amazing decor.

Seriously – we had 8 beautiful women at our table, but we still got out numbered by beautiful (see: modelesque) women at all the tables across the dancefloor from us.

And no, unless you are P. Diddy that doesn’t happen to you during your regular club experience.

The dance floor at Lexington Social House. Big enough to party, cozy enough to get busy. Image from lexingtonsocialhouse.com.

Recently, we had a chance to speak with the owner of the club, Jeremy Chin about Lexington Social House:

What is Lexington Social House all about?
Our website describes it best:

The social house concept was born from the idea of the perfect dinner party. Intriguing guests mingle over handcrafted food and drinks while high design and high energy come together to create the perfect evening out. Conversation is the centerpiece at this table!

For decades, Hollywood & Vine has been known as the epicenter of Hollywood culture where colors, trends, preferences and art meld seamlessly together to create a masterpiece of an experience.

How long has Lexington Social House been open for?
About 4 weeks.

What made you decide to open Lexington Social House?
I felt there was a need for a restaurant and nightclub concept in LA with a focus on hospitality and customer service.

Coming from a hotel hospitality background, we wanted to create a fun brand that focuses on customer service and having a good time without spending extravagant amounts of money.

We love how Lexington Social House was designed.  What gave you the inspiration for the décor?
Again, from our website:

The design of Lexington has followed this recipe to create an environment where old textures blend with contemporary art and design, from classic Queen Anne chairs with five legs to modern stick figure art displayed throughout the space. At Lexington, the lines between food and décor design are blurred.

While the interiors of Lexington offer guests multiple dining experiences from an intimate dinner for two to a more social experience with dining at the carrara marble bar, the exterior offers an entirely different evening out.

Truly a gathering place, the garden patio is an outdoor room with an indoor vibe, complete with cocktail seating, a fireplace, tree canopies and its own bar. At Lexington Social House the art of lounging is a simply a matter of taste.

A sampling of the incredible decor at Lexington Social House. Image from lexingtonsocialhouse.com.

Although we were unable to dine at Lexington Social House, we heard the food is amazing.  What are the best things on the menu?
I love the scallops and crab salad. I have those at least 3 times a week.

Lamb Bolognese, one of the delicious menu items from Lexington Social House. Image from lexingtonsocialhouse.com.

Give us a quick background about you.  Do you own/have you owned other venues like this?
This is my first restaurant nightclub project.

I’ve done real estate developments in Manhattan, NY before coming out to LA for a change of pace and a new venture. Most of my projects in NY were hospitality driven spaces, such as commercial office lofts with full service amenities, hotels, and retail spaces, all that I have owned and operated.

At ESM, we’re all about men’s style.  Being a successful  businessman/restaurateur/club owner, what is your personal philosophy about men’s style? 
I believe when one feels good about themselves, they are more confident to tackle their goals.

Whether it be your clothing, fitness, lifestyle, or internal self-esteem. It’s great how style and clothing can put you in the mood and mindset for anything you wish to overcome.

Are there some style rules that you tend to live by?
I just like to be comfortable and clean. I believe everyone has their own style and nothing looks ugly as long as the individual feels good about themselves.

Finally, do you have anything you would like to say to our readers?
Come have a drink at Lexington Social House and be sure to say hello! – J

Trust me when I say this, Jeremy is the consummate host so please say hello if you get a chance to visit Lexington Social House.  (Actually say hi to us too, since we might be partying at the same time.)

For reservations or more information about Lexington Social House, you can visit their official site at http://www.lexingtonsocialhouse.com/.

The Coach Transatlantic Travel Carryon would be my "Go Bag". Image from Coach.com.

Every dude needs a “Go Bag”. 

Repeat, every dude needs a “Go Bag”.  Why?  Because when you have to make that last minute trip to say, er, Vegas with your boys or say, Vegas with your girl or say Vegas by yourself, you want to make sure you can just take off in a moment’s notice.

And why not make your “Go Bag” something that is stylish, classic and can stand the test of time?

My personal preference would be something in brown leather with a worn patina.  It just says, “yeah I’ve been there and I’m not going to talk about it.”

Just make sure you’ve got all the other necessities in there for a night of mayhem:  Toothbrush, toothpaste, cashmere sweater, “money” suit, swimming trunks, cologne, clean underwear and some cash.

Actually make it enough cash to get you into just enough trouble, but not have to worry about making rent next month.

For more information about the Transatlantic Travel Carryon, you can check out Coach’s official website at http://www.coach.com/online/handbags/-men_totestravel-10551-10051-88-en?t1Id=82&t2Id=88&tier=2&LOC=LN.

The red room at the Airr Supper Club. Image from airr.us.

So… I may have been a little too excited when I tweeted about Airr Supper Club in San Diego.  It’s great, but not perfect. Yet.

Airr Supper Club opened on May 24th and has since changed the San Diego nightlife scene upside down with its upscale design and tasty menu.

Where you eat. All white and so so pimp. Image from http://airr.us/.

What were the greatest things about it?

• The location
• The interior design
• The beautiful hostesses and servers
• The food

What can be worked on?

• The service (sorry to say)
• How long the food takes to serve
• The stairs (when you are drunk)

The good news -

• They haven’t “officially” opened, so they have time to get their act together
• The place has a ton of potential
• The waitresses are smoking hot
• If you’re from out of town, you probably will be on vacation in San Diego

So the next time you are in San Diego, make sure to check out Airr Supper Club in the Gaslamp District.  It will be worth it, even if the food takes a bit to get to your table.

For more information, you can check out their official website at http://airr.us/.

Where you party. Image from http://airr.us/.

Welcome to the Bazaar by Jose Andres. Image from deliciouslife.com.

3 Words: Believe the hype.

I’ve been disappointed before with restaurants that have had rave reviews from culinary experts and foodies before (see: umami burger), but The Bazaar by Jose Andres at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills lives up to every award and positive review written about it.

After having tasted the food there, my friends and I couldn’t stop talking about how amazing the entire experience was.  From the Philippe Starck  designs to the surprising dishes, Jose Andres took us on a magical journey known as The Bazaar.

The Sauteed Shrimp from The Bazaar by Jose Andres.

The Bazaar
When you first walk into the Bazaar, you’ll think it is a typical hotel bar and restaurant.  As you proceed through your evening, however, you realize that it is divided into 5 unique areas each fulfilling a specific purpose.  

The evening starts at Bar Centro, where you can order your regular or specialty drinks, such as their modern take on the dirty martini.  Once it is time to take your dinner reservation, you go to Rojo y Blanca to have some amazing tapas.  Finally, your last stop will be to the Patisserie for deserts.

In the event you want to have a full tasting menu, you can also check out Saam.  They have also ingeniously added a gift shop called “Regalo” into the mix of things.

The Foie Gras Floating Island Soup from The Bazaar by Jose Andres.

José Andrés
Here is a little excerpt about José Andrés from the official Bazaar website:

Internationally recognized as a culinary innovator, José Andrés is a James Beard Award winning chef and owner of ThinkFoodGroup. TFG is the team responsible for Washington D.C.’s award-winning dining concepts Jaleo, Zaytinya, Oyamel, Café Atlantico and minibar by José Andrés, as well as Los Angeles’ celebrated destination, The Bazaar by José Andrés at the SLS Hotel at BEverly Hills.  José serves as culinary director for the SLS luxury hotel brand, a collaboration with sbe and Philippe Starck, overseeing all food and beverage including catering and in-room dining.

And yes, he has won multiple awards for his work (taken from his Wikipedia entry):

• In 2003, Andrés won the James Beard Foundation’s award for Best Chef of the Mid-Atlantic Region.
• Bon Appetit magazine named Andrés its Chef of the Year in 2004 and Food & Wine magazine included Andrés in their “35 Under 35″ Tastemakers list for 2004. Saveur magazine included Andrés on their 2004 Saveur Top 100 list, stating that he “represents the broad spectrum of Hispanic cooking from ancient traditions to the fantasies reminiscent of El Bulli, where he once worked, better than anyone else in America today.”
• In 2005, Food Arts magazine awarded him their prestigious Silver Spoon award, referring to him as “the irrepressibly energetic chef José Andrés, the best thing to happen to Spain in North America since 1492.”
• In 2006, Andrés was named Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.
• In 2007, Andrés was inducted into the Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America list.
• In 2008, the Bravo Network awarded Andrés the prize for A-List Chef at the first Bravo A-List Awards. The James Beard Foundation nominated Andrés as Outstanding Chef for his work at minibar by josé andrés.
• In 2010, his Beverly Hills restaurant, The Bazaar by José Andrés, at the SLS hotel was recognized as one of GAYOT.com’s Top 10 New Restaurants in the U.S.
• In 2010, the Cabinet of Spain voted to award Andrés the Order of Arts and Letters (Orden de las Artes y las Letras de España).

The Highlights of the Evening
Since the restaurant is based on a tapas menu, there were plenty of choices to be made.  Lucky for us, we were a party of 6 and we all liked to eat.

The wild mushroom rice with black truffles from The Bazaar by Jose Andres.

Some of our favorites from the evening were:

• The ceasar salad (they looked like a cut up sushi roll but had all the flavor of a ceasar salad)
• The “Philly Cheesesteak”
• The wild mushroom rice with black truffles (something that was a special for that night – you can order the rice on any given day however)
• The “Not your everyday caprese”
• Anything with foie gras in it

Anything with foie gras?
Yes ladies and gentlemen, anything with foie gras in it was a real hit, namely:

• The foie gras floating soup (which you drank like a cappuccino, but tasted like the best beef soup and cream you will ever have in your lifetime)
• The foie gras sandwiches (they looked like little burgers but when you ate them, you wished they would last forever)
• Cotton candy foie gras (don’t believe me?  The machine was a table away from us)

I normally don’t eat a lot of foie gras and usually like it seared, but the dishes listed above were topics of discussion the entire evening – even during the drive home. 

The foie gras sandwiches from The Bazaar by Jose Andres.

Let me put it to you this way – one person wanted to stick his man parts in the soup because of how good it tasted and the vegetarian at the table was willing to throw out her 9 year commitment to vegetarian eating because of how we were describing the experience eating the sandwiches.

The Caipirinha
The caipirinha is a traditional Brazilian drink that most of you are familiar with.  At the Bazaar, they have taken it to another level by introducing liquid nitrogen into the mix.

The caipirinha from The Bazaar by Jose Andres.

When they prepare your drinks tableside, you’ll feel like you are at Hogwort’s because of the steam coming out of the mixing bowl (yeah the mixing bowl) as the server flash freezes the caipirinha mix and scoops it out into your glass.

What you get is essentially a killer margarita without the mess of a blender nor the watered down qualities of adding ice to your drink.  A must have when you get a chance to eat at the Bazaar.

Dessert
The desserts were an entire experience all together.  We were moved to another area that was close to the bar and beside the gift shop so you were close to the action but a little bit off to the side.

Some of our desserts from The Bazaar by Jose Andres.

We had the flan, the tres leches and the floating island.  As you could probably guess, they were all amazing.

Some Advice Before You Go
My dinner companions and I even had a long conversation about some things that made our evening even more special:

• Make reservations early (a month in advance for weekend dining or try something during the week)
• Make sure you are with a bigger group so you can try more things
• Make sure the group you are with has an appreciation for fine dining
• Don’t be afraid to spend some money for some good food

In the end, we each spent a little over $100, but that included drinks and gratuity.  In the grand scheme of things, not bad for having one of the best dining evenings in my lifetime.

Some Additional Thoughts
The Bazaar and the SLS Beverly Hills are the hot new places to be right now (given the swanky clientele and the cars parked out front).  But if you were to strip away the crowd, the Philippe Starck designs and the Hollywood mystique – and you were to just have dinner in a kitchen with the food, The Bazaar by José Andrés would still be an amazing, imaginative and pioneering restaurant that has really, really, really (really) good food.

For more information about The Bazaar by José Andrés, you can visit their official website online.

The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas. Image from cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.

I am kind of a douche when it comes to hotel accommodations.

I want to stay somewhere that is classy, but not stuffy, beautiful, but not untouchable, distinguished and comfortable and built to the 9′s with STYLE.

Quite honestly, there hasn’t been any place I could possibly call the “perfect hotel”, but I think I have found it in The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas.

If the Hard Rock, Hotel & Casino, the Encore hotel and the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino were to ever have a menage-a-trois which in turn created a baby that somehow inherited all the money in the family, the result would be the Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas.

From the moment I walked in, it felt like every piece of furniture, art and fixture was perfectly thought out.  I was thoroughly impressed with the front entrance, where the check-in desks were surrounded by wall-to-ceiling LED screens across the entire room.

I wonder if the white Bentley and the white Ferrari Scaglietti was there on purpose or was my timing just impeccable?

In any case, I would like to pass this message on to whoever did the design and construction of the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas:

Great fucking job.

Floor to ceiling LED screens. Just to keep it real.

For more information about The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, you can visit their official website at http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/.

Just the right amount of wrong, indeed…

Globe-Trotter hand made luxury luggage. For the awesome traveller. Image from globe-trotterltd.com.

Excuse the explitive, but I love this f#&king luggage.

Hand-made, old-school and made of the best materials, Globe-Trotter luggage features Vulcan Fibre corner details and hardcore awesomeness that exemplifies the true ESM man.

According to their official website, since 1897, the brand philosophy has been a simple one – never to compromise the integrity of the craftsmanship.

Those are some great words to live by.

For more information about Globe-Trotter Luggage, you can visit their official site at globe-trotterltd.com.

The Sapphire Princess from Princess Cruise Lines. Image from ships-info.info.

As always, I have come late in the game for the coolest thing ever: cruising.

I recently took my first cruise to the Mexican Riviera on the Sapphire Princess from Princess cruise lines.  Much like any other thing you do for your first time, there is some nervous anticipation at first.  You don’t know what to expect and you worry as to whether or not you’re going to like it.

But as they say, once that boat starts rockin’…

It is an AMAZING experience, for the following reasons:

• Everyone on a cruise is there to have a great time and make new friends
• The food is amazing, a part of your cruise price and available almost 24 hours a day
• All the best boats have many amenities such as casinos, nightclubs and restaurants
• Since you don’t get a great phone signal or internet connection, you’re forced not to work
• Time almost seems to stand still when you are on a cruise
• It is a great value for the price (think about it, you have a place to stay and food is included)
• You can check out a lot of places without having to move from one hotel to another

So if you haven’t had a chance to go on a cruise, GO.  You’re going to thank me when you get back.

But before you go, you should heed the following advice:

• Lose 20 lbs. before the cruise because you are going to gain it all back.
• Keep track of all the booze you are drinking on the boat.  It adds up really fast!
• Make friends with co-cruisers and staff members.  They will take care of you.
• Tip.  Most of the staff make very little compared to U.S. standards.
• Have as much fun as possible.  If that 70 year old woman is doing the Macarena, so should you.

For more information about the Princess Cruise lines, you can visit their official site here.

For great deals on cruises, check out vacationstogo.com and look for Mitchell.  He took care of us for this first cruise and I am sure he will take care of you.

The first W Hotel in New York.

I am a hotel whore.  Yeah I said it.  HOTEL WHORE.

One of my favorite hotels to stay in are the W Hotels Worldwide.  Why?  Because the W guys have a ton of style that match my sensibilities of being naturally awesome.

Good service?  Check.  Mood music when I get into the lobby?  Check.  Killer ambience, furnishings and lighting?  Check, check and check.

Soft beds, beddings and pillows?  An absolute CHECK.

Bathroom image from a guest room at the W South Beach. Taken from starwoodhotels.com.

Here’s a little excerpt about the W’s history from their website:

Combining the personality and style of an independent hotel with the reliability, consistency and attentive service of a major business hotel, W Hotels® has redefined the upscale hotel experience – becoming the most successful new hotel brand in the industry.

It began with the recognition that there are customers who seek a balance between style and substance – in their own lives, as in the destinations they choose. Each W hotel embodies this balance with a strikingly modern approach to design that is as refreshing, accessible and comfortable as one’s own living space, and an emphasis on comfort, warm, attentive service and exceptional amenities.

The W experience began with the W New York (49th St. and Lexington), which opened its doors in December of 1998. An instant phenomenon, its success drove the development of more than a dozen new properties in exciting destinations – including Los Angeles, Honolulu and New Orleans – in an unprecedented two-year span.

The courtyard in the W Hotel, New Orleans. Image from starwoodhotels.com.

So what are you waiting for?  If you’re an ESM Man of Style, then you have to stay at one of these amazing hotels on your next vacation.  Just make sure to not spend too much money on stuff you can buy in your hotel room.

For more information about W Hotels worldwide, please visit their official website.

One of the rooms in the Tides South Beach. Image from tidessouthbeach.com

I’m embarrassed to admit I showed up really late in the game when it comes to realizing how awesome Miami is.  I guess that’s what I get for growing up without a lot of money and living in L.A.

For most east coast folks, I’m sure Miami is just a common vacation much like Vegas is to L.A.

But enough about how sucky my life was before I knew about Miami and more about the Tides in South Beach.  Known as “The Diva of Ocean Drive”, the Tides is a fantastic boutique hotel that (as most boutique hotels are) boasts amazing service, upscale design and a very intimate atmosphere.

You know you're in South Beach when you stay in a room like this. Image from tidessouthbeach.com.

From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, every person at the Tides makes you feel special.

If that isn’t enough, you’re on world-famous Ocean Drive, a short walk to the ocean and in the heart of South Beach.  Oh, and did I mention a killer happy hour?  ($2 drinks at 2 pm, $3 drinks at 3 pm, $4 drinks at 4… you get the picture.)

The cabana at the pool (although you're going to spend most of your time at the beach). Image from tidessouthbeach.com.

So the next time you are thinking about heading to Miami, please make sure to book a room at the Tides.  I guarantee you are not going to regret it.

Insider tip: when you arrive at the Tides, get the inside scoop from their concierge.  They will be sending you to all the places the trendy, upscale locals go to.

For more information, you can visit them online at http://www.tidessouthbeach.com.

This is a pretty cropped photo of their front entrance. If you plan to do happy hour at the Tides, this is the place to do it. Image from tidessouthbeach.com.