I'm baaack & Luxe-for-Less in Miami Beach

Greetings fellow Jetsetters! It's certainly been awhile but what can I say other than c'est la vie. Life sometimes gets in the way but it's time to get this thing started again. I've got lots to share with you though and hope to provide you with some inspiration for your next vacation. So with that... Miami Beach. South Beach. SoBe. That crazy, crazy place in South Florida that attracts energetic, party-types and bachelorette parties alike. In other words not me. I'm more of a Key West kinda gal. But SoBe happens to be home to the amazing 5-star hotel known as the 1 Hotel South Beach that a friend told me about after she experienced it on her last trip to SoBe. It sounded so dreamy I had to experience it for myself even if that meant going to Miami. With its prime location right on the beach and its 4 pools I had to choose from I didn't even really care if I ever left my lounge chair and ventured outside the resort. (Note: I ended up venturing off resort and surprisingly had a great time while maintaining a low profile, more on that later).

The main lounge at the 1 Hotel South Beach, a gorgeous place to relax

Love the plant life and wood details throughout the hotel

Such coziness in this area off the lobby bar

Before I go on you're probably wondering why anyone would ever go to Miami Beach in the summer, during hurricane season, and after announcement that Zika spread. Technically it was the end of the summer but regardless, there are a couple of reasons. For one, it's the off season so it's not as crowded, meaning you can pretty easily score reservations to that hotspot restaurant you've been dying to try but could never get a table at. Second, and my primary driving factor, you can afford a room at the luxurious 5-star resorts that would otherwise wipe your savings squeaky clean during peak season. In fact, many hotels do summer promotions and we were able to get our 4th night free. We even received a free upgrade to a suite because the hotel was not at capacity. Something that is hard to come by during prime time February and March!

Let us not forget we are in Florida with this lobby art…

Okay, so more about the hotel. The 1 Hotel opened in March of 2015 making it one of the newer kids to the block. It underwent a great deal of renovations to transform it from the Gansevoort into the rustic-chic, gray and white, beautifully-decorated, delightfully-smelling sanctuary it now is. The hotel prides itself on being eco-friendly which means most if not all reclaimed wood you see throughout the gorgeous interior is recycled, the mattresses are made from organic hemp and the sheets organic cotton, the room keys are wood rather than plastic, and a digital device is the chosen medium to deliver hotel information in your room instead of paper. They even claim to use non-toxic, natural cleaning products throughout the hotel. There's an onsite restaurant by celeb chef Tom Colicchio and there's even an organic juice bar in the lobby. I mean, what more could a girl ask for?

Delish fresh juice bar at the 1 Hotel South Beach

Fresh locally-sourced fruit stand in the lobby each morning

When we arrived to the hotel we were a little confused to see all of the lights were turned off and the lobby and lounge were lit by dozens upon dozens of Pottery Barn-esque lanterns. But we quickly learned upon check in that once every month on the night of a full moon the hotel shuts off the lights to conserve energy. They host a full moon party with specialty cocktails on the rooftop, you know, after they lead a yoga and meditation sesh. Pretty unique. I could go on and on about this property but needless to say we were very impressed and quite comfortable during our stay. I'm still dreaming of those Keetsa mattresses...

Sweet dreams are made of these organic hemp mattresses

The standard king room comes with a very large sitting area

Spacious bathroom with lots of white marble and salvaged wood

Deep soaking tub and glass-enclosed shower

So if you're looking to have a fabulous stay in SoBe without putting (as big as) a dent in your wallet, strongly consider the off-season. Weather will always be a little risky at this time of year but sometimes it's worth the risk for the rewards (did I mention the weather was perfect and the bugs were not biting?) Also, stay tuned for my next post which will be about how to enjoy Miami Beach even if you don't like to party all the time.

FUN FACT #1: I actually asked to be downgraded from my suite to the king room I paid for. While normally I embrace free upgrades, this one I'd recommend against unless you plan on spending a lot of time here. It had a large, fully-equipped kitchen but as a tradeoff the bathroom was small and lacked a soaking tub (um, hello, don't they know I LOVE soaking tubs?) I also preferred the decor in the king rooms to that of the suite.

FUN FACT #2: JetBlue Getaways saved me $500 on this trip for the same exact flights and hotel room I was going to book separately. I wanted to fly into Fort Lauderdale anyway so I could rack up some JetBlue points and just out of curiosity decided to peruse the Getaway option. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that you can pair your FLL flights with hotels in Miami. Definitely check this out, you never know what kind of deal you will score. And if you use your JetBlue mastercard you could earn enough points for a free future flight by simply purchasing this one Getaway package.

Terrariums like these scattered about the hotel

OTHER HOTELS WORTH MENTIONING

The Miami Beach EDITION - Technically part of Mid-Beach, this place is will be where I rest my head on my next trip to SoBe. Loved the work that boutique-hotel-designer Ian Schrager and hotel giant Marriott did together. The decor was spectacular, the Matador terrace was serene and the bowling alley and ice skating rink in the basement was just amazing. This 5-star hotel is not much cheaper than the 1 Hotel, so I would also recommend this one during the off or shoulder season.

Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel - A little more budget-friendly, this trendy 4- star Kimpton hotel is also a good choice even during the busy season. Its oceanfront location near 17th Street puts you a little closer to the action than the above options.

Nautilus, a SIXTY Hotel - Very tastefully decorated, this 4-star hotel is located close to the action of South Beach but just slightly off the beaten path so that you can comfortably and fabulously stay under the radar at a reasonable price.

The Angler's Hotel - Another stylish 4-star Kimpton property makes another more budget-friendly, good option closer to the action. I love that you can count on Kimpton for that great boutique experience but note that this property is not beachfront (although the beach is a short walk).

Looking down on the beach from the pool area at the 1 Hotel South Beach

Guadeloupe: the other French Caribbean (Part 2)

In my previous post I covered the basics of Guadeloupe or 'Gwada' as the locals refer--how to get there, where to stay, etc.--but this post is about venturing out of your villa. The main island (or two) of Guadeloupe is really big, plus there are several smaller islands off the coast, so you can easily spend a week without seeing most of what the butterfly-shaped island has to offer. Here is a good list to get you started:

SEE/DO

Saint François - Located on the Southeastern part of the island is this charming seaside town and marina. It is a popular spot to vacation due to the casino, golf course and white-sanded beaches. And the town itself has a lot of yummy restaurants and bars, some of which offer fantastic ocean views. You can also catch a ferry for the day to nearby islands of La Desirade and Terre-de-Bas.

Cocktails with a view in Saint Francois

the Gwada gwoup

La Desirade - About a 45-minute scenic ferry ride from Saint François, this island is worth the choppy seas sometimes encountered on the journey. There is only 1 road on the entire island, about 3km long, on which you will encounter beach after beach, and it is hardly crowded which means you will have a quiet and enjoyable day relaxing on the sand. Rent a scooter and stop at La Plage du Souffleur, the island's prettiest beach, for some swimming and sunning but beware of the spiny sea urchins! Just when you're getting hungry and thirsty, the beach restaurant La Roulotte opens up offering fresh food fared from the sea and chilled rosé from Provence. Grab a spot under a palm tree and let the afternoon slip away.

La Souffleur Plage…simply gorgeous

Just us and the goats on La Desirade

Pointe des Chateaux - As the name might suggest, this is the Southeastern-most point of Guadeloupe marked by unique rock formations. Hike the trail around the peninsula and take in the magnificent views and crashing waves around you. When you reach the cross you know you've reached the very top.

The cross at Pointe des Chateaux

Not listed above but deserving of an honorable mention is Plage de la Caravelle at Club Med. This beach is beautiful and loaded with amenities, but comes with a steep sticker price. For 80 euro pp, you get full access to the resort including food and drink (Club Med is an all-inclusive property). So if you're looking for waiters to bring you cold watermelon as you bask in the sun, or you're looking to partake in every watersport imaginable, this is the place and thing to do. To make it worthwhile, get there as early as possible so you can really take advantage of the free food and drink. In my opinion, there are many places just as pretty in their own way that are free (and less touristy!) but to each their own.

Sailboats are just one of the activities at La Plage Caravelle

EAT/DRINK

Au Bon Poulet - At first glance this shack on the outskirts of Le Moule doesn't look like much, but the smell wafting from the large grill outside and its reputation for amazing chicken draws the crowd. I recommend getting it to-go  (with a side of frites that come in a paper bag) and bringing it back to the villa for a delicious feast. Be prepared to wait in line. (Rte. N5, Le Moule)

Les Frères de la Côte - An unassuming but delightful restaurant in Saint François with good food and great service. We showed up unannounced, no reservation on a busy night, and the staff set up a table for us outside. Not to mention, our cheerful waitress went out of her way to make sure we understood the French menu. The fresh-grilled fish was tasty but it is for the wonderful service (and the herbal, medicinal digestifs on the house) that I recommend this place. (Saint François)

L'O - For a more upscale yet refined, oceanfront dining experience in Saint François this is the place to go. The prix-fixe menu is filled with good variety (and value) and leaves you far from hungry. Get the tuna tartare as an entreé (in French that is your appetizer, don't be fooled!), you won't regret it. Reservations recommended. (12 Rue de la Republique, Saint François)

Tuna tartare artwork at L'O

I.Pâtes - A small, charming duel restaurant-gourmet shop in Saint François offering imported Italian meats, cheeses and handmade pastas and desserts. Great for take way, either lunch or dinner, and reservations recommended for dine-in. A unique spot on a French island. (5, rue de la Republique, Saint François)

Accras - You can't spend a week on this island without sampling some of the local fare like accras, or salt cod fritters. These little fried balls of fish make a perfect snack and can be found just about everywhere, but they are best from a small streetside shack.

Ti Punch - Incase you were wondering, the drink of the island is ti punch. It is an espresso-sized beverage that is quite potent. Locally-made white rum, sugar cane, and lime juice is all that makes up this cocktail. Proceed with caution.

I should mention that most, if not all, of the above recommendations are located east on the island of Grand Terre but there is a whole other butterfly wing that we can't forget about. Make it a priority to drive over to the other side of the island to experience the golden or black sanded beaches and the lush tropical rainforest that Basseterre boasts. It seems like a completely different island based on the landscape. Specifically, I'd recommend the town of Deshaies in the north for its nice beaches and quaint village feel. I can't say I've been, but I caught a sneak preview via the BBC show "Death in Paradise" which is filmed there. It was actually this show that planted the seed in my head to visit Guadeloupe!

Anyway, it's easy to stay busy on this island or relax at your private villa and have an amazing vacation. Whichever path you choose, you can't really go wrong (we are already scheming our return). And if not, just know that there is always a good baguette, cheese and bottle of wine to fall back on. Bon vacances!

Pretty island palms