Kent Hotel in Miami, Florida - South Beach

South Beach, Florida’s Art Deco District is a lively, colorful, historic area with much to recommend. Like most of South Beach (and Miami, Florida, for that matter), the area is pretty expensive for hotels, and finding a good quality hotel that’s close to the beach with a decent price tag is about as difficult as finding dance club in the area that doesn’t have a cover charge.

Luckily, there’s The Kent, one of a handful of affordable hotels within a block of the beach. There are only 57 rooms here, each of which is outfitted in fabulous Art Deco style. Bright fresh colors, bold shapes, minimalist design – the rooms are clean, cool and calming. You can choose between Standard, Deluxe and Deluxe Suites, but there are only four each of the Deluxe categories, so book early if you want more space.

When I say affordable, I really do mean it! Rates in November are around $80/night for a standard Queen room and $110 for a Deluxe King. Anybody who’s been to South Beach know that these prices are fantastic, especially for a nice hotel like this one. If you’re really in the mood to splurge, you spend about $220 for a King Suite room that comes with a Jacuzzi bathtub. ALL rooms have flat screen tv’s, hooray.

The thing about South Beach, and the Art Deco District, is that there’s so much to see and do (including people watching!) just outside your hotel that it’s likely you’ll spend little time inside. What’s more entertaining – admiring the Art Deco design of your hotel room, or walking around taking pictures of people in crazy swimsuits on roller skates and buildings that look like they’re from a movie set? The Kent is barely a five minute walk from the white sands of South Beach – it’s perfect!

Art Deco District in Miami, Florida

Photo: Chris O’brien Wickiow, Ellen B