It's difficult to believe that Miami, that mecca for A-list celebrities, was once dubbed God's waiting room due to its elderly population. In the Eighties, the majority of people found walking along its beaches were retired couples living out their twilight years in the Florida sunshine.
At the same time, many of the city's famous Art Deco buildings were seriously dilapidated and in danger of being demolished (their shabby state was captured marvellously in Al Pacino's film Scarface). Fast-forward 30 years and the transformation has been remarkable.
Those historic buildings were saved after a vociferous campaign and have since been turned into luxury hotels, lively bars and swanky restaurants.
And these days you are more likely to bump into Beyoncé, Kelly Brook or Leonardo DiCaprio on the beach than octogenarians fleeing wintry Wisconsin or chilly Chicago.
Despite its chequered past, Miami has always held a certain allure for the rich and famous. When The Beatles made their first trip to the United States in February 1964 to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show, they were thrilled to be taken to the city. The Fab Four were photographed frolicking in the Atlantic Ocean (still wearing their shirts) and enjoying some winter sun.
Who in Liverpool knew that the sun even shone in winter? NOW an intriguing mix of Hollywood's elite, British celebrities including singer Alexandra Burke, and reality TV stars such as Kim Kardashian are flocking to the Florida resort once more, making it one of America's most popular party destinations.
Barely a week goes by without scores of pictures being published of various stars sunning themselves on the resort's glorious white-sand beaches.
Miami's desirability factor soared with the opening of Soho Beach House in 2010. The hotel and members' club is part of entrepreneur Nick Jones's uber-trendy chain, and the stunning property has quickly established itself as a mustvisit location.
Though the discreet nature of the Soho House brand means that its staff would never boast about the identities of the guests who walk through its doors, pop star Katy Perry is known to be a regular visitor, actress Jennifer Aniston is said to adore it, Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson have been doing some motherand-daughter bonding there – and even Madonna has given it the thumbs-up.
In truth, you never know who might grab one of Soho Beach House's famous blue-and-white striped towels and pitch up on a sunlounger next to you.
Chefs from the famous Italian restaurant chain Cecconi's are responsible for the poolside food – the Venetian-inspired menu is certainly an improvement on the rather limp burgers and fries served at some other establishments. As well as the members' club, Soho Beach House has 50 rooms, 13 of them suites with wraparound balconies boasting some of the best views in the city.
Soho Beach House is the kind of place that you need never leave. You could easily fill your days with treatments in the Cowshed spa, attending advance film screenings in the snug, joining in some yoga classes, volunteering for a fitness boot camp, or just sunbathing on its stretch of private beach.
Soho Beach House lies north of Collins Avenue, about a tenminute drive from busy South Beach (a taxi between the two costs around $8). It is at South Beach that you'll find most of the Art Deco architecture that Miami is so famous for.
Even if you don't consider architecture 'your thing', it's definitely worth turning up for a two-hour walking tour of Ocean Drive. During the walk, you will learn about the history of the buildings, while some filming locations used in the TV shows and movies that made the city famous, such as Miami Vice, The Birdcage and Scarface, are also pointed out.
The tour is even more spectacular in the evening when hundreds of neon lights illuminate the city. Despite being renowned as a destination for sun-worshippers, Miami definitely feels like a night-time city to me. It is like a much more beautiful and certainly more cultured version of Las Vegas.
Young people descend upon South Beach year-round to make the most of the high-end clubs and bars. Miami is now rivalling Vegas as a party destination with its 'super clubs', such as LIV at the Fontainebleau Hotel and The Wall at the W Hotel. Both venues draw some of the world's biggest DJs.
The W definitely feels like something you would find in Las Vegas, with its slick decor and atmosphere. It's also very glamorous, so it's no surprise that superstars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Cooper and Will Smith are regulars (Leo is said to love it so much that he visits as often as once a month).
Of course, even a cool place such as Miami has a gaudy side. Souvenir shops such as Alvin's Island provide 'Yolo' T-shirts (You Only Live Once, apparently), and tiny Stars and Stripes bikinis. You can also expect to see neon velour tracksuits on sale.
Shopping isn't limited to joke T-shirts, though, and South Beach has a lot to offer. As well as the usual American high street staples such as Victoria's Secret, Urban Outfitters and Banana Republic, there's one boutique that is more of a tourist attraction than a shop.
The Dash Miami boutique is owned by the Kardashian sisters and is one of a chain opened during the filming of Kim And Kourtney Take Miami, a reality show on America's popular E! network.
The Kardashians have had something of a love/hate relationship with Miami. While they have caused a huge stir since the show began in 2009, last year they faced a blow. The family were reportedly 'banned' from filming or living in South Beach after locals got annoyed by the constant paparazzi attention that they felt disrupted their daily lives. The result was that Kim and Kourtney were 'banished' to North Miami Beach.
Luckily for the Kardashians, there is more to Miami than just South Beach. While many tourists will stay in and around that area, other districts have a lot to offer. Miami's artistic community is flourishing, and there are more than 200 art galleries dotted across the city to stroll around. The famous Art Basel festival takes place at various locations in November.
The restaurant scene is thriving too. The downtown area has a plethora of great eating places (London restaurant chain Balans has an outpost here), and hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental and The Conrad offer a good location near the airport and to the fantastic shopping malls nearby.
Florida is famous for its outlet malls and Miami has several: the most famous is Sawgrass Mills, where you can find Armani, Burberry, Levi's and Tag Heuer watches at up to 80 per cent off the recommended price. No wonder these malls are always a magnet for bargain-hunters.
If you have the time – and a healthy bank balance – the Bal Harbour mall is also very popular. It's not an outlet, but it stocks some of the best luxury fashion brands – it's basically like Bond Street in mall format. Meanwhile, vintage shops can be found in the Coconut Grove area.
You can't beat a holiday in the United States. You get sun, good food and good service. Miami also offers you the chance of sunbathing alongside Jennifer Aniston or Leonardo DiCaprio – who could turn that down?
Travel facts
Virgin Holidays (0844 557 3870, virginholidays.co.uk) offers four nights at the W South Beach Miami from £1,329pp. This includes return flights with Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow direct to Miami and accommodation on a room-only basis. Prices are based on departures on May 30, 2013. Room rates at the Soho Beach House (sohobeachhouse.com) start from £165 per night and at W South Beach (wsouthbeach.com) from £338. For further information, visit miamiandbeaches.com.
Source: Daily Mail (with photos)
