Beyoncé Heat: Catch the Fever

If you're in NYC's Union Square on Tuesday night, and start to think you're in a scene out of True Blood, don't be alarmed. The fiery red lights and creeping fog are to promote Beyoncé's perfume, Heat. The illumination is billed as "a steamy, sexy aura that embodies Beyoncé’s unique appeal."

Catch the lady herself at Macy's Herald Square at 5 pm on Wednesday, February 3. Be one of the first to purchase her 3-piece fragrance scent and you'll get to take a photo with Beyoncé!

Beyoncé Heat is a combo of red vanilla orchid, magnolia, neroli and blush peach, honeysuckle nectar, almond macaroon and creme de musk with base notes of giant sequoia milkwood, tonka bean and amber. Can't wait to catch a sniff!

Ski Vacation Day 7: Whistler

It would be a blast to attend the Olympic Games 2010 in Whistler.  We've been to the summer games and our advice is to be patient with the large crowds.  We loved the international cross section of people, meeting the athletes as they wondered around the grounds, and most of all the excitement of the competition. 

We heard there are still rooms available in Whistler during the games and while not a bargain, it would be worth the experience of seeing Lindsey Vonn in the giant slalom and Shaun White in the halfpipe.  Don't forget your skis and boards because 90% of the mountain will be available for public use!

A good bet for great accomodations would be the Fairmont Chateau Whistler (pictured above).  It's located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain and has coveted ski-in/ski-out access.  Our dream room would have mountain views and a cozy fireplace like this one:

Anyone have plans on going to the Games?  We'd love to hear about your experience!

Fela! Review

I went in to Fela! with high expectations.  When I mentioned on my Facebook status update and on twitter that I was headed to the show, numerous people responded enthusiastically that they loved it, had told friends about it, that it was AMAZING. I've also heard Fela! is popular with celebs--Jay-Z and Jada Pinkett and Will Smith are all producers. One Facebook friend said she saw Gayle King, Alan Rickman and Spike Lee in the audience. We spotted Denzel Washington one row behind us.

Fela! is more of a interactive, multimedia experience than a traditional Broadway musical. The entire theater is set to look like a club with lights strewn all about and patrons are encouraged to take cocktails to their seats. The actors dance through the aisles and part of the stage extends into the seats (We were lucky enough to be seated right next to this catwalk.). There's a portrait that moves (think Harry Potter) and film clips and subtitles are shown throughout the show; at times it was hard to know where to focus my attention with so much going on.

The dancing and athleticism is BEYOND. It's truly a delight to watch Fela's "queens" who represent his 27(!) wives shake their booties and shimmy their hips. Each woman has her own body type (athletic and short, tall and skinny) and it's a pleasure to watch them move. The guys are just as sexy, with six packs to spare and one gent shows off impressive lung power by singing while hanging upside down from a ladder. My hubby and I both felt inspired to get our butts to the gym--guess that's why Crunch gym created the Fela! class.

The music, the majority of which is Fela's own, is impossible to sit still to. In fact, Fela gives a dance lesson to the audience and you're also invited to sing a long at parts. While I enjoyed this, I couldn't help but wonder how this went over on the older members of the audience.

My big gripe with Fela is that the story barely scrapes the surface. Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musical revolutionary. (I don't want to even get into telling his story because I'm sure I won't do it justice. Read the New York Time's recap of his life.) For example, when Fela asks a group of several women to marry him, they initially scoff, then form a huddle, then say yes after taking less time than Drew Brees to call a play. The time line was hard to follow with flashbacks and dream sequences. I know I wasn't the only one to feel this way; a woman behind me asked after the end of Act I why there was no curtain call. The play has two acts.

In the end, I guess the spirit of Fela is more important than the details and this show has personality, energy and passion in spades.

Ski Vacation Day 6: Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Jackson Hole is one of the most rustic, hard core resorts out West.  Why would that make a good place for a girls' trip?  Well, for the same reason we go to steakhouses, that's where the boys are!  To sweeten the deal, there are a handful of luxury resorts where you can stay.  We also included some free airfare deals!

The Amangani resort (above) may be the finest.  The secluded resort offers gorgeous furnishings, views, a restaurant, a heated pool and hot tubs, and a spa.  The Amangani will transport you to Teton Village and their Amangani ski lounge, which is your launch pad for a great day of skiing at Jackson Hole.

This guest room has floor to ceiling windows and amazing views of the Tetons:

Our other pick is the Four Seasons Jackson Hole (below).  Not only do you get the quality you expect at a Four Seasons, you get possibly the best location in Jackson Hole with ski-in/ski-out access. 

Here's a spacious guest room, including a sitting room and a gas-burning fireplace:

There are some great deals on airfare to Jackson Hole. Right now, buy three tickets and get the fourth flight free. Wait until March and the deal is even better: buy two plane tickets and get two free!

Web Snob Links - January 29, 2010

Stiletto Jungle explores the perfect shoe wardrobe with the new Jimmy Choo 24:7 Collection.

Allie is Wired has pics from The Runaways premiere at Sundance.

Bag Bliss: Sandra Bullock teams up with Coach for Charity!

Coquette loves the new Coach Poppy jewelry line by Gossip Girl's Michelle Trachtenberg.

Tot Snob has the Fort Making Kit that is sure to be a hit in your house!

Fashion Pulse Daily checks out the fabulous fashion that was seen in NYC when Lady Gaga mania took over the city last week

Trend Alert! Laced Up Boots. I'm Not Obsessed gives you a few options to shop for.

Did Anne get a boob job last week? Find out on The Jet Set Girls.

Second City Style knows the first question asked of a celebrity at an awards show is "Who are you wearing?" in The Red Carpet: Being Your Own Sartorialist.

SheFinds rounded up the chicest all-weather winter boots--and we tracked down the pair Fergie wore to Sundance.

Shopping and Info wants the Stuart Weitzman black boots Kim Kardashian wore recently in New York City.

StyleBakery found some sweet Valentine's Day Gifts under $25

Stylehive is saying "Meow!" in response to Alexander Wang's cat eye sunglasses!

Couture Snob's belt obsession adds another one to your wardrobe.

The Beauty Stop falls for the Korres Golden Goddess Collection.

Confused about Couture? The Fashion Bomb offers a review of the season's top shows plus tips on what fashion and beauty trends you can take away.

The Shoe Goddess is in love with Valentino's whimsical interpretation of the lace trend!

eye4style knows Victoria's Secret, but she's not keeping it. Check out her hands-on review of the Miraculous Bra.

FabSugar's Grammy Iconic Style slideshow!

Beauty Snob has the answer to disappearing/melting eye shadow!
 
Wood jewelry - an organic and and beautiful element to add to your collection at Jewel Snob

Tarina Tarantino's Jet Set Playlist

We were so intrigued when Tarina Tarantino told us she had a "Jet Set Playlist" (Love the name!), we had to find out what's on the mix. Looks like we have a lot of new tunes to download!

Come On Lets Go--Broadcast
Green Light--Cicada
Jet Society--Cordera Orchestra
Miracle (Bogdan Irkuk Remix)--Sally Shapiro
Pollution of the mind--Miss Kitten
Universal Traveler--Air
Run--Air
Silently--Blonde Redhead

The Operation--Charlotte Gainsbourg
Zap Zap--Cut Copy
Veridis Quo--Daft Punk
Walking Away--The Egg
AF607105--Charlotte Gainsbourg

The Sicilian Clan--Ennio Morricone
Pilots--Goldfrapp
Peppermint Dream--J.D King
Le Mepris "Camille"-- Georges Delerue
Sleep--The Dandy Warhols
After all this Time- -John Foxx & Harold Budd

Review: Clinique High Lengths Mascara

We didn't know a thing about the new Clinique High Lengths Mascara before we opened it, so when we pulled out the streamlined, curved, florescent green comb we were wowed. It's so high tech, it looks like it was created by those clever folks at Apple.

A mascara is more than its wand, of course. We're happy to report the High Lengths Mascara lived up to its name. The tines of the comb really allow you to coat each individual lash. It was slightly more challenging to use the wand on our left eye (we're right handed), but we think we'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. That's Annie wearing it below.

Available at Clinique.

This review was based on a free sample.

Top Beauty Trends At The SAG Awards

Yesterday, we gave you our thoughts on the SAG awards.  Here's Daily Makeover's Rachel Hayes' take on the SAG awards' top beauty trends.  Pictured above are four of the lovely actors from Nine: Marion Cotillard, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman and Penelope Cruz.

Daily Makeover and Jet Set Girls are affiliated through a shared network.Photo: © Michael Caulfield /WireImage

Ski Vacation Day 4: Lake Tahoe

When we lived in San Francisco, we drove up to Tahoe often.  We were fortunate to have family that graciously let us use their townhouse at Northstar when it wasn't rented.  While we skied at all the resorts around Lake Tahoe over the years, we spent the bulk of our time at Northstar and it's the place we return to when we have the chance.

We love Tahoe mostly because of the warm weather.  They get tons of snow; but the sun shines almost everyday regardless.  It's not unheard of to see guys skiing shirtless or girls in shorts.  Of course the downside of skiing in warm weather is the mash potatoes which will slow you down at the base or make traversing a catwalk painful.

When we go back, we'll stay at the Ritz-Carlton Highlands (pictured above) which opened this season at Northstar.  It has ski in/ski out access, a 17,000 sq. ft. spa, a gourmet restaurant, and (our favorite) the club level with five food services daily.

We'll fly into Oakland where you can usually get the best flights, and spend a day or so in San Francisco and Sonoma before heading up to ski.  Want to join us?

SAG Awards Party

On Saturday night, we had a SAG Awards viewing party sponsored by Degree Ultra Clear Red Satin. We had manicures, prizes, cosmos and plenty of wine. That's our friend Jamie, above, with Hope, who's showing off her manicure.

Degree partnered with Christina Hendricks, actor from Mad Men, for ClothesOffOurBack.com which supports women's empowerment. Christina (pictured below) looked beautiful.  We love that she doesn't fit the Hollywood mold and is proud to show off her curves. She also pulls off wearing a red dress and being a red-head, which doesn't always work.  You can bid on her Carolina Herrera dress (a size 8), proceeds benefit Clothes Off Our Back. The auction ends on February 8th.

As for the SAG awards, the red-carpet was less exciting to watch than the Golden Globes; but we did see some improvement with the dresses. Lea Michelle shook off the too-old-for-her gown for a (too-sexy-for-Lea) low cut green Catherine Malandrino gown; our favorite from Glee, Jane Lynch, had a better colored dress than the one she wore to the Globes;  and Tina Fey went a little more mainstream in a purple Ferragamo dress-even though we know that's not her style.   On the bright side, Penelope Cruz scored high points with us again (in a black L'Wren Scott gown with long flowy hair) as did Christina Applegate and Nicole Kidman who both wore subdued colors and soft up-do's.

Back home, we realize it's been so long that we've had a big group of our girlfriends over.  Here's Shelly getting a manicure from Jeannie from Five Star Hair and Day Spa.  Five Star sent two manicurists to the party, they were talented, fun and blended right in to the party.  It may have been the first time we had that kind of service at home; but we're hoping it's not the last.

Review: Victoria's Secret Miraculous Bra--a Boob Job in a Bra

I'll admit--I often wish I had bigger boobs. I consider myself a small B. So when the new Victoria's Secret Miraculous Bra arrived on my doorstep, courtesy of Victoria's Secret and Robert Verdi, I ripped open the package and tried it on.

The bra is said to "instantly add up to 2 full cup sizes for maximum cleavage". As you can tell from the photos, no argument there! I found the shorter I made the straps, the closer to each other and higher my boobs got. The effect was sexier, while less comfortable. I do think the results are pretty realistic looking under my T-shirt and I do appreciate that the extra padding makes my waist look smaller. I joked on twitter that I now knew what I would look like if I ever did get a breast enlargement.

No surprise, my hubby appreciated the new me and even said he liked the way the padding felt.

Feel free to disagree with me, but I do think larger boobs are sexier. I can wear a dress cut to my navel, but when there's nothing to see, I think I look thin or, at best, athletic.

In all honesty, I'm a little scared to leave the house wearing the Miraculous bra! I get enough attention as it is on the streets of NYC (as does any female New Yorker who makes an effort about her appearance), I can only imagine the catcalls when I have a size D rack. I suddenly know what my more endowed friends have to deal with.

One of the reasons I've wanted bigger breasts is so that my clothes fit better. I do often wear padded bras to fill out my tops. But with the Miraculous bra, it was hard to find tops that would button over it. So I guess there has to be a happy medium somewhere.

For now, I like having the option of being little old "B" me or a sex kitten with a "D" cup.

The Miraculous Bra is available at Victoria's Secret.

Read our pal Dina's take on the bra.

This review was based on a free sample.

Ski Vacation Day 3: Vail, Colorado

We're busy preparing for a trip to Vail on Friday.  Each year, we spend a week in Vail/Beaver Creek and while we usually stay at a friend's home in Beaver Creek, this year we're staying at two new hotels:  the Westin Riverfront in Beaver Creek and The Arrabelle in Vail.

The Westin Riverfront sits at the base of Beaver Creek with its own gondola that lifts you to the slopes.

 
Our suite has a kitchen, which is a plus since we like to make a big breakfast before leaving for the day.  The Westin has an outdoor pool, hot tubs and a first-class spa, Spa Anjali, where we're planning to get a massage half-way through our trip.  The Westin is currently offering a free night of lodging when you stay three nights.

The Arrabelle (above) is a boutique luxury hotel located in Vail Square right off the slopes.  What we're giving up in room size compared to the Westin, we're gaining in location and ski in/ski out access.  The Arrabelle has a rooftop pool and hot tubs, an apres ski deck, a pub, its own luxury spa, and a gourmet restaurant. 

The Arrabelle offers "Tuesdays on us" where you get Tuesday nights free when you stay for three nights.

A Peek Inside Tarina Tarantino's Carry On Bag

With her new cosmetics line set to debut at Sephora, it's a safe bet designer Tarnina Tarantino will be on the road a lot in 2010. Here's what's in her carry on bag.

I have a Samsonite black label beauty box that I bought in Italy years ago. It is so perfect because everything fits inside the boxy shape. I organize everything into my Techno Tribal cosmetic clutches  for easy access to whatever I need.

I like L’Occitane shea butter hand cream the best and Evian mini water spray for a little wake up mist after napping. My Tarina Tarantino Beauty Victorian Punk lip gloss ring (pictured below) has specially formulated Gem watergloss that keeps lips pretty and hydrated.

I always bring a cozy oversized sweater; the one I currently wear is from Theory. It has a thick cowl neck that I can pull over my head if someone sneezes in my direction. Not that it will help…..(JSG Note: We love this one from Theory.)

I am reading the memoirs of Louis Vigee Le Brun who was the most famous female French painter of the 18th century. She was a very strong amazingly creative woman who had a very dramatic life.

My guilty pleasure is that I always grab a National Enquirer to read during take off as that is my least favorite part of the flight.

I have an appropriately named “Jet Set” playlist on my iPod with artists like Charlotte Gainsbourg, Air, John Fox (for deep sleep music), Starlighter, and Royksopp.

I always have my Bose QC3 headphones, which I of course crystallized.

Valentine's Day in DC

While it may be the most contrived of all our holidays, there's a lot of pressure to come up with something fun to do on Valentine's day.   If you're thinking of going out to dinner, it's not too early to make reservations, in fact you should do so soon.  For our DC readers, we posted some great options on DC Ladies today.  You don't have to be in a relationship to party, we found some great options for singles too! 

Ski Vacation Day 2: Keystone, Colorado

If the reason you don't ski as much as you would like to is the cost, this ski vacation deal is for you. Keystone, Colorado is offering a “Three for Free” package, which includes a free night, $50 worth of “on-mountain money,” a free Adventure Eye Video System helmet camera to capture all your downhill runs and more. Rates start at a very affordable $50 per person per night.

Keystone is a a lower key option to nearby Vail and Beaver Creek. It's known for its night skiing and 5-acre ice skating rink.

You have to book by January 31, but the deal is good through April 11. For more info, check otu the Keystone website.

Julianne Moore on 30 Rock

As a fellow redhead, we watch everything Julianne Moore does. While we're not crazy about her Boston accent on 30 Rock, we're wholeheartedly behind her character, Nancy Donovan, opening that store for cosmetics for redhead girls from "someone who understands".

We've fantasized about starting our own blog for redheads, but that may have to wait til we can clone ourselves. In the meantime, blush is our biggest issue and here's our favorite tip on how to wear it.

Ski Vacation Day 1: Viceroy Snow Mass

Combine the hipness of Aspen/Snowmass with the sexiness of the Viceroy and you may even get a beach-goer like Annie to hit the mountains on her next winter trip. The hotel is brand spanking new--it opened last November.

We can imagine ourselves being pretty happy sitting by the fire apres-ski or hot tubbing it with some sexy ski bums in the outdoor pool. The pool terrace and the pool cafe were decorated by Kelly Wearstler, who also worked her magic on the Viceroy in Miami.

The Viceroy has ski-in/ski-out slopeside access, the Eight K restaurant--named after the altitude level of the hotel and a 7,000 square foot spa to soothe those tired muscles after a long day on the slopes. The gorge spa features treatments inspired by Ute Indian, Nordic and Asian rituals.

Ski Vacation Deals: When you stay at the Viceroy Snowmass for three nights, you'll get the fourth free.

Ski Vacation Intro

Last week we focused on beach vacations. This week, for all the snowbunnies out there, we're spotlighting the best ski vacation destinations, deals and more.  On JSG, we focus on girls' getaways- usually somewhere warm; but each year we take a trip with our friends to Colorado.  That's Hope above with Meghan and Shelly in Beaver Creek.

As for us: our favorite places to ski are Vail for its size and the village; Lake Tahoe for the warm weather, amazing lake views, and nightlife; and Park City mostly for the powder but also because it's close to the airport.  There are a ton of other great resorts and some really good deals out there.  We'll show you our picks this week starting with the new Viceroy at Snow Mass.

Ski Vacation Day 1: Snowmass
Ski Vacation Day 2: Keystone
Ski Vacation Day 3: Vail
Ski Vacation Day 4: Tahoe
Ski Vacation Day 5: Park City
Ski Vacation Day 6: Jackson Hole 
Ski Vacation Day 7: Whistler

Burger King to Serve Beer

One of our favorite things when we travel is to see what specialty items McDonald's has on its menu--a McFalafel in Cairo; McCrab Cake in Maryland and McBeer in Germany. Mind you, we're not eating there--just checking out the diversity.

Well, now, thanks to Burger King, we can get a beer with our fast food burgers stateside. A Whopper Bar is set to open in Miami next month. (There is already one at Universal Orlando Resort.) Even with the temptation of 24 hour service, a toppings bar that includes jalapenos and blue cheese sauce and a can of $4.25 Bud, Miller Lite or Budlight Lime (except between the hours of 5 to 8 a.m.), we doubt we'll make it there on our next Miami trip! But if we do, we'll definitely order a Bud Light Lime--there's nothing like it to cut the burn of salsa and jalapenos!

Beach Week Day 7: Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo

We thank our twitter friend, EliteTravelGal, for recommending the Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo.  We envy Stacy for visiting it herself; because Costa Rica is on the top of our wish list.  While we're there, we want some adventure:  surfing, river rafting, snorkeling and zip-line jungle touring; but we also want to indulge in the first rate accommodations that come at a discount compared to similar properties in the Caribbean.

The Four Seasons is nestled in dense forest on the north-west Pacific coast of Costa Rica and has everything we want in a luxury resort including multiple pools, a top notch spa, a steakhouse, a sushi bar, and beautiful beaches.  With plane flights under $300 and direct flights to Liberia airport from all over the U.S., a vacation to Costa Rica is easy and within our budget.

The guest rooms are located in four story buildings with the best views and the most expensive rates on the third and fourth floors.  There are also villas and larger homes for rent which would be ideal for a big group.  We love the large balcony and the bathroom with a peek-boo view of the ocean:

One of the pools at the Four Seasons:

The Four Seasons currently has a promotion for a complimentary night when you book 4 consecutive nights at the resort making this a great time to getaway to Costa Rica.

Photo credit: Trip Advisor

New York City's Provocateur

Provocateur in NYC's Meatpacking District Gansevoort is serving up cocktails created by Scott Vincent Borba, the founder of the Borba skincare line--Borba makes those yummy gummy bear vitamins. Each cocktail is meant to address a specific skincare issue like firming, anti-aging and hydration (no idea how a cocktail can pull that one off!).

Further adding to the hip factor, the mini leather sheath dresses the waitresses wear were created by Rag and Bone. If you like them, they can be special ordered at the nearby Rag and Bone store in the West Village. Apparently Rag and Bone designed the uniforms from the staff at the Turks and Caicos Gansevoort, but we've been and we really don't remember them. Of course, we were on our honeymoon, so our eyes were focused elsewhere.

Smart money is on Provocateur being the site of many a fashion week party!

Beach Week Day 6: The Cove Atlantis

With the Free Companion Airfare deal to the Bahamas, we've been trying to come up with an excuse to get ourselves down there ASAP. Checking out the Cove Atlantis may just be it.

The Cove is the sophisticated sister to the Atlantis that opened in March 2007. The all-suite resort was designed by Jeffrey Beers and David Rockwell and features Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill.

What really caught our eye is Cain, the adults-only pool that's exclusive to guests at Cain. It's a touch of Vegas in the Caribbean with DJ's, cocktails and gambling tables. We're picturing ourselves at one of the cabanas right now.

Beach Vacation Deal: Buy your plane ticket with your American Express card and get a free companion ticket. Some restrictions apply.

Update: Barbados is also in on the action with free companion airfare on American Airlines. Book your ticket before February 12, 2010 and travel before May 31, 2010. Other restrictions apply. Read more about Barbados airfare deal. Never been to Barbados? Read about Annie's trip to Barbados last summer.

Web Snob January 22, 2010

Stiletto Jungle goes GWP-crazy for a new Marchesa-designed free gift filled with 16 luxe beauty items.

Allie is Wired fashion face-off: Christina Aguilera vs. Donatella Versace.

Bag Bliss on the animal print purse trend

Envision your summer plans with this Lanvin bag at Bag Snob.

Beauty Snob has a Dry Shampoo that leaves the hair "natural" and smelling divine.

Coquette rounds up her favorite tassel earrings inspired by Kate Hudson at the Golden Globes.
Fashion Pules Daily is giving away a $100 Bare Necessities gift certificate - just in time for Valentine's Day!

KRISTOPHER DUKES is wanting, wearing, and hating puffer jackets for Sundance.

Second City Style shows how this soft and irresistible fabric has found its way back into our closets with Velvet’s Ferocious Comeback.

SheFinds found the best ways to help Haiti through beauty and fashion--get something beautiful in return for helping out. What could be better?

Shopping and Info loves Angelina Jolie’s black boots by Stuart Weitzman.

StyleBakery shows us how to wear menswear vests

Stylehive is loving lingerie-inspired looks for Spring!

The Beauty Stop explains how to get Emily Blunt’s Golden Globes hair.

Looking for that perfect weekend look? The Fashion Bomb found 50 one shoulder dresses under $50.

Escape to the Miami with The Jet Set Girls as we explore the hottest hotels for 2010.

Visit The Shoe Goddess for a chance to win Dekkori Footwear Accessories!

Net-A-Porter Win a Wardrobe contest

To celebrate its one millionth order, Net-A-Porter is giving away a $40,000 shopping spree. For those who aren't good with math, that equals about 60 pairs of Christian Louboutins! The contest runs through February 11. On your mark, get set, go!

Beach Week Day 5: Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara

We've been obsessing over a return to Santa Barbara ever since It's Complicated was released.  We love the perfect weather, the laid back style, the gorgeous ocean views.  We'd like to stay at The Canary Hotel located in the center of town in walking distance to shopping, art  galleries, restaurants and the beach.

With so much to do, we'll still find time to lounge by their gorgeous rooftop pool (below).

If you'd rather stay right on the beach; there's Shutters on the Beach; which is bigger than the Canary. You can expect to pay more for the location; but what's better than being right on the beach?  This dream spot is in Santa Monica, another of our favorite SoCal boutique and cafe filled towns.

Beach Week Day 4: Miami

Miami is hands down one of our favorite places for a girls' getaway--we're counting down the days til our trip in March. In the two years since our last trip, numerous hotels have opened, including the Mondrian, Viceroy, Epic, the W and Fountainebleu, which makes deciding where to go fun.

We've stayed at the Viceroy in Palm Springs before and love Kelly Wearstler's eclectic style.

We're also partial to Kimpton Hotels, which includes the Epic, and stay in them whenever we can. Beach Vacation Deal: Rates start at $199 if you book before January 27.

We've heard various reviews on the Fountainebleu, both good and bad. But the 1,504-room hotel is a little to big for our tastes. 

The previous three options aside, we do always like to stay in South Beach when we're in Miami. We'll inevitably end up going out there at night and like to stay in the heart of the action. The Mondrian, part of the Morgan hotel group, looks like a sexy option and nearly a twin to sister property the Delano. It was conceived as "a design homage to Sleeping Beauty's Castle".

The W Hotel South Beach features two pools, Mr. Chow's restaurant and a Bliss Spa.

Any input on your favorite place to stay in Miami?