Miami Travel Guide || Spring Break 2023

Who said the spring break fun has to stop after college?! My best friends and I packed our bags and headed down to Miami Beach, Florida to spend a few days soaking up the sun and sand. Even in the middle of February, Miami is scorching hot with temperatures creeping into the high seventies. You can’t beat that kind of heat, especially if you’re looking to escape the cold for a little spring break getaway.

Per usual I’m sharing all the details in today’s Travel Guide including where we stayed, restaurant recommendations, outfit ideas, and a detailed itinerary. Enjoy!

Where To Stay

The last time I was in Miami I stayed in South Beach, right along the main drag of hotels. As chic as it was on the beachfront side, as soon as you crossed the street the vibes got ~interesting~. That being said I knew I wanted to stay elsewhere this year. We ended up booking the cheapest hotel that was still within walking distance of the water and The Cardozo Hotel did not disappoint.

The exterior of this hotel was so Miami—full of old-school elements, palm trees, and twinkly lights. I booked their Standard Queen room and was pleasantly surprised. I loved how simple this bright white room was— complete with just the necessities. Can’t go wrong with gold accents, amazing natural light, and a cozy bed.

Although small, the bathroom was beautiful. We didn’t have a ton of counter space to get ready but it was just enough for my short stay!

The best part of this hotel is that it’s along Ocean Drive meaning you’re less than a five-minute walk to the beach. Additionally, this property has an adorable Mexican-Cuban restaurant attached to it, as well as a small cafe that sells pastries and coffee. Talk about having everything you need right at your fingertips!

This area felt a lot safer and was much cleaner than my list Miami visit. For the best rates and current availability at The Cardozo Hotel, click here. You can’t beat this place for less than $200 a night!

What To Wear 

Not sure what to wear for your spring break trip to Miami?! Don’t worry I’ve got you covered with links to all of my fun two-piece sets and bikinis in this outfit guide.

Packing for Miami

There are a few things you can’t forget to pack for your spring break trip to Miami—

• Sunscreen: That South Florida sun will scorch your body to a crisp, especially if it’s your first time in the sun this year. Make sure to pack all the SPF. Sun safety is in ladies!
• A Beach Bag: Don’t forget a cute tote bag to use for the beach/pool. I love a good canvas tote but my favorite is this straw one from H&M. Gotta have something to throw your towel, sunscreen, and wallet into.
• A Slick Stick: If your hair is anything like mine, it’ll hate that Florida humidity. The best way for me to tame my mane is by slicking it back into a low bun or high ponytail. If I do end up styling it, I use a crimper to encourage all the volume.
• Sunglasses: Don’t forget those sunglasses! I love a good pair of funky frames but end up wearing my Raybans the most.
• A Floppy Hat: My face freaks out if it gets too much sun so I always make sure to bring a floppy straw hat with me. Makes the perfect prop for Instagram photos and keeps the sun off your face midday. Win-win in my book!
• Aloe: Even with sunscreen my body always appreciates a good layer of aloe after a full day in the sun. I’ve used Banana Boat for years. It’s definitely my favorite!

Where To Eat

Miami is such a diverse city and this is reflected so heavily in the food options. They’ve got every type of cuisine you could imagine along with some of the freshest seafood. Oh, and if you like Cuban food, you’re in luck! There are good spots on every corner with local favorites.

Sola Miami

Menu // Directions

Sola has such a fun atmosphere and was the perfect spot to kick off Sam’s 21st birthday celebration. They brought out a bottle of champagne with a sparkler and their cocktails were amazing. Lots of great music, a pool, and live dancers! However, the food itself was very average. We shared the shrimp tacos, shrimp alfredo, and shrimp risotto—sadly, nothing “wowed” me.

I would skip out on dinner but def recommend for a fun happy hour before hitting the clubs!

Oh Mexico

Menu // Directions

This entire strip is full of lively restaurants and neon lights, giving all the Miami feels. I was craving Mexican so we stopped in here for a frozen margarita and quesadilla. The food portions were so tiny for the prices (that’s Miami for ya😅) so I recommend ordering double lol. But the shrimp was extra tasty nonetheless!

Call Me Cuban 

Menu // Directions

I had some of the best shrimp tacos I’ve ever had at Call Me Cuban. This adorable restaurant was attached to our hotel and its happy hour specials did not disappoint. The mix of tempura, fruity salsa, and spicy mayo was amazing. Don’t skip out on the rice and beans either— they were so delicious!

Koa Poke Bowl

Menu // Directions

I had the best acai bowl I’ve ever had from Koa Poke Bowl. Filled with goji berries, strawberries, raspberries, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and coconut this was such a sweet mid-day treat. They are $15 but fill you up big time! If you’re looking for sushi too, we were told this is the place to go.

Maxine’s

Menu // Directions

We stopped into the most adorable restaurant for brunch. Maxine’s had a huge menu with seafood, Cuban, and breakfast options. I snagged their breakfast tacos and they were quite yummy. Definitely ask for a side of guac if you choose to order them. The atmosphere here is adorable—beachy attire is permitted!

What To Do

There really is always something going on in Miami—whether it be a celebrity sighting, influencer event, or full day of partying the options here are truly endless. I’ll admit, we took it super easy this trip and spent most of our days just relaxing by the pool and beach. Isn’t that what spring break is all about?!

Beach Day

There’s nothing I love more than a good beach day and thankfully our hotel was right across the street from the beach. We grabbed chairs from the front desk and made the five-minute trek to the ocean. I have to say, Miami Beach is definitely not my favorite. I’ve never had a beach day where the water wasn’t full of seaweed or where the beach wasn’t absolutely packed full of tourists.

The water is still gorgeous though with a crystal clear blue and almost no waves! Get to the beach early so you can snag a good seat.

Poolside Princess

This city is known for its rooftop pools and epic day drink parties—I’m usually more of a beach girl but I really enjoyed being poolside this trip. There’s nothing better than a quick dip into clean water and a good ole chair to sunbathe in. Bonus points if the pool has a water slide which we were able to find!

Almost every Miami hotel has a pool—even if you aren’t spending the night at the property, many have “day passes” where you can enjoy the pool and amenities.

Book Worm 

While I do love playing mermaids and riding the waterslide, I spend most of my days in the sun with a good book in hand. Love and Other Words was one of my favorite books of the year—such a cute love story and a simple, feel-good read. I finished that in just a few days and started Book Lovers by Emily Henry. I’ve heard so many good things about this book and am excited to read more!

Gone Clubbing 

Of course, no Miami trip is complete without at least one wild night at the clubs. I suggest reaching out to a few promoters on Instagram beforehand so that you can get a table. From what I’ve heard from friends this is the safest(and cheapest) way to go out in Miami.

We used a promoter and went to Stori to celebrate Sam’s 25th birthday. To be honest, I’m not really a club girl so this wasn’t exactly my scene but we still had a fun, safe night out. Drinks were free with our promoter and the music was great! I don’t suggest getting there any earlier than 11 pm. Things happen so late in Miami, haha.

 

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Well, that’s a wrap for today’s travel guide. I had a blast seeing Miami for a second time and have a feeling I’ll be back for swim week in July… Off to California for a few weeks of West Coast fun next—stay tuned for all kinds of travel and outfit guides coming your way. As always, let me know what cities you’d like recommendations for next so I can get planning my next best trip.

With love, McKenz

Latest Post: What To Wear On Your Spring Break Trip To Miami 
Related Post: Miami Swim Week Recap 2021
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