Best Luxury Hotels in Miami

Paradise doesn't come cheap. Striking but sober mood-lit design; impeccable service; huge, immaculate rooms; three pools, each a different temperature; and a prime, beachside location make the Setai one of the best hotels in Miami. Though their restaurants are more about design than food, several of Miami's best restaurants are just half a block away.

The stunning 312-room W South Beach -- located on the beach, on the northern outskirts of South Beach -- blends cute comforts, intricate design (that spares no expense), and flawless service. Large, modern rooms; terraces angled to overlook the ocean; elegant landscaping around the pool; a freshly-opened spa -- the W tops many of the Miami greats.

The 243-room St. Regis Bal Harbour is one of the most luxurious beachfront hotels in Miami. Highlights include lavish decor, spacious guestrooms with oceanfront balconies, two infinity pools, three on-site dining options, and a prime location across from Bal Harbour Shops. The hotel is an excellent choice for visitors who are indifferent to the South Beach party scene.

The Four Seasons is synonymous with top-notch service, and the 221-room Four Seasons Miami is no exception. This hotel is cooly elegant and immaculately maintained, with an elite fitness center, sophisticated steakhouse, and two large and lovely pool areas. Modern rooms are spacious with big, luxurious bathrooms; some have expansive water views. It's an ideal choice for a conference or business traveler crash pad, but the Financial District location makes it a bit less ideal for a romantic retreat or kid-friendly vacation. Note that fees like Wi-Fi and valet parking can add up quickly.

Located on beautiful Brickell Key, this beachless island resort offers a mix of serenity and high design. Inside its soaring lobby, warm golden-brown floors, beautiful artwork, huge windows looking out over Biscayne Bay, and soft instrumental music are a welcome alternative to loud, clubby hotel lobbies. Rooms are equally creatively designed with priceless views from up high. The Mandarin also sports a phenomenal spa, a first-rate gym, and excellent (if pricey) restaurants like Agua.

The luxurious, 426-room 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami Beach opened in March 2015 after a complete renovation (it was formerly Perry South Beach, and the Gansevoort Miami Beach before that). The 1 Hotel brand is extremely eco-conscious and the entire hotel has environment-friendly features including salvaged wood, hemp mattresses, and take-home socks instead of disposable slippers. Top-notch amenities include direct beach access; four pools, including one on the roof; three bars and fine-dining restaurant; fitness center; event spaces; and Tesla car service within a three-mile radius.

Located on the topmost floors of the JW Marriott building, the 44-room Hotel Beaux Arts is even more upscale than theMarquis. Though its shared facilities with the Marquis may detract from its intimate, boutique feel, guests do have a specialcheck-in area in the lobby, and the hotel is ultra luxe: all rooms have flat-screen TVs and iPads, the bathrooms are marble with separate bathtubs and showers, the decor is sleek (cherry wood floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, plush beds, minimalist furniture), and the views are amazing.

The 313-room JW Marriott Marquis is reminiscent of a luxury hotel in Vegas: Everything is big, from the light fixtures to thebathrooms, and the array of amenities is so extensive guests might not have to leave the premises -- there are threerestaurants, a pool, a basketball court, a virtual bowling alley, a 3D theater room, a golf school, and a huge fitness center. A good choice for business travelers, the hotel is one of the most modern hotels in Downtown Miami, and all rooms come equipped with desktop computers and giant 52-inch flat-screen TVs.

With some of the most beautifully decorated large rooms in Miami, a beachfront location, a great spa, and a huge fitness center with a rock-climbing wall and dozens of daily classes, Carillon Miami Beach is a great choice for a healthy vacation -- provided you're not also looking for nightlife or a happening pool scene.

The 74-room boutique Metropolitan by COMO is a gorgeous Art Deco property from the luxurious COMO brand. The pistachio and gray guest rooms are stylish, and outfitted with modern features like 42-inch flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel's other amenities include a pretty outdoor pool, beach service, fine-dining restaurant and bar, elegant spa, and rooftop hydrotherapy pool. Service is genuinely friendly and doting, and the hotel attracts an upscale clientele of primarily couples. If you're looking for a calm, relaxing getaway in South Beach, Metropolitan by COMO is the premier pick.

Four pools, great Italian cuisine, a luxurious spa, 97 huge, modern rooms, and some of Miami's most attentive service -- this is family-oriented Sunny Isles' best hotel. The rooms don't quite match One Bal Harbour's, but the Acqualina's beach is far better (especially with its free cabanas). For families especially, this a superb luxury pick.

A beautifully designed hotel with pomp-free service at all levels -- from housekeeping to porters to private designated assistants. The Tides brings rarely seen substance to the price tag. Though the hotel lacks direct beach access and the small pool is less than breathtaking, the huge, immaculate rooms more than compensate. Speaking of which, every single one of their enormous rooms has a wonderful view of the ocean and deep soaking tubs.

Sure, it boasts a 10,000-square-foot spa, $4 million worth of modern art, and some of Miami's grandest rooms. But the 124-room Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour (formerly ONE Bal Harbour), which opened in 2008 as the Regent Bal Harbour, brings a low-key luxury. It's more romantic and understated than the nearby Acqualina, but its beach is far worse. Trade-offs, trade-offs.