The Art Deco Dorchester Hotel South Beach is set behind a shaded entrance, close to the beach and two blocks from the convention center and the Jackie Gleason Theater. Guests love the location because they're in the middle of everything and near the Lincoln Road Pedestrian Mall and all of its shops and restaurants. The beach, across the street from the hotel, provides sun and sea worshipers water sports equipment, lounge chairs, cabanas and umbrellas for rent.

Originally built in 1952, the hotel underwent renovation from 2002 to 2004. Since swimming pools are an unusual amenity among the vintage hotels of South Beach, one of the hotel's best features is the heated, 65 by 30 foot pool fringed by dense plantings, a pink and green, paving stone sundeck and lounge chairs. The hotel also offers a fitness room, breakfast café, coin laundry and complimentary wireless Internet access. Guests can enjoy buffet breakfasts in the Dorchester Café. Although the hotel doesn't have its own restaurant, guests will find dozens of others close by.

Recently renovated guestrooms include refrigerators, safes, bottled water, weekday newspapers, complimentary wireless Internet access and the rarest of rarities in Miami Beach hotel circles windows that open. All suites face a long, narrow garden courtyard with a pool containing gentle fountains.

This hotel, whose sister property, the Marseille Hotel, sits across the the street, draws leisure travelers for its moderately priced guestrooms, and business travelers, entertainers and fashion shoot crews for its three room suites. Everybody loves the location close to all the hot South Beach action.