In Miami, you’ll generally pay a good deal extra to stay in sceney South Beach and have easy access to the beach and/or trendy Ocean Drive. If that’s a priority, consider the luxe oceanfront W South Beach (from about $550; 2201 Collins Ave., map) or the all-suite Z Ocean Hotel South Beach (from $326, 1437 Collins Ave., map), where rooms have oversize terraces (and some have private rooftop hot tubs).

A bit more down-to-earth is André Balazs’s minimalist-cool The Standard (40 Island Ave., map) in Miami Beach. Rooms start at $219 and amenities put a premium on guests’ well-being. Expect a super-stylish spa (including complimentary access to a handful of baths, tubs, and saunas); an outdoor infinity pool, mud lounge, and spa tubs; an on-site restaurant that emphasizes organic ingredients, and a decidedly non-South Beach-y vibe. Still cheaper is South Beach’s Townhouse Hotel (150 20th St., map)—rooms generally range $145-$295, depending on season, and include breakfast, which is great value if you don’t mind not having a pool (though there is a cool rooftop lounge).

Moving a bit north to Fort Lauderdale, we like the funky, well-priced Tropi Rock Resort (standard rooms, $76-$128; 2900 Belmar St., map), a block from the beach. Lush gardens, hand-laid mosaics, a palm-fringed pool, local art, and whimsical accents create a unique and tropical atmosphere.

More northern still, in West Palm Beach, the chic 43-room Hotel Biba (320 Belvedere Rd., map) combines historic architecture—an updated 1940s motor lodge—with modern design, vibrant colors, a great pool, and a hip wine bar. Garden queen-bed rooms range about $90-$135, depending on season.