When a person thinks of Miami, they probably conjure images of wild parties, music, and libations that flow from day to night. A hotel can either cater to the carousing crowd or provide a respite from the revelry. Somehow, the Setai manages both without compromise.
During the day, the Setai provides a calm, tranquil oasis. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, who also created the aesthetic for Aman’s Amanwana resort in Indonesia, the Chedi Muscat in Oman, One & Only Reethi Rah villas, and more, the hotel blends Miami’s famous Art Deco with Eastern influence. The tall, open ceilings of the lobby create a sense of grandeur, which are tempered by dark mahogany panels that entrance guests with their warmth.
The Pool is central to most Miami vacations, and the Setai excels. Before stepping foot into one of their three pools of varying temperatures (75, 85, and 90 degrees), you stroll through a lush, tree-lined walkway, with water-filled enclaves jetting off behind stone walls, perfect for meditation or sending a quick work email en route to the sun. You won’t choose the Setai for loud music or day parties — it attracts a more relaxed crowd that wants to lounge by the water surrounded by palm trees, privacy, and great service.
At night, however, the main restaurant morphs from an airy and mist-filled open space to a sexy, swanky, red-lit venue to see and be seen, with only a handful of tables surrounding the prominent water display in the center of the room. Its two bars – one in the lobby and one in the back of the dining space – become a nucleus for high end Miami nightlife, spilling out into the sea of restaurant goers. Their other “Ocean Grill” restaurant is the liaison between Setai’s private pool and beach offers more of a Palm Beach ambiance, with white table cloths and a calmer, breezy atmosphere.
The room itself is spacious, complete with a foyer, desk area, closet, bathtub, and large couch. All incorporate the same Eastern aesthetic that transmutes the Miami experience from rowdy to relaxing, providing a grounding touchpoint for the trip. Oranges are displayed under glass throughout the property like the enchanted rose from Beauty and the Beast, a seemingly mystic nod to Florida’s unique offerings. Even the experience in the elevator is entrancing, with intricately designed metal coating the interior.
As a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, repeat Forbes Travel Guide Five Star award winner, and “#1 Hotel Resort in Greater Miami Beach” according to Travel + Leisure in 2018 and 2019, the Setai is well-regarded for the caliber of its ambiance, which contrasts dramatically from the typical Miami party hotel. If you are looking for quality, relaxation, and aesthetic, don’t hesitate to choose the Setai. A tropical oasis awaits. If you are looking for a rager, choose elsewhere.
Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the most South Beach of them all? The SLS is a strong contender, with its Art Deco roots, multifaceted pools, and location right in the heart of Collins.
Its entrance evokes theatrics from the start. A giant SLS sign and bright red carpet leads guests up to the lobby, with an Instagrammable pink butterfly-painted jeep parked aside the steps for patrons to pose in. Small pieces of debris on the steps took away from the swanky aesthetic, but you can still imagine yourself being part of a movie premiere as you walk in. The interior is equally vibrant, with quote-adorned pillars, red and black carpet, high ceilings, and a swan mural above the bar. Walking through to the back area, which morphs into a restaurant at night, the decor changes from deep red to lighter green undertones, drawing you out to nature.
The SLS’ pool is striking for its simplicity, in contrast to the extravagance welcoming you to the hotel. However, the decorated duck and throne that sits in the shaded portion of the pool remind you where you are. And if you walk behind the trees and painted duck, there is another, very different, type of pool waiting for you. Hyde Beach is the SLS’ daytime beach club, where you get the classic Miami experience that leads many to book the trip in the first place. I saw bachelor and bachelorette parties interspersed between friend groups, and even a few folks who came solo just to vibe. The DJ was great, and it is definitely a place you could spend the day.
The South Beach SLS is inseparable from José Andrés’ restaurant, The Bazaar. The whimsical food mirrors its settings — my favorite was the coconut risotto served in an actual coconut. Scraping the coconut meat from the dish added a fun layer to the dining experience.
Then the mirrors. The SLS South Beach is defined by its mirrors that, coupled with the theatrics of its design, create an Alice in Wonderland meets Underworld ambiance. There are mirrors in the hallway, mirrors on the elevator, and mirrors above the ceiling in your room. The baroque wallpaper hanging loosely on the wall like a tapestry creates an atmosphere of whimsy, and the SLS goes further to encourage your romantic dalliance by leaving a “Naughty Lovers” box in their “Sinner” drawer (with small bottles of Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire, Jameson, and Bacardi lined up in front). If you’re looking for an environment that triggers the senses, this is it. The SLS South Beach is a great hotel for couples. It was wasted on me as a single person.
The hotel is busy but not crowded, and if you have to take meetings, they have a quiet room on the second floor. This came in handy for a couple Zoom calls. Overall, the SLS South Beach provides a swanky, whimsical ambiance for your Miami vacation. If you’re looking for a trendy, fun hotel that still offers some respite from the craziness of South Beach, this could be just the place for you. Make sure to take a picture in the pink jeep on your way out.
Going on vacation is exciting, and flying first class is like an extra bonus trip on top of it. On long flights especially, choosing to fly first class can make all the difference when you’re settling into your new destination or returning home. You arrive at your next stop feeling refreshed and taken care of (you deserve it!) and ready to take on the world.
JetBlue has long been my favorite airline, so when I realized I could use points from my travel credit card to buy a first class flight on their “Mint” program, I didn’t hesitate. JetBlue Mint provides an exceptional first class experience, and I landed after my red eye ready to get to work (… though I may have closed my eyes for a few minutes by the pool first 😉 ).
This post, which for the record is not sponsored by JetBlue, is about why you should book a JetBlue Mint first class flight without doubt. A few of the perks might surprise you!
1) Separate Check-In
If you are Mint or Mosaic, you get a separate check-in booth at the airport. Now while you might be thinking “why would I need this?”, imagine the following scenario: you are packing for a multi-destination trip and need a lot of variety in your clothes. It might snow, it might rain, and you need to be prepared! You have several pieces of luggage to check in and when you get to the airport, you have to lug them all to a confusing ticket printing machine and then wait in a meandering line. So unpleasant. Not a deal breaker, but imagine how nice it would be to stroll up to a dedicated check-in area where they take care of all that for you.
Or, you are running late but have carry-on luggage with you… and when you arrive at the airport, the regular line is out the door. Now this does become a deal breaker for you, since waiting in that long line can mean missing your flight!
JetBlue has a special check-in dedicated to Mint (first class) and Mosaic (frequent flier) customers. This means a much shorter line. And, in my personal experience, they’re much more forgiving about bags that are slightly overweight 😉 .
This piece was over 50 pounds and they let it slide.
2) First to Board
JetBlue Mint and Mosaic passengers are first to board the plane (after folks who need assistance of course). This is a huge relief for those who want to get settled right away or need guaranteed space for their carry on. Plus you have more time to enjoy the comfy seats, and the…
3) Delicious Food... and Drinks
JetBlue Mint has delicious food worthy of its first class distinction. It’s great for those with allergies too. I have celiac, which means I can’t have gluten or anything that has touched gluten. The attendants were all very considerate about looking up what I could and couldn’t eat and made the necessary modifications when possible. For example, the ice cream dessert came with a crumble that they simply didn’t have to put on… and voila, it was gluten free! (I loved the peach sauce).
The drinks are a huge part of Mint’s appeal. If you’re the type that likes to indulge or needs alcohol to put you to sleep while in the air, imagine getting as many drinks as you want at no extra cost… that future is waiting for you. They have one in particular that I’ve tried to replicate at home. Aptly named “Mint Condition,” it has gin, club soda, ginger, lime, cucumber, and mint of course. I made friends with the person sitting next to me and they made our third round extra strong for us… an all-inclusive boozy brunch!
4) Comfy, Lie-Flat Seats
It is hard to overstate how important the seats are. On long flights, these Mint seats are a godsend. For someone under 6 feet, you can fully lie down and hopefully get some rest. Even if you’re just looking to watch a movie and not fall asleep, the recline and spacious accommodations make the experience a significant upgrade. The seats even have a built-in massager that can work on your back in preparation for your trip.
5) Blanket And Headphones Are Included… And Are Actually Good
If you’re anything like me, the idea of taking an extra item to the airport feels… exhausting. I try to be a light packer most of the time, and bringing unnecessary items bothers me. This is how I think about carry-on blankets or even bulky sweaters that I wouldn’t need otherwise (especially during summer travel). Planes get very cold, though, so a solution is necessary. With JetBlue Mint, a Tuft & Needle blanket is waiting on your seat upon arrival. This is a total game changer for your packing and airport experience. Your hands and shoulders will be light and free before takeoff and after landing, making it easier to use the restroom or even do some duty free shopping if that’s your thing.
The blanket is thick, and was enough to keep me warm even as I wore a strapless summer dress to the airport. Slippers are my secret airplane trick, and the ones from the Setai are my favorite.
[RELATED: Hotel Review: Setai Miami Beach]
6) The Goodie Bag
Now, while it may have been a while since you received a goodie bag from a friend’s birthday party, getting one is still a great feeling. The suspense as you contemplate what’s inside, the surprise as you open it… so much mystery! It’s a fun adventure, and JetBlue doesn’t disappoint. Most, if not all, of the items are deliberately allergen free, which was great for someone like me who has to read the ingredients on a lip balm. Their oxygen spritzer quickly became a new favorite travel essential and makes your skin feel super fresh. They also included some melatonin and energy mints to help you fall asleep and wake up, respectively.
They also give you a bag of delicious chocolate-covered cashews on your way out, which taste like a modern spin on those truffles that are super popular around Christmas time. Delicious and great finale to the flight.
7) Great Service
JetBlue provides exceptional service to facilitate the “Mint experience.” Flight attendants were very gracious and friendly, and it was just an all-around pleasant atmosphere. My seat mate and I got several rounds of drinks and didn’t have to flag anyone down – they very attentively anticipated our needs, a testament to the program’s hospitality.
A former JetBlue flight attendant told me that JetBlue’s CEO used to come around and be an attendant himself from time to time! I’m not sure if that’s still true, but business standards really do start from the top and I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case.
BONUS TIP: You don’t have to purchase a Mint ticket online to get a seat. If they have space available, you can upgrade at the front desk for $499. If you want to fly Mint and are comfortable winging it, this can be a great trick for less popular flights.
Those are a few reasons why you shouldn’t wait to book your next flight with JetBlue Mint, if you can (they only have select routes, including a new cross-continental trip from NYC to London). Make sure to bring some plane slippers and get ready to sink into the lie-flat seats. The perks live up to the cost of the ticket, and you’ll get to your next destination feeling rejuvenated and ready to conquer the world.