Happy Monday Cuties! My apologies this post is up to late!!
I got home yesterday from Miami and absolutely crashed!! So I’ve been working on this post all day to get it out to you 🙂
As you can see, I spent this last weekend in Miami! Even though it was the same weekend as Swim Week, that is not why I was there. It was a girls trip with a few of my best friends from high school! We had been planning this trip for months and had no idea it was the same week as Swim Week until like two weeks before.
Once I found out, I immediately started looking at Swim Week activities to partake in while we were there, but in the end decided not too. As tempting as it was (because it all looked amazing!), that’s not why I bought my ticket to Miami. I went to spend time with my friends that I never get to see. We have all been best friends since we were Freshman in high school and even though we all went to different colleges, we have stayed extremely close!
Now that we’re adults (are we really though?) and all live in different cities/states we really never get to see each other. So after my Bachelorette party last year, we decided to start making an annual trip together! This was my second to Miami (you can see my first trip here!) and it was just as fun as the last time!
Because this was a girls trip and not a “blogging” trip, I did not take the normal amount of photos as I normally would! I didn’t want to hall around my camera the whole time, nor bug my friends to constantly take my photos. Even though when they did, they were so sweet about it!
I just get self conscious and didn’t want to bother them more than I had too – lol.
SHOP THE POSTÂ
I got into Miami Thursday night around 11:00 pm and went straight to our condo to meet the girls and change! All of the girls got into Miami that morning but since the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale started that day, I really had a list of things I needed to get done before leaving and decided the best decision was to take a afternoon flight out of Houston!
I chose to fly into Ft. Lauderdale (35-40 min uber) as opposed to Miami because it was obnoxiously less expensive. I use miles (shout out United) for everything and the option of flying into Ft. Lauderdale was too good to pass up!
My friend Haley, has a good friend who owns a condo right on the beach in Mid Beach and just happened in be in Europe for a vacation that week. He offered us to stay there for our trip and I have literally never been so grateful lol.
So I got in, met the girls at the Condo, changed and headed out for the night!
SHOP THE POSTÂ
pink bikini top // pink bikini bottoms
Friday mornings walk on the beach <3
The water in Miami is shockingly clear and one of the things I love most about it is that they do not have huge waves. The beaches are lined with the cutest Life Guard stands and all of the hotels have the most colorful and Insta worthy beach chairs I have ever seen! Every time I go to Miami, I love walking the beach to see them! The pink chairs above were from the W South Beach Hotel!
I wore this pink swimsuit the first day and you may recognize it from my Destin trip last month! It has been the perfect swimsuit this summer and I love just how bright and fun it is!
SHOP THE POSTÂ
yellow top // yellow bottoms // white purse // earrings // red dres
We had lunch at Cecconies, located in the Soho House! Colton and I went here last time we were in Miami, so I had to take the girls there! Their courtyard is seriously the cutest and is also perfect for happy hour or dinner! At night they turn on the most gorgeous twinkling lights!
After lunch, we spent the remainder of the day drinking by different hotel pools and going to pool parties! If you’re ever in Miami and are staying at an Airbnb or with a friend like we were, multiple hotels allow the public! I’ll share a full list at the bottom of this post!
SHOP THE LOOKÂ
pink dress // earrings // Stuart Weitzman heelsÂ
For dinner, we went got all dressed up and went to Gianni’s at the Versace Mansion! Last time, Colton and I went and saw the Versace Mansion but they didn’t have a restaurant there. When we found out it had recently opened, we put it at the top of our list! It was seriously gorgeous and so swanky! They sat us right by the pool, we ordered a few bottles of wine, split a ton of shared plates.
One of the most exciting parts of the evening was that the couple literally sitting right next to us got engaged while we were there! At the end of their dinner, the guy asked the waiter to take their photo in front of the pool and as he did, he got down on one knee and proposed! The whole mansion was clapping and cheering, she was bawling and we pretty much all started to cry with her – lol. The cutest part was that he had the hardest time getting the box out of his jacket!
ABOUT THE LOOKÂ
You guys absolutely loved this dress and I hate to tell you this, but the original dress sold out. I bought it last year and have never had a place to wear it. The good news though is that the exact same designer came out with an identical dress for this year! It’s the same bright Barbie pink too! Just a different cut and I honestly like it more!
Also, I don’t know if you can see my friend Tera’s red two piece set but ya’ll – it was so cute!!!!! I was obsessed and will definitely be buying it – lol.
SHOP THE POSTÂ
romper // white sandals // handbag // blue crop topÂ
The next day, we went to Espanola Way for brunch and to walk around. If your in Miami, you have to go to this little area! It was so cute!! It’s a boulevard lined with a ton of little restaurants/cafes that made me feel like I was walking through either Barcelona or Paris!
They are all outside, cafe style and the pink architecture was to die for! We ate at a Mexican restaurant towards the beginning because it was we the first one we saw and were all starving – but I wish we would have kept walking because there were so many cute options!
The romper I wore was seriously to die for too! It’s comfortable, flattering, the colors were bright and it’s under $50! Perfect for a Miami Beach vacation!
SHOP THE POSTÂ
bikini  top // bottoms // shorts
We then spend the afternoon at the W South Beach pool! They are super welcoming to outside guests, will set you up in chairs with towels for free and their Frozé was out of this world! It was surprisingly strong too!
There were a few Swim Week events happening there, so that was cool and I even ran into another friend who was there for a girls trip with her mom!
I picked up this swimsuit at the beginning of the summer and had been saving it for this trip! The colors gave me major 80’s vibes and was extremely flattering!
(view from Juvia)
That night was definitely the most chill but was my favorite! We had dinner at Juvia which is basically a rooftop bar / restaurant with the most beautiful views of the city. We sat right next to the balcony, ordered a bottle of Whispering Angel Rosé and enjoyed our last evening. We then went back to the condo, grabbed a few bottles of champagne and headed to the beach. We ended up staying out there until almost 4 a.m. just talking! It was the perfect ending to the trip:)
Our trip flew by and I’m missing my girls already. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been low key planning our next one since I’ve been home – lol!
MIAMI GUIDE
This guide is a mixture of places we went on during this girls trip, my last and a few on our list that we sadly didn’t make it to but that people raved about!
A few tips:
- From my personal experience, stay away from the Ocean Drive area in South Beach. I know it’s what you think you want to do because it’s all you hear about, but it’s honestly so dirty and touristy. It’s just not an area you want to hang out in – trust me.
- If you’re choosing Miami because you think it’s going to be a cheap or decently affordable trip…. then I am here to burst your bubble! I love Miami and every time I go I have the best time but it’s just as expensive as Vegas… if not more! So just a heads up lol.
- When picking a weekend, make sure there are not any huge events happening! While it would have been awesome being in Miami for an event like swim week, it’s kind of annoying if that’s not what you are there for! A lot of the hotels weren’t doing their normal parties due to events and everything was more crowded than usual.
Getting There
Miami Airport: International airport located about 25 minutes from Miami Beach! This is the closest airport to Miami Beach and has the most flight options.
Fort. Lauderdale Airport: A smaller airport located 35-40 minutes away from Miami Beach. This was my first time flying into and out of here and it was seriously so easy and much less expensive that flying into Miami. The airport was really easy to get through and all around the perfect option!
Where To Stay
Hotel Crescent: Formerly known as the Thompson Hotel. I stayed here my first time in Miami and it was a dream! So cute, loved that it was in Mid Beach and not South Beach. I felt like we were staying in a Skittles Commercial with all of the colors! $$$
W South Beach: We spend a lot of time at this hotel and it was seriously so nice! My next trip I definitely want to stay here! Great area, cute restaurants, had an awesome pool area the cutest beach chairs! $$$
1 Hotel South Beach: Over the top super modern and chic. It was recommended to me by so many! $$$
The Edition Hotel:Â Probable the swankiest hotel I have ever seen in my entire life. All white marble everything. I was seriously in love. My best friend Ann recently stayed here for a Bachelorette Party and raved about it! The pool was gorgeous too and there is a super cool club in it the Basement $$$$$
Dream Hotel South Beach: If you’re looking for a cute & affordable option, then this hotel is perfect! Very Miami and very cute! $$
Where To Eat
Cecconies: Located in the Soho House in Mid Beach. Has the cutest courtyard patio and a menu perfect for everyone!
(brunch // lunch // dinner)
Juvia: AÂ Rooftop Bar & Restaurant. It had the most incredible views of the city and we loved sitting right by the balcony for dinner to watch the sun go down. Great Atmosphere and shockingly gorgeous. Also serves sushi!
( brunch // lunch // dinner // rooftop )
Prime 121: Probably the most famous and gorgeous Steak House in South Beach. It’s in the coolest old White House and is frequently visited by celebrities.
(dinner)
Espanola Way: The first commercial development in Miami in the 1920’s. This area will transport you back in time and make you feel like you’re in either Spain or France. So many restaurants in this area! My advice is to go there, walk around and pick the one that you think looks the most appealing!
Sugar: On the other side of the bridge but seriously gorgeous! It’s another rooftop with beautiful views!
( dinner // rooftop )
Versailles: If you’re looking for some of the most old school Cuban restaurants in Miami, than this is your spot! I went here with Colton on our last trip and it was recommend to us by almost every local!
Pool Parties
- Delano Hotel Beach Club and Pool
- Hyde Beach Pool Party at the SLS
- The W South Beach Hotel Pool
- Rooftop at 1 Hotel South Beach
Fun Activities
- Rent a bike & Explore the Boardwalk
- Book a boat: I have never done this, but multiple friends have on bachelorette parties and have raved about it! Next time we will for sure!
- Española Way
- Go to the Beach:
Cocktail Bars
- Bleau Bar
- Bodego
- The Broken Shaker
- Employees Only
Night Clubs
- E11even (the only 24 hour club in Florida)
- LIV at the Fountain Bleau
- The Basement at the Edition Hotel
xo,
Lauren