Staycation – a vacation taken close to home that offers relaxation without the hassle of long-distance travel, continues to grow in popularity. According to Simon Kucher’s US Travel Trends for 2026, more than half of American travelers are keeping it local this year by only planning domestic excursions.
From sun-soaked pool days to breezy beach strolls, South Florida is the obvious staycation destination. Here a few of my favorites:
Balfour Miami Beach
Located in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, Balfour Miami Beach, a Registry Collection hotel, is an iconic 82-room boutique sanctuary just steps from the sand. With the hotel’s Stay Local Live Balfour offer, Florida residents get an authentic South Beach escape on a minimum two-night stay, with exclusive savings and added flexibility. This limited time staycation includes up to 15% off accommodations, a complimentary upgrade to the next room category (subject to availability) and 50% off overnight valet parking.
Main Dining Room of Laurel Miami Beach (The Balfour)
Additional benefits include a 20% daily dining discount at the outstanding Laurel Miami Beach, and early check in at 10 a.m. and late check out at 4 p.m. (subject to availability), creating a seamless and indulgent summer retreat.Amenities include a rooftop deck, a plunge pool, bike rentals and beachfront access. Balfour also offers SoFi Coffee, an artisanal community café, and Laurel Miami Beach, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant led by Michelin-trained Executive Chef Camila Olarte.
Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club
Located along the Miami Beach boardwalk, Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, Autograph Collection is a 357-room oceanfront resort in the heart of the Mid-Beach neighborhood at 39th Street and Collins Avenue. The resort has a preserved art deco aesthetic with original terrazzo floors in the lobby area, lush greenery and a wraparound mezzanine balcony overlooking the check-in and lounge area.
The hotel’s “Miami Beach Is Calling” offer invites Florida and Georgia residents on a sun-soaked getaway with exclusive perks, including 10% off the best available rate, complimentary valet parking and full access to all resort amenities – including beach service, two sparkling pools and a fitness center.
The Goodtime Hotel
One-Bedroom Suite at The Goodtime Hotel Miami Beach (The Goodtime Hotel)
Located in a central, historic section of South Beach, The Goodtime Hotel, Miami Beach, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is perfect for locals looking to slip into vacation mode without leaving the city. Timed to Miami’s biggest sporting moments, the hotel’s Stadium Staycation package is available on May 3 for the Miami Grand Prix and on select dates throughout June and July for FIFA matches. The offer includes breakfast before the day’s events and a complimentary clear, stadium-approved bag for seamless entry.
Guests can further elevate their stays with the Hangover Helper package (available upon request), featuring spa treatments, electrolyte-rich coconut water served in real coconuts, Snooz white noise machines and more. On property, the hotel delivers a transportive, high-energy experience with standout amenities including, Strawberry Moon, serving classic comfort cuisine all day alongside craft cocktails, The Pool at Strawberry Moon, a 30,000-square-foot pool club, all-day dining, a cozy library, in-room and poolside spa services, and access to The Goodtime Beach just a few blocks away.
The Perry Hotel Naples
The Perry Hotel Naples is a great boutique, 160-room waterfront escape that delivers a polished yet laid-back setting for a Naples staycation. Anchored by a ground-level pool and an adults-only rooftop pool with sweeping sunset views, the property pairs resort-style amenities with a design-forward, modern industrial aesthetic and local touches. Guests can dine and drink their way through standout venues, including Tigress Restaurant & Rooftop Bar, Chef Dale Talde’s Cantonese-inspired rooftop restaurant, and Easy Tiger, a seventh-floor cocktail destination from mixologist Lynnette Marrero.
Tigress Restaurant (The Perry Hotel)
Overlooking the Cocohatchee River with direct Gulf access, the hotel also features a scenic marina, nature conservation area and water-based experiences that bring the destination to life. For added value, the hotel’s seasonal and ongoing offers make it especially appealing for a quick escape. Current promotions include up to 18-20% off best available rates, perks like early check-in and late checkout, and savings across the property, from dining discounts at Tigress and the coffee shop to reduced rates on water excursions such as sunset cruises, paddleboarding and kayak rentals.
Guests can also take advantage of a complimentary water shuttle to the beach, savings on tee times at nearby Saltleaf Golf Preserve, and extended-stay offers with up to 30% off for longer visits.
Dip In, Zone Out: Pool + Play Staycations
The Elser Hotel & Residences
Inside of the lobby of the Elser (The Elsey Hotel & Residences)
The Elser Hotel & Residences is a 49-story luxury tower in Downtown Miami featuring 646 residential-style rooms, including studios, one-bedrooms, and spectacular two- and three-bedroom suites. Each accommodation has refined touches, such as floor-to-ceiling windows, unobstructed bay views, walkout balconies, luxurious bathrooms for every bedroom, fully equipped kitchens, and residential comforts such as washers and dryers in every unit.
Enjoy a spring or summer staycation in-state and save at The Elser, where Florida residents receive exclusive savings of up to 25% off accommodations with the Stay in State & Save offering.
Guests enjoy access to an abundance of well-appointed amenities, including a 19,000-square-foot rooftop pool deck and event lawn overlooking Downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay, a 132-foot resort-style pool with a 16-foot poolside LED screen, private lounge areas, and a full bar, as well as a massive hot tub offering panoramic skyline views. A wellness-centered approach is reflected in the comprehensive two-level gym, rivaling any private fitness facility.
Novotel Miami Brickell
Novotel Miami Brickell offers a fresh perspective on a South Florida staycation with its Skyline One-Bedroom Suite, an expansive, apartment-style retreat designed for both comfort and sweeping city views. Spanning nearly 1,000 square feet, the suite features floor-to-ceiling windows that frame Biscayne Bay and Brickell’s dynamic skyline, along with a separate living area that makes it ideal for locals looking to unwind without leaving the city. Thoughtfully designed with accessibility in mind, the suite includes a roll-in shower and mobility-friendly features, while modern touches like complimentary Wi-Fi and a 50-inch LCD TV enhance the experience. Whether for a weekend reset or a special occasion, the Skyline Suite delivers a unique vantage point of Miami’s urban energy from above.
Additionally, this spring, Novotel’s dining outlets are launching a new brunch menu – available at Vista Rooftop Bar & Lounge and UVA Restaurant & Bar – featuring a curated selection of standout dishes designed to elevate the classic brunch experience.
The Marker Key West Harbor Resort
Credit: The Market Key West
The Marker Key West Harbor Resort is a quiet enclave near the Key West Historic Seaport just steps from lively Duval Street and Mallory Square. With a Florida & Georgia Resident Offer, guests can enjoy exclusive savings of up to 20% off the nightly room rate along with two complimentary welcome drinks. This modern waterfront resort offers a hidden sanctuary of lush tropical grounds, three pools, an open-air restaurant and bar for alfresco dining, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Each of the resort’s 96 luxurious guest rooms features a private balcony, perfectly appointed design elements and Key West-inspired touches.
Arlo Wynwood
Credit: The Arlo Wynwood
Arlo Wynwood offers a staycation experience that feels distinctly Miami. Opened in late 2022 in the heart of the Wynwood Arts District, the 217-room hotel brings the neighborhood’s energy indoors with more than 250 curated artworks and an eclectic industrial design by Meyer Davis. Guests are just steps from Wynwood’s iconic murals, galleries and buzzing dining scene, while the hotel itself delivers a dynamic lineup of programming, from wellness classes to live music and comedy.
At the center of it all is ART Wynwood, a rooftop destination featuring a 76-foot heated pool, cabanas, craft cocktails and sweeping city views, alongside additional gathering spaces like Higher Ground and the vibrant ground-floor restaurant, Wyn Wyn.
For a timely summer draw, Arlo Wynwood is leaning into the excitement of the FIFA World Cup with its Bend It Like Arlo package (available June 10 through July 20), inviting guests to make the hotel their home base for match days. The offer includes a $25 daily beverage credit for pregame drinks and two hangover recovery kits per stay. Arlo Hotels is also celebrating a major milestone with its Arlo Turns 10 anniversary offer, giving guests even more reason to plan a local escape. Available for stays throughout 2026, the promotion takes an additional 10% off Book Direct rates for up to 25% off overall, or as much as 30% for stays of three nights or more, making it an attractive option for extended summer staycations.
The Betsy – South Beach
The Betsy is one of the more luxurious properties on South Beach (The Betsy)
Recognized as a Michelin Key hotel, The Betsy is a 130-room, family-owned and -operated luxury oceanfront resort within South Beach’s Art Deco Historic District that is among the best luxury hotels in all of South Florida.
The Betsy is home to The Alley and LT South Beach, both helmed by award-winning Chef Laurent Tourondel, as well as The Piano Bar, which is widely regarded for live jazz. The hotel also has a 3,200-square-foot rooftop complex with a swimming pool, a property library and nearly 25,000 square feet of special event space.
Lauded as a world-leading literary hotel, The Betsy offers jazz nine times a week, classical music pop-ups, major art exhibitions, poetry readings, a monthly literary series in partnership with Books & Books and an artist residency program that has welcomed more than 1,500 writers and creatives since its inception. Public art includes “The Betsy Orb,” an egg-shaped architectural masterpiece that also serves as a functional bridge connecting the hotel’s two buildings, and “The Betsy Poetry Rail,” an installation of poetry etched into metal by water jets, celebrating 12 poets who shaped Miami history and culture.
The Gates Hotel South Beach
The Gates Hotel South Beach is a tranquil staycation retreat set along the Collins Canal on iconic Collins Avenue. Guests can receive beach access and a curated lineup of programming spanning fitness, art and cultural experiences, making it an ideal stay for those seeking a more mindful Miami Beach escape.
With the “Resident Package,” Florida and Georgia residents can take advantage of an exclusive offer, saving 15% on stays, making it the perfect opportunity for a stylish and accessible coastal getaway immersed in luxury, stunning views and warm hospitality,
Hotel Continental
Originally established in 1948, Hotel Continental, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton property, is a boutique lifestyle hotel in Miami Beach’s vibrant Mid-Beach district. The hotel blends retro-chic design inspired by Miami’s midcentury charm with modern traveler conveniences.
This spring and summer, trade the long drive for an easy escape. With Hotel Continental’s Park & Stay offer, guests enjoy complimentary daily parking for one vehicle throughout the stay, making it perfect for a staycation.
The 10-story, 100-room property is a unique and reminiscent getaway with curated art, custom furnishings and thoughtfully composed social spaces. Highlights include a 1950s Miami Modern-inspired (MiMo) pool; the vintage-inspired Mixer; Divebar, featuring a self-pour beverage wall; and Piola, the on-site pizzeria.
Feature Photo: The Perry Naples (The Perry Naples)