For our time Miami Beach we stayed at a hostel on Collins Avenue. It was fairly cheap and friendly but most importantly it was in a great location so we could wander around the area and get a feel for it whilst feeling safe and in control. 
We were there for a Friday and Saturday night, which is probably the worst time to visit as South Beach seems to turn into the American equivalent of Magaluf. However, on the second night, whilst trying to find Visa 01 Pizza (which had been recommended but we just couldn’t find) we stumbled across a fairly busy yet peaceful shopping street, called Lincoln Road I think, with loads of open air restaurants, away from the rowdiness of the ocean front. If possible I’d definitely recommend checking it out, although the food was a little pricey.
We didn’t have much time in Miami because of all the trips we had planned so we didn’t do much exploring, especially as the rain left us stranded in a mall. However we did manage to squeeze in an hour on the beach, at 7pm after a thunderstorm; still hotter than midday in Britain though.
It was a great place to visit but, as I’m under 21, we really didn’t need any more than a few days here as the tourist industry seems to cater mainly to the scantily clad, heavy drinkers. If that’s your style then certainly stay longer, and pack a lot of neon because that’s a thing there apparently.
Katie x
