Few coastal destinations offer year-round allure and tropical bliss like Miami, which is probably why Lionel Messi had no problem making it his new home. Well, the giant bags of money probably helped, but anyone who has ever lived in or around The Magic City can attest that it has more perks than even the savviest travelers know.

But when it comes to dream homes, few destinations on this planet will ignite the average Joe’s imagination quite like Fisher Island, which has been called home or “home away from home” by celebrities like Oprah, Julia Roberts, and Mel Brooks, among others. Why are A-listers drawn here? Probably because it’s about as exclusive as it gets, but also because you could step outside your home, do a 360, and immediately realize it’s impossible not to smile here.

That’s why we presume that the latest addition to this secluded retreat is sure to be a hit with anyone who has ever wanted to declare residency. Currently under development by the Related Group, Six Fisher Island is set to become a 50-unit ultra-luxury condominium complex that will be nothing short of spectacular upon completion. In fact, it will give many of the Caribbean’s best resort communities a run for their money… emphasis on that last part.

After all, the regular units will start at a jaw-dropping $30 million. The penthouses? $60 million. Again, this is Oprah country.

Expectations for the condos will be sky high, but the amenities will keep residents entertained and fit for years to come. The P.B. Dye-designed golf course will have casual players admiring from a distance, while residents can spend time between rounds living out their triathlete dreams on the 17 tennis courts, as well as the quartet of pickleball courts for everyone who is hooked on the planet’s fastest growing sport.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. A multi-sport simulator will offer a break from the sun while keeping the competitive juices flowing, and if tennis and pickleball aren’t enough, a paddle ball court will add another level to the fitness programming. The cherry on top, though, is the wellness facility that will offer yoga, pilates, weight training, and anything else the muscles need.

As if residents didn’t already have it made here, the 4,800-sq. ft. roof deck will likely become the coolest spot in South Florida for enjoying views any time of day. If anything, a selfie in the infinity pool will be the most sought-after souvenir for anyone lucky enough to step foot on Fisher Island.

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Miami is now the only U.S. gateway with service to the British Virgin Islands. Officials from Miami International Airport, the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board, and American Airlines hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 1 to celebrate the launch of American’s daily nonstop Miami-Tortola route.

Related: Historic Pan Am HQ Gets New Life at Miami International

With the departure of American Airlines flight 3989, Miami International became the only U.S. airport to offer nonstop service to the British Virgin Islands for the first time in four decades. The three-hour flight, which eliminates the need for connecting flights, will operate through the summer and then resume in November.

Tortola also became the 43rd nonstop Caribbean route at Miami, the leading U.S. airport for flights to Latin America and the Caribbean. Miami International enters the busy summer travel season with year-to-date passenger traffic up nearly 3% over its record-breaking year in 2022 when the airport served 50.7 million travelers.

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Fashion-forward South Florida travelers who happen to love their beach time, too, are likely familiar with the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, located oceanfront and right across the street from the couture retail hotbed that’s the Bal Harbour Shops. But it might come as a surprise that this five-star, five-diamond resort also knows how to cater to kids and families with as much aplomb as it seduces jet setting fashionistas.

Here are five reasons why this stylish, celebrated property is as awesome for kids and families and it is for vacationing A-listers.

Fab Family Programming 

No matter the season, the hotel stages themed events that make it easy for kids to get in the spirit through creative arts and crafts and other fun. Check in with the concierge for a rundown on all the excitement, which might include making wooden ice cream cones and snacking on real snow cones for National Ice Cream Day in May, painting sweet little flower pots for Earth Day, or a Halloween-themed afternoon tea come October. 

Kid-focused Amenities 

So often, luxury hotels overlook their youngest guests when it comes to the actual in-room amenities. But that’s happily not the case at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. Child-size robes, slippers for tiny toes, and step stools they can climb to brush their teeth with ease all make it easy for your youngest kids to settle right into their home away from home here. A quick call to the dedicated butler makes it easy to secure other things you might be missing from home, too–including baby wipes, diapers, strollers, and cribs. 

In-room Movie Nights 

Every family knows that sometimes, even on vacation, the night just calls for snuggling up together and staying in. And this resort knows how to make family movie night away from your home couch environment feel extra special. Let your butler arrange it all for you, with popcorn, snacks, and a Blu-Ray player delivered right to your suite so you can stream your fave family flick all cozied up for the night. 

Jeep Excursions into the Everglades 

What better way to incorporate some real Florida learning fun into your family vacation than by adventuring into some of the most beautiful parts of Everglades National Park on a family Jeep tour arranged by the hotel? The excursion lasts roughly five hours and includes an airboat ride and the chance to spot all manner of birds and alligators along with South Florida’s most iconic wilderness landscapes. 

Children’s Afternoon Tea 

Why should adults have all the fun at the property’s iconic French restaurant, La Gourmandise? The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort arranges a traditional afternoon tea just for kids complete with tiny desserts and sweet treats that are almost too pretty to eat as well as milkshakes they’ll love. For grownups who are tea aficionados, too, you’ll love that there are more than 30 selections of teas from around the world to brew up and fill your cup.

The post 5 Reasons Why St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort is Awesome for Kids appeared first on Islands.

There is no busier month of the year in our world than November, because that’s when our inboxes are hit with an avalanche of travel deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This year is even crazier because the pickings have been slim over the last two years, and now every resort and hotel from Antigua to Zanzibar is making up for lost time. Needless to say, we have a lot of work to do.

Let’s start with Florida, as the Sunshine State always offers convenient tropical respite without the travel burdens of passports and switching airplanes multiple times. The weather is still warm, beaches are beautiful, and the hotels are cooler than ever. All that was missing was the right deal to get those booking fingers clicking, and these five offers will take care of that.

The Marker Key West Harbor Resort

The Deal: Surrounded by beautiful tropical greenery, this Key West favorite feels like its own little oasis tucked away from the liveliness of nearby Mallory Square, even if its location is one of the best reasons for picking this hotel. An even better reason is 50 percent off rates for all 96 guest rooms. 

The Time: The Black Friday sale runs 11/21-11/28 with Cyber Monday right behind it, 11/28-12/7.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

The Deal: A 50-year celebration is always a good reason to visit, but up to 50 percent off rates is even better. Of course, guests are rarely disappointed at this sprawling community, where variety is king. And the best thing about discounted rates is longer stays, and here that means more golf than anyone can handle.

The Time: Booking must be completed by 11/30 for stays between 12/1 and 10/31/23.

The Elser Hotel and Residences

The Deal: Who doesn’t love staying in a new property? Located in Downtown Miami, this 646-room luxury hotel is instantly one of the coolest spots in one of the coolest cities on Earth. The 19,000-sq. ft. sun deck alone is going to need its own image server on Instagram. Making it all the better is a 30 discount on rates.

The Time: Booking is already underway and runs through 12/1 for stays between now and the end of 2023.

The Shelborne South Beach

The Deal: Few South Beach hotels have a story quite like this one. Opened more than 80 years ago, the Shelborne, just like the celebrities who have stayed here over the years, has undergone some facelifts and makeovers, but it has always been stylish and cool. It also has amazing food and cocktails, as well as one of the best pools in town. And soon it’ll have rates starting at $169 per night.

The Time: Booking for this special rate opens on 11/19 and runs through 12/1.

Hotel Effie

The Deal: Few hotels have generated as much buzz in the last decade as Hotel Effie has in the last year. The rooftop pool alone instantly became the biggest hit of the Emerald Coast because it was the only one in town. But Chef Hugh Acheson’s quartet of dining concepts have ensured that this will be a Sandestin staple for years to come. There’s no better reason to discover this property than a 50 percent discount on rates for a minimum of two nights.

The Time: Book between 11/25 and 11/30 for stays through 12/30/23.

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No Time to Die, the latest James Bond film, was released on September 28 and is still screening at movie theaters across the globe. As Daniel Craig suited up for one last go as the famous 007 character, travelers across the U.S. can join in on the fun and transform into the iconic character for the day. 

Shelborne South Beach and the Marker Key West Resort have direct connections to James Bond films and their filming locations in Florida. This year, in line with the release of the epic 25th installment of the legendary franchise, these properties have debuted over-the-top experiences for travelers to step into 007’s shoes. 

James Bond and South Florida have always gone hand in hand. Both Goldfinger and License to Kill were filmed in and around Miami and Key West, and the classic Bond-themed cocktail bar Vesper was once located at the Shelborne South Beach. The Shelborne is now offering guests the entire 007 experience with “The Vesper” overnight package, which includes shopping for a custom suit with a personal shopper in Miami’s Design District and driving a luxury automobile with Miami Exotic Car Rentals. Rooms also feature a Casino Night theme with limited edition Blackwell Rum, as well as a Vesper Martini Mixology Kit. If that’s not enough, the “Golden Gun” dessert will make for a great finale.

When Timothy Dalton took the lead as James Bond in the 1989 classic License to Kill, the film featured iconic footage of the Florida Keys’ 7-mile bridge, The Ernest Hemingway House, Mallory Square, and the U.S Coast Guard Pier, among other settings. Now, the Marker Key West Harbor Resort is offering travelers the life of James Bond with a luxury charter boating experience, Tom Ford FT108 Sunglasses (just like Daniel Craig), stargazing, and Blackwell Rum. 

Super villains not included.

The post Head to these South Florida Resorts to Pay Tribute to James Bond appeared first on Islands.

Update: The home was sold for $15.5 million and will be preserved.

On one hand, the property at 93 Palm Avenue is an example of old Miami Beach’s architectural charm and style. On the other hand, it’s a haunting (possibly haunted?) reminder that one of the most notorious criminals in American history once called Palm Island home. So, it’s easy to understand why there’s a very heated debate over the fate of this multimillion-dollar home, which is currently awaiting a visit from the wrecking ball, according to TopTenRealEstateDeals.com.

With dollar signs in their eyes, the developers want to clear the land so they can build a mansion that will sell for as much as $48 million; however, local preservationists want the original structure to be left alone. They don’t deny that Capone was a bad man, but they believe his one-time home is a piece of Miami Beach’s history, “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” The builders point out that the home has its flaws, including flood damage and the fact that it sits three feet below sea level.

Quite the conundrum.

Whatever this home’s fate may be, we can’t quell the curiosity to take a look inside and appreciate the old Miami architecture and history of this property. At the very least, it’s fun to imagine what an HGTV crew could do to it.

Capone took advantage of the aftermath of the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926, scooping this house up for $40,000. He eventually spent more than $200,000 on amenities and safety measures so that he and his family could enjoy their retreats without worrying about attacks.

With four bedrooms and more than 6,000-sq.-ft., it served as an ideal getaway for a guy who always traveled with friends and family, as well as a sizable security detail. But the guards probably didn’t sleep much at night since they were busy keeping an eye on the water.

After Capone was released from prison in 1939, he spent the rest of his life here until he died in 1947. His wife, Mae, eventually sold the home in 1952.

If developer Todd Michael Glaser has his way, Capone’s home will be demolished so an extravagant mansion can be built in its place. It will boast eight bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as a spa and sauna, serving as a mini resort for whichever baller ends up moving in.

Homes on Palm Island range from $20 to $40 million, so the new build will certainly be one of the most sought-after homes in the area, if not all of Miami. Now, it’s just a matter of how long it will take for a decision.

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