PART FIVE:

Re-emerging from the glamour of its grand opening in 1954, the recently revamped Fontainebleau represents the next generation of Miami Beach iconicity, infused with the sexy, ultramodern spirit of the eccentric original.

A $1 billion renovation completed in 2008 has given the venue a brand new lease of life. Its celebrity pedigree can’t be beaten (old-school icons like Elvis and the Rat Pack used to prowl the halls) and now the Fontainebleau’s hot-spot LIV nightclub, considered one of the world’s best clubs by many, attracts A-listers like Jennifer Lopez, LeBron James, and Lady Gaga who performed at LIV’s New Year’s Eve party last year.

The 30,000-square-foot DJ-catered venue features eclectic entertainment and a voyeuristic design (you can see the entire venue from nearly every corner of the space) and is reason alone for the Fontainebleau’s major “party hotel” status.

And for those who crave a more mellow night, the Fontainebleau offers the more subdued, but no less glamorous, Bleau Bar in the hotel lobby and Glow Bar, a sophisticated pool lounge, open to hotel guests only, daily until sunset.

The guest rooms and suites, 1,504 in total, come with ocean views, blue accents, and personal 20-inch iMacs. After a long night out, hotel guests can nurse their hangovers with food from one of Fontainebleau’s 11 restaurants and lounges, including three haute eateries: Hakkasan, Scarpetta, and Gotham Steak. Room rates start from $189/night.

Tags: Air Travel, Bleau Bar, Fontainebleau, Glow Bar, Gotham Steak, Hakkasan, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, LeBron James, LIV nightclub, Miami, Scarpetta, top travel destinations