Advise for Miami

[WadeBradley]

Going to South Beach for the first time next week 8/11-8/18. Looking to go to clubs on Thurs, Fri, Sat, and Sun. I am also open to day party or just a fun daytime scene. I won't be doing bottle service, I am planning on buying Pre-sale tickets (will that work as smoothly as it does in Vegas?). I know I will be hitting up LIV (prob on Thurs), and then I am open to any other places the rest of the time. I don't really care who is DJing, What I am looking for are places that are easier to talk to women (as a GA w/o bottle service)- example would be how the layout at XS makes it easier to mingle verses being dark and loud at Hakk or Light.

Any advise or contacts would be much appreciated...Thanks!!

[tomm0]

OK so firstly, nightlife im Miami is very VERY expensive. Much more so than Vegas.

Daylife is cool, not crazy though really. Much more laid back. Check out Hyde Beach at SLS, Delano, Shore Club, Shelborne.

Pre-sale most definately does not work like Vegas. If you arent with any girls you simply wont get in, period. Whether you have pre-sale or not. Ive done pre-sale, bottle service and GA in Miami. At Liv its a total nightmare and nigh on impossible. I was with 2 guys, we all had pre-sale, were at the entrance and told we cant come in without girls. Went and got 3, told we needed more. I rounded up 12 girls and then they only let 2 of the 3 of us through even though we had pre-sale and had to tip the guy $300 to get the last man through. We said no and left.

Dont even entertain Liv without bottles youll just spend your night waiting around.

Theres another level most clubs do with pre-sale/GA in that you can have a minimum spend at the VIP bar. No table, just the bar, which is a nice middle ground. Thats where you can pick up girls as they all get rounded up for tables in VIP.

- Story is ace, that works with GA.
- Bambu isnt a bad spot
- Cameo blows
- Mansion sucks
- Mokai is a super little place, stacked with crazy hot girls that can work with GA but depends
- Wall is a total bitch on entry
- Set is even worse
- E11ven is new and crazy exclusive
- Nikki Beach is OK but only go Sundays its much more laid back than other clubs and a slightly younger crowd

Its nothing like vegas really, Miami is more exclusive and much more image orientated. They'd sooner have an empty club and lose millions but look cool than a packed club making stacks but not seen as exclusive. For that reason you dont get cheap tables with low minimums cos it doesnt fit the brand.

Its a brilliant, brilliant town. BUT alot more expensive than Vegas. You'll spend at an absolute minimum $500 if you are doing GA per night because youll have to tip the guy to let you in about $200 ticket or not.

[Aaustar4life]

Went to Miami over the fourth (Gf and I). I recommend LIV (get there early when they open) its a top spot, but like the previous poster said, the lines get rediculous. Saw Afrojack at Mansion, decent time, but again got there early around 11 in line. For a bomb meal you cant go wrong with "A Fish Called Avalon" right on south beach. Fountain bleau overall is a really nice hotel too. Drinks everywhere are overpriced, some places do offer b1g1 drinks too

[zoso]

As stated above Story is fun, Nikki Beach on a Sunday, and the city (Miami Beach) is grossly overpriced.

[Brooklyn Marc]

Agree with most of the assessments here. Miami nightlife (as opposed to Vegas) is really geared towards image and flash, not really a hospitality based business honestly. As far as the clubs it's a good time but yeah perhaps even more so than Vegas the man who spends is King in Miami. As far as day club life it's alot more subdued than Vegas for sure, I typically stay at the Delano when I go back (lived there for a time) and while again the pool scene is not comparable in terms of the parties, you will find no shortage of women around any of the better pools and talking to them is more a matter of approach than anything I suppose.

[headstrong]

Grossly overpriced is an understatement.

I was just in Miami over this past weekend with the wife for a wedding. We were just at the Delano hotel bar and two drinks hit us at $43.00 (screwdriver and mojito).

Keep in mind everywhere includes tip and it's some of the worst restaurant service I've ever had. Even the cap drivers tried to help themselves to tips. Which works for me I usually tip $5+ on cabs (short distance), especially after drinking and they were taking $1-2 EXTRA each time on top of the fare each time, so they lost out. Just a pet peeve of mine.

Also if you are looking for a place to stay check out AirBnb for private rentals, we booked one right on 5th and Euclid. It wasn't bad. I mean the place had some wear, but it had a full kitchen, living room, bedroom, and beach stuff available with a great price and location. There are tons of options.

[WadeBradley]

Wow... Great stuff from everyone. I can't thank you all enough! This was definately very helpful... Cheers!

[scooner]

Was thinking of doing GA for Liv on Sat of Ultra weekend. How much of a handshake would I have to give to get in by myself dressed to the 9s, with presale, and no girls? Or am I wasting my time?

[artedm]

To help you understand
People wait all year for the lineup/onsale announcement. Then usually those presales sell out in like 5 minutes depending on how high the price is. Just because the venues are so small and so much demand- people in town for the festival.
I have heard from someone that presale goes thru the back. The front is just a bunch of people (girls) hoping to get picked.

Was thinking of doing GA for Liv on Sat of Ultra weekend. How much of a handshake would I have to give to get in by myself dressed to the 9s, with presale, and no girls? Or am I wasting my time?

[scooner]

thanks for the info guys. will start stalking wantickets a few months out.