Spending 5 Days at Fontainebleau Miami Beach is the easiest way to do South Beach without overcomplicating it. The resort is massive, the food is amazing, and you’re in one of the best locations in Miami Beach. You can go full glam. You can go relaxed. You can do both in the same day.
Here’s exactly how I’d do five days.
If you’re still deciding whether to stay here, see my full review of Fontainebleau Miami Beach before you book.
If you’re flying in, I always compare flights on Skyscanner so I can land early enough to actually enjoy day one instead of wasting it in transit.
Fly into Miami International Airport.
A few quick tips that will save you money and stress:
When you land, check Uber prices before booking.
If it’s over $60, wait a few minutes. Surge pricing usually drops.
Don’t request your ride until you physically have your luggage.
Always double-check the license plate before getting in.
It’s about 20–25 minutes to the resort depending on traffic.
If you prefer having your own car (especially if you plan to explore beyond South Beach), renting a car makes this much easier — you can browse options with Discover Cars and compare pricing before you land.
If you already know you want the Fontainebleau experience (and you should), you can check current availability and rates here and plan ahead — especially if your dates are flexible.
Official check-in is typically 4pm, but they’ll often accommodate early arrivals if your room is ready. If it’s not, store your bags and start enjoying the property instead of hovering around the front desk.
Grab lunch, walk the grounds, and just look around for a minute. The place is big, polished, and very “we’re in Miami now.” The arrival feeling is my favorite part — everything is new and exciting.
You really don’t need to leave the property tonight.
Hakkasan – Upscale Chinese. Dim sum, crispy duck, great cocktails (so I'm told). A great choice!
Prime 54 – If you’re in steak mode, this is it. I like this so much that I usually come here even if we aren't staying at the hotel.
Arcadia Grill – Burgers, casual energy, good for a low-key first night.
Unpack. Eat well. You’re officially in vacation mode.
Start with pastries and coffee at Chez Bon Bon inside the resort — yes, the croissant is worth it — then make your way to the pool and beach. Fontainebleau has multiple pools, plenty of loungers, and direct beach access, so it’s easy to settle in without planning much.
The pool scene has energy but it’s not chaotic. You can people-watch, read a book, float for a bit, wander down to the ocean, and come back again whenever you feel like it. Hydrate, reapply sunscreen, and call that a productive day.
Two good options:
Stay on property at La Cote for Mediterranean-style lunch with an ocean view.
Or head to Naked Taco on Ocean Drive. It can get crowded, but the cowboy steak taco is excellent and the fried doughnuts are elite. If you leave without ordering those doughnuts, that’s on you.
Walk over to Lincoln Road for shopping and dinner. It’s lively with plenty of choices for shopping and dinner.
Highly recommend:
Mister 01 – The coffee pizza sounds strange. It is insanely good. Trust me.
Salt & Straw – Their ice cream flavors are unique in the best way.
Most spots don’t require reservations, which makes this night easy. You can wander, decide, and eat without stress.
Pastries at Chez Bon Bon. Pool. Beach. No notes.
This is where 5 Days at Fontainebleau Miami Beach really shines — you’re not rushing around the city. You’re enjoying the property you’re paying for.
Head to Taquiza if you want something casual, consistently good, and authentic.
If you want more details before you go, learn more in my post about Taquiza Miami North Beach. It’ll help you know exactly what to order.
Dinner at Barton G. The Restaurant.
It’s expensive, dramatic, and very extra — but that’s kind of the point. The presentations are huge, the portions are big, and half the fun is watching other tables’ food come out.
If you go, order the Dollar Dollar Bill Y’all dessert. It’s completely unnecessary and absolutely over the top, which is exactly why you should get it.
If you want a wild breakfast situation, go to Bacon Bitch.
The food is good. The music is loud. The energy is aggressive. It’s not calm — but it’s entertaining.
If that’s not your thing, stay at the resort and keep your morning peaceful. There is no wrong choice here.
Spend the day enjoying South Beach:
Walk the boardwalk
Rent bikes and ride to the pier
Stop for photos along Ocean Drive
Pop into little shops
This is your classic Miami afternoon.
If you want to book a guided bike tour or another activity instead of doing it solo, you can browse South Beach tours here to see what fits your timing.
Circle back to:
Hakkasan
Prime 54
Mirabella
Or just stay poolside with drinks. No pressure.
By this point in your 5 Days at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, you know your routine. The pastry order is locked in. The pool chair strategy is set. No need to reinvent anything now.
If you want something off-property before you leave, stop at Rosetta Bakery for pastries and coffee.
It’s quick, reliable, and a solid final Miami carb moment.
Head to the airport and leave extra time for traffic. Miami can surprise you.
Flight home. Slight sadness. Immediate urge to rebook.
Staying at Fontainebleau makes this itinerary easy because:
You don’t have to leave the resort for great dinners.
The pool and beach situation is strong.
You’re close enough to Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive.
It balances luxury with classic South Beach energy.
You can dress up for Hakkasan and be barefoot at the pool a few hours later. You can go big at Barton G one night and eat a burger the next.
That’s why 5 Days at Fontainebleau Miami Beach feels balanced instead of exhausting.
If you’re planning a shorter trip, check out my One Day in Miami guide to adjust this into a tighter schedule.
And if you’re ready to plan your own 5 Days at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, you can find hotels near South Beach here to compare options and start locking things in.
I walked down to the beach and immediately noticed how calm the water was. 🐚
It sits in a small cove, so there’s really no waves pushing in. You just walk right in without thinking about it. I grabbed my snorkel (they actually rent them for free at the resort, which I didn’t expect) and went out near the pier and stayed way longer than I planned, because the water was that clear.
Honest caveat: if you need a lot of energy and activity at a beach, this probably isn’t it. It’s quiet, it’s calm, and you’re mostly just... sitting there. Which for me was exactly the point.☀️
Full Baoase review linked in bio. 🔗
#curaçao #travel #luxuryresort #privatebeach #visitcuraçao
Dinner at Baoase in Curaçao isn’t just a restaurant, you’re walking into a full resort setting where everything feels intentional. The table is right by the water, the food is French-inspired with tropical and Asian flavors woven in, and the whole thing moves slowly in the best way. We sat there for hours and didn’t want it to end.
✨ Culinary Beach Restaurant, oceanside tables, candlelit ambiance
✨ French-inspired menu with tropical and Asian influences
✨ Service that’s attentive without being over the top
✨ The kind of dinner you’re still thinking about days later
Fair warning: this isn’t a casual grab-a-table kind of spot. You’re making a reservation, thinking through your outfit, and blocking off the whole evening and it’s worth every bit of that.
If you’re celebrating something or just want one dinner that feels a little extra, this is where to do it. Full Baoase resort review linked in bio. 🔗
Curaçao has the beaches everyone talks about, and then it has these. The spots that made this trip actually feel like mine weren’t on any resort map. I found them by renting a car, asking locals, and just following what looked good.
✨ Playa Lagun: a calm little cove where the water does all the work
✨ Playa Kalki: rocky entry, but the snorkeling right off shore is worth it
✨ Playa Jeremi: no rentals, no crowds, no setup. Just the beach
✨ Fort Nassau: watched the sun go down over Willemstad and stayed for dinner
✨ Hofi Cas Cora: breakfast on an actual farm and the freshest food of the whole trip
✨ Willemstad Street Party: I had no idea Thursday nights turned into that. Just followed the music.
✨ Playa Forti: cliff jumping and amazing food, talk about dinner and a show!
Honest caveat: if you need everything planned and structured, a few of these will feel a little too unpolished. But if you like the kind of trip where the best parts are the ones you stumble into, this is exactly that.
All 7 spots with full details are linked in bio. ☀️
#curaçao #hiddengems #travel #travelguide #whattodoincuracao
Here’s the thing about Curaçao that nobody talks about enough there’s really no bad time to go. 🌤️ Outside the hurricane belt. Mid-80s nearly every day of the year. Colorful buildings no matter what month it is.
But there IS a difference between going in peak season vs. shoulder season, and it shows up in your wallet, your beach chair availability, and how long you’re waiting for a table at dinner.
Full breakdown of every season, what to expect, and when I’d personally go linked in bio.
I wasn’t expecting much. I just needed dinner. 🍽️ Kome ended up being one of the best meals of the entire trip.
Wood-fired everything. A menu that actually makes you read it twice. A vibe in Pietermaai that feels nothing like a tourist restaurant and everything like somewhere locals actually go. I didn’t rush. I didn’t check my phone. I just ate, start to finish, and enjoyed every single second of it.
If you’re in Curaçao and you only have one nice dinner make it this one.
#curaçao #travelling #travelvlog #musttryrestaurant #visitcuracao
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
