Bah humbug! Well, you don’t have to go to such extremes, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the holidays, just head down south to Miami Beach to soak up some warm rays. No snowstorm will ruin your vacation here.
When I started to plan a trip to this sun-seeker’s destination, I wanted a hotel with some trimmings — just enough of a festive mood so I didn’t miss out on that warm-and-fuzzy, end-of-the-year feeling. As if he was reading my mind, an e-mail arrived from a friend. It contained a photo of a sparkling 18-foot glass Christmas tree entirely adorned with cut-crystal ornaments, giving it an icy appearance befitting a snow queen. “Where?” I e-mailed back. “The lobby of the Fontainebleau.” So I booked a room at this iconic resort, famous for its historic who’s-who guest list — Frank Sinatra and 1950s stars. The property was totally redone in the most spectacular way in 2008.
As I passed through the revolving doors, my eye caught sight of the polished-to-perfection, black-and-white bowtie-pattern floor — the sartorial statement of architect Morris Lapidus. The floor served as a mirror for the dazzling tree I came to see — and, to my delight, Christmas music was playing softly. Teardrop-shaped ornaments and balls of tiny faux-crystal pieces made this show- stopper shimmer. But just as exciting was the view: pools, beach beds, ocean and sky. The perfect holiday-lite getaway. fontainebleau.com



