My South Beach Experience Before My Cruise and What I Learned as a First Time Visitor from New Jersey

Hello cheery friends,

It is always toward the end of winter when I vow that I will never deal with it again. Then somehow by summer, that whole dilemma is completely forgotten. After months of a brutal winter in New Jersey, the kind that makes you question why you even live there, I was beyond done.

I was tired of winter coats and gray skies, but thankful that it did not snow one bit. Still, by April, I was hanging on by a thread.

So when it was time for my second cruise with Royal Caribbean, I said to myself, I need to soak up the sun and thaw. This time, I decided to visit South Beach  before my cruise to soak up the sunshine, the energy, and all of the Miami vibes.

I was not just excited for the cruise. I was ready to fully embrace the Sunshine State first.

One of the best parts about traveling is when you hand over your checked luggage and then, you can just enjoy the airport before you fly out.  What better way to reward ourselves  than with a Starbucks’ Strawberry Acai Refresher. My gosh… what do they put in this thing? It’s literally like summer in a cup. Sweet, fruity, refreshing, and just enough caffeine to get me going without doing too much. Planning vacations is stressful, so any form of caffeine is always appreciated at that point. I just love being at airports, they usually have an extra vibe than regular life that just adds to the vacation experience.

So we sat there and by the way, I love watching planes take off and leave the ground. Knowing that it would be me in a couple of hours  leaving cold New Jersey just had me bubbling inside with excitement.

I’ve flown so many times, but I still can’t get over airplanes , especially how they can take you from one place to another in such a short amount of time. It will always amaze me. I am still weeping over the grounding of 747’s such cute machines ..I don’t even mind sitting and waiting to board as long as I know I’m about to leave. As long as I get to go, I’m good, lol.

There’s also this silent language at the airport that nobody talks about. You know when other passengers get called to board their plane, before you, and they look back at you with that little “good luck” face while you’re still waiting!!  No words, just “happy travels” vibes. It’s like a whole conversation happens without anyone saying a thing. That right there is the unspoken airport language, and once you notice it, you can’t unsee it.

Finally, we boarded, and what a joy it was to leave the ground , and the problems behind. There’s something about being up in the sky that feels so peaceful . no issues up there except for the occasional turbulence. Thankfully, this flight was smooth and easy, just a calm three hour ride straight into vacation mode. Bye jersey!!

Returning to Miami With a Focus on South Beach

We stayed at the citizenM South Beach, which has quickly become my latest favorite hotel chain. I absolutely love their facilities, their decor, and their small but cute high tech rooms. Everything feels modern and fun, yet still cozy at the same time.

The blinds, the lights, and even the TV are all controlled by an iPad right next to the bed, which made me feel like I was living in the future for a few days. Even their customer service felt easy and smooth, which I really appreciated.

The rooms are designed for nighttime comfort. You go out, explore the area you are visiting, and then come back to sleep and recharge. They are not made for lounging for hours on end, but they are perfect for resting after a full day of adventure. The hallways and walls are so artsy and full of color, it feels like you are in some story book , just great detailing.

After stuffing myself with breakfast, I was more than ready to head out and explore, but first, I had to check out the pool area on the rooftop. My whole intention was to soak up as much outdoor time as possible after being cooped up indoors for so long.

The lounge area by the pool was so chill and relaxing. It felt like the perfect little escape ,  sunshine, fresh air, and a calm vibe before jumping into the busy energy of South Beach. It was exactly what I needed to ease into the day.

The rooftop area at CitizenM is honestly a really nice place to hang out. It has such a relaxed vibe up there. They also have a bar, so you can grab a drink while chilling on the lounge seats and just enjoy the atmosphere. It’s the kind of place where you can sit back, soak up the sunshine, and not feel rushed to go anywhere.

I loved that you could just relax, look out at the views, and take in that warm Miami air. After being indoors for so long back home, it felt so good to finally sit outside and just breathe. Some people were lounging by the pool, others were having drinks and chatting, and the whole space just had this calm vacation energy. It was the perfect little spot to unwind before heading out to explore South Beach.

And then there are the fountains. The sound of the water flowing makes the whole area feel calm even though the street is full of energy and people enjoying themselves.

We decided to eat outside, and honestly it was such a treat. Sitting there in the middle of Lincoln Road with the palm trees swaying and the bright blue sky above us just felt so perfect.

It really felt like the perfect way to spend my first night in South Beach. Good food, beautiful weather, palm trees, and that unmistakable Miami vibe all around.

I woke up bright and early the next day to indulge in citizenM’s hearty breakfast, It is a nice and cute spread that is just enough for the day’s fuel. I love that its not exaggerated and too much food that leaves you overwhelmed. They are really big on art and its everywhere!

After enjoying breakfast and chilling in the room waiting for the food to go down, it was time for a swim at the rooftop pool. I knew I wasn’t going to dare swim in those pools on the cruise because how do you even swim when  it’s packed to the brim. So this was my chance to enjoy the pool by myself lol

After swimming, it was time to go out and enjoy South beach . I am one of those people who detests sitting in a hotel room while on vacation. I only  want to use it to sleep at the end of the day, I just want to be out there enjoying the new place and everything it has to offer.

Guys, one of the things I have noticed when out and about in a city is that one day is not like the day before. The energy changes especially when the sky is clear and its closer to the weekend. That was my experience on day two at South beach. You could tell more people had come into town!

I noticed curio shops had sprung up overnight, probably due to the influx of people coming for the weekend. What a beautiful sight!

The hotel was a few blocks from the beach, so it was time to find it and just chill on the sand. But first, a strawberry acai because it was so hot and this drink is a must have in such conditions

I am obsessed with beaches and I love the tranquil , no care in the world feeling that you have when you are just looking at this work of wonder.

After exploring the beach and playing in the sand, it was time to check out the famous ocean drive. Miami Beach is so beautiful with high end hotels and boutiques.

It was so hot and it was time for another refresher. I was still full from the breakfast but I really needed a fruity drink so we headed out to the haagen-dazs shop that’s right next to Starbucks. As you can imagine, this smoothie was pure delight and I was starting to worry about the calories I was consuming , but then I convinced myself that this was a once in a while thing so I indulged!

Ocean drive is exactly what you would expect; fancy restaurants, outdoor music, swaying palm trees and hordes of people. You get a feeling that this area is disconnected to the rest of the world. It is a worry free zone, and all you need to do is enjoy yourself .