Category: South Florida vacation rentals

Upcoming New World Symphony Events

Last month, the New World Symphony announced its 2021-2022 season, which will include a mobile wall that will project live concerts throughout Miami. The 9-by-16-foot installation is a first for the symphony and will feature a high-tech sound system that will be unveiled with the season kicks off in September. If you’re in town for Miami vacation rentals, definitely check this out!

Neighborhoods are yet to be announced, but New World Symphony has been a city favorite among locals for years – in the past, they used Wallcast and allowed patrons inside the New World Center home.

New World Symphony president Howard Herring commented on the new season, “This continues our vision of sharing classical music with as many people as possible… It’s instant community building.” The concert usually draws in around 2,000 people, but after COVID called for a mobile experience, it became popular for its socially distanced, outdoor gathering style.

The symphony originally started on small screens at the Lincoln Center, then moved to the 17th street location that is now the New World Center in 2011. At first, the concert remained a hidden gem, but as Miami locals began to take notice, the crowds became so large that the lawn in front was barely visible.

The live concert season will begin in September, and they will reassess by the end of the summer capacity limits as COVID-19 allows. Wallcast concerts are free for the public, and currently, all guests must wear a mask and practice social distancing.

If you’re in need of South Florida vacation rentals, visit us online to book your stay with us!

Search for Miami Vacations Increase 3x from 2020

Americans are finally ready to get out and travel, especially to warm, sunny, and summer-laden destinations like Miami. In fact, Google reported that the number of searches for “Miami hotels” has increased 3x since November of 2020. Tripadvisor also reported that 67% of Americans plan to travel from June to August, which is a 17% jump for the spring season. Beach destinations – Florida in particular – were the top reported locations.

Tripadvisor spokesperson Brian Hoyt says of the beach hype, “This summer, we continue to see travelers favor outdoor locations like beaches or national parks, locations that continue to enable the practice of social distancing,” and that, “As the vaccine rollout far exceeds the Biden administration’s promised target of 1 million doses administered per day, Americans are resoundingly saying they are prepared to get out there again, to travel and see the world once more to make up for lost time.”

According to VacationRenter.com, vacation rental searches have grown over 100%, particularly with South Florida Vacation Rentals.

While larger cities in Florida – Orlando, Key West, and Miami Beach – make Tripadvisor’s top 10 summer destination list, even smaller cities are seeing huge growth in tourism. Miramar Beach, Anna Maria Island, Siesta Key, Sarasota, Bonita Springs, Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, and Rosemary Beach complete eight the list of 11 emerging summer destinations for renters, each seeing the 100% growth effect. It’s a perfect time to book Florida Keys vacation rentals!

There is a backlogged need for travel this summer, so common vacation spots are becoming competitive. It’s clear that everyone is ready for summer and for a vacation!

Hotel Arya is Waiting to be Your Next Vacation Spot

SoFLA: Better Price. Better Service.

Planning your next vacation? South Florida is a popular destination, and for many good reasons. It’s hard to find something we don’t love about it. Miami is home to world-class cuisine, beautiful beaches, parks and reserves for nature lovers, and city sights for those who love architecture. It’s a place where anyone who loves the sun and sand can find something to enjoy!

South Florida vacation rentals in Coconut Grove, Miami are among some of the best places to stay during your vacation, especially Hotel Arya. Hotel Arya sits in the heart of Coconut Grove and features deluxe rooms, studios, and 1, 2, and 3 bedroom condos that can accommodate any group.

Coconut Grove is a trendy, artsy community located on the Biscayne Bay, which rooms in Miami Vacation Rentals have amazing views of, right in the middle of Miami. It remains an area where people can escape the bustle of city life but enjoy all the fun Miami has to offer. It’s the city’s oldest continuously inhabited area.

The neighborhood, or the Grove as locals call it, was founded in 1873 by artists, pioneers, intellectuals, and adventurers who all left their own flair on its culture. Coconut Grove was officially incorporated as Coconut Grove Village in 1919. On the Westside, you’ll find the historical landmarks of Bahamian descendants who came in the late 1880s as laborers of the Peacock Inn – the first hotel on the South Florida Mainland. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, another beloved historic landmark, is one of the most visited historical sites in the area.

After touring the history of Coconut Grove, you can hang out at local boutiques, cafes, art galleries, and of course, water fun like sailboats, fishing, and beach days!

How the Florida Keys Got Their Names

You’ve probably heard hundreds of stories of how the Florida Keys were named. While some are fiction and hearsay, some of them are the real story!

One of those real stories…does the name Charles Brookfield ring a bell? Brookfield, a Philadelphia native, first arrived in Miami at the age of 21 and began a life for himself in South Florida and the Florida Keys. In 1926, he built a boat made to navigate the reefs, shoals, and seagrass shallows and named it Manatee. In 1927, the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey hired Brookfield and his boat to help survey parts of South Florida. As it turns out, that trip was when Brookfield helped name the Bob Allen, Bottlepoint, Bradley, Calusa, and Manatee keys.

While those names may sound a bit random, they each have significance. Bob Allen was named after a man who saved the whooping cranes from extinction, which was no easy task. He had to spend lots of time in the keys, and one island where he helped roseate spoonbills was shaped like a bottle, giving Bottlepoint its name.

Bradley Key is an homage to Guy Bradley, a wildlife officer who helped protect the keys against plume hunting. Calusa was named in honor of the Calusa people native to South Florida. The Manatee Keys were named after Brookfield’s famous boat.

This is just the history of a few of South Florida’s famous keys. The Florida Keys continue to be a popular vacation destination, especially with South Florida vacation rentals. The rich and interesting history paired with the country’s most beautiful weather and beaches makes Florida the perfect vacation spot for the summer. If you’re looking for a relaxing vacation spot or Miami vacation rentals, visit us online!

Florida Cities Make List of Top Vacation Spots

It’ll probably come as no surprise to Sunshine State residents and South Florida locals that 3 Florida cities have made the list of the top 5 most desired vacation spots in the world, beating out cities like Las Vegas, Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

According to Trip Advisor, a new report showing where Americans plan on traveling in 2021, Orlando (number 3), Key West (number 4), and Miami Beach (number 5) all made the top 5 list, among Cancun, Mexico, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

In Orlando, surprisingly, Disney World wasn’t the most sought-after experience. The SEA LIFE Orlando aquarium made its mark as the most booked experience, and the La Luce, an Italian restaurant, is Orlando’s highest-rated restaurant.

In Key West, the Key West Sunset Sail with Full Bar, Live Music & Hors D’oeuvres, which offers a catamaran sailing cruise at sunset, was the most booked experience. Its highest-rated restaurant was the Seaside Cafe at the Mansion, a Pizza cafe and bar located next to the water.

Miami Beach’s most booked experience was the City Half-day Tour of Miami by Bus with Sightseeing Cruise, giving tourists the highlights of Miami by bus. Il Pastaiolo, an Italian restaurant focusing on Neapolitan cuisine, made the list as Miami Beach’s top-rated dining option.

Tourism seems to be making a comeback to South Florida. If South Florida is on your list of places to go, check out our South Florida vacation rentals. There are many things to do and see in Miami, including our Miami vacation rentals, fine restaurant and bars, and parks, with culture and history-rich city sights.

4 Things to do Before You Head to the Beach

The beach is essential for any South Florida vacation. It’s perfect for relaxing solo, or building sandcastles and playing in the water with kids. You should know and prepare for a few things before heading out to a day of sun.

Bring reusable plastic bags. You don’t need to dish out money for a protective mobile case from a souvenir shop. Place your phone, keys, and wallets in reusable sandwich bags to keep moisture and sand away! Use larger gallon-sized bags for wet swimsuits when leaving the beach and to house leaky sunscreen bottles.

Pack several swimsuits and a change of clothes. If you’ll be leaving the beach and heading out somewhere else before going back to your South Florida vacation rental this will keep you comfortable and from walking around in a wet bathing suit all day or night. Before leaving your Florida Keys vacation rentals, consider what activities lay ahead for the day and pack accordingly.

Stock up snacks ahead of time. Even if you are just relaxing, hanging out in the sun all day can zap a lot of your energy, making you extra hungry. Packing snacks will keep you from cutting your beach day short and feeling uncomfortable. Pack fruit and other healthy snacks since junk food can make you feel more tired and won’t keep you full for long.

If you are driving your own vehicle, get a folding shade to protect the interior from the sun. This way, when you’re ready to head home, you’ll come back to a much cooler vehicle and spend less time waiting for the A/C to kick on.

The Best Sunscreens for Your South Florida Vacation

Sunscreen is always a good idea – whether you’re hitting the pool or going for an afternoon walk in the middle of October. Applying sunscreen is especially important at the beach since the sand and water reflect the sun’s rays, and intensifies them, increasing your risk of sunburn (and nothing ruins a beach vacation faster than a bad sunburn!) Even on a cloudy day, the ultraviolet rays from the sun are still present, putting you at risk for sunburn.

UVA and UVB rays are present, and both are responsible for skin damage. UVA rays can break through glass and skin, and often you won’t feel yourself getting a sunburn. This type of radiation damages the skin cell DNA and its tissue. UVB ray’s reach is shorter and can’t get through glass, but it’s responsible for sunburns and can still damage DNA.

There are many sunscreen options out there, but there are a few that are especially great for beachgoers. Broadspectrum sunscreen protects you from both UVA and UVB radiation. Look for bottles labeled as broad-spectrum, UVA/UVB protection, or full-spectrum.

It’s advised that you use an SPF of at least 30, as per the American Academy of Dermatology recommendation. SPF is the measure of how well the sunscreen protects against UVB rays (sunburns). SPF 30 will protect you up to 97%, while an SPF of 100 will protect you 99%.

Waterproof sunscreen at the beach is a must! When you are constantly going in and out of the water, it can break down the sunscreen, causing it to wear off faster. You can find waterproof sunscreen in either 40 minutes or 80 minutes increments, which means it will stay on for that length of time while in the water.

Always remember to pack your sunscreen when going to the beach, and apply it every two hours.

If you’re in need of South Florida vacation rentals or a Florida Keys Vacation Rental visit us online to book your stay with us.

What Makes the Florida Keys Perfect for Vacation

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The Florida Keys, or known to Miami locals as “The Keys,” are tropical islands off the coast of Florida that stretch out for 120 miles, making up the southernmost part of the United States (well, aside from Hawaii, of course!) The Keys have over 1,700 islands with few populated and only 43 connected to mainland Florida by a bridge.

The Keys have great activities for any beachgoer, including fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, sailing, kayaking, eco-tours. Popular destinations that are a must-see are the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Bahia Honda State Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, the Dolphin Research Center, and the National Key Deer Refuge. Not to mention the beautiful white sand beaches that make for the best relaxation or a day of building sandcastles with the kids.

Key Largo is another must-see. It’s the self-proclaimed Dive Capital of the world – you can dive, snorkel, and go on a glass-bottom boat trip all in one place – and it’s only a short trip away from the Everglades National Park.

It’s not just outdoor activities that Key Largo is known for. Did you know that it’s also home to a number of art galleries, a film festival, and two literary museums? Yes, Key Largo has some of the best art you can find in Florida. Enjoy the Key West Film Festival, Morada Way Arts & Cultural District, The Tennessee Williams Museum, and the Hemingway Home and Museum.

The Florida Keys are the perfect place for your next beach getaway. Call us at 786.581.8811 or visit us online to check out our South Florida Vacation Rentals and Florida Keys Vacation Rentals.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Tips for the Best Miami Vacation

It’s no surprise that Miami continues to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. With its beautiful beaches, year-round warm weather, an impressive arts district, and delicious food, it’s the makings of a dream vacation. Before you plan your next vacation to Miami consider these tips.

Brush up on your Spanish! Miami has a large Spanish-speaking community, so chances are you will be spoken to in Spanish. If you don’t know the language – don’t worry. There are many great apps out there, like Duolingo, that can help you pick up key phrases fast!

Miami has its own rail system, Metrorail, but it stops running at midnight. Uber, on the other hand, runs the entire night! You can be sure you will get from point A to point B safely after a night on the town.

While Miami Beach is the most famous attraction in Miami, it isn’t the only one. Virginia key beach is just as beautiful and has less of a crowd. Crandon Park, located on Key Biscayne, is full of family-friendly fun and loads of water sports.

Miami is one of the best vacation spots in the country. Book your next vacation here for a trip full of new experiences and tons of fun!


This update is by SoFLA Vacations. We are a South Florida vacation rentals company, and we have lived the unique South Florida experience our entire lives. Our commitment is to make your vacation or business trip to Greater Miami or the Florida Keys special, affordable, and unforgettable. In addition to vacation rentals, we also offer property management, sales, and marketing services to vacation rental property owners. For more information on South Florida vacation rental properties including Downtown Miami vacation rentals, please call 786-347-3180.

Florida’s Elevated Tourism Experiences

People are gradually looking forward to the day that they will fly again after being trapped at home for more than a year. They try to make the most of their holidays by including exceptional adventures that are often part of people’s bucket lists. Maybe that means going to the pool or swimming with sea dwellers. Or paddling seas that shimmer spontaneously at night due to the existence of such microorganisms.

Florida had a decade of record-breaking tourism previous to the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 100 million visitors per year from 2015 to 2019, and not all of them were seeking theme park thrills. Because of Florida’s natural setting and tourism-rich climate, it is home to a diverse range of destinations where tourists can partake in one-of-a-kind activities. Florida is turning into a hotbed for a new travel movement regarded as “experiential tourism,” which encourages tourists to check out exclusive and/or adventurous opportunities for a more enjoyable Sunshine State holiday. With so many South Florida vacation rentals available, options are virtually boundless.

The omnipresence of social media and how people utilize it to share their exciting travel experiences has changed the way travel and tourism businesses advertise themselves and what they have to sell. Tourists use photo-sharing applications like Instagram to catch unforgettable memories from their journeys. Travel is becoming not so much the journey and more about the journey’s narrative.

Beaches, diving, and kayaking account for a large portion of Florida’s tourism. All of these items are adventures in and of themselves, but they’re still very photogenic and shareable on social media. Kayak tours, though, are not for everyone.

Others, on the other hand, enjoy louder adventures with a greater degree of thrill. Traveling through wetlands and swamps may entail a trip on an airboat, which are fast and noisy vessels that transport passengers through natural Florida environments with few signs of growth.