Welcome to Miami...Bienvenido Bachelorettes!

Beach, bathing suits, bubbly, and a bride…makings of a great bachelorette party!

In honor of my friend’s wedding coming up this weekend, I wanted to be sure I captured our trip to Miami Beach, Florida we took at the end of February. Twelve girls headed to the Grand Beach Hotel to celebrate our dear friend Lauren by laying on the beach, sipping champagne, and dancing the night away.

The Grand Beach Hotel was in an optimal location…close enough to all the action, but still offered a low key beach atmosphere. Their cocktails were highly priced, but what do you expect when your view is of the rolling ocean waves? The rooms offered sleeper sofas that helped accommodate a large group, as well as an additional full bathroom.  The multiple floor to ceiling mirrors were also ideal for us girls getting ready at the same time. For our morning coffee fix, there was a Lobby Lounge and Espresso Bar on the ground floor that was crucial due to our lack of sleep. We did get the chance to grab lunch at their Chez Gaston Restaurant and ate outside by the pool. If you’re looking to catch a quick bite to get ample beach time, this works out well. They also allow you to order food to your lounge chair if you so desire.

For the first night out, we grabbed a few Ubers and headed to dinner at SushiSamba. The food was enjoyable as expected, and the Otsumami appetizer (which included edamame, green bean tempura, and shishito) was a hit for our large table. Next time I will be sure to order more than just the Samba Sashimi plate as a meal…it didn’t quite fill me up. Before leaving, our server provided complimentary shots, which is always appreciated by a bachelorette party!

Thanks to our friend Sam and some of her connections at Miami Club Promoters (Mitchell Davis) we went to a couple places – 1826 Lounge and IVY Nightclub- drinking champagne and dancing until our feet hurt. After a stop at Abuela's Cuban Kitchen’s late night window to snag a “must have when you’re in Miami” Cuban Sandwich, we called it a night.

I couldn’t wait for Saturday’s adventure to begin! Lauren’s matron of honor organized a yacht for us to spend the afternoon cruising around Biscayne Bay. Our yacht for the day, “Pier Pressure” was at

the Miami Beach Pier, about 20 minutes from the hotel. We were welcomed aboard with champagne, sandwiches, and a fruit and cheese platter…every girl’s dream. Captain Hery and his first mate were wonderful! They took us all around the bay, giving us a chance to see gorgeous, million dollar mansions, Mark Cuban’s incredibly enormous yacht, and most thrilling were the DOLPHINS!  Many came swimming just a few feet from the boat…it was exhilarating!  Unfortunately a few rain showers rolled in, but that just gave us a good reason to start a dance party. This was an experience I’ll never forget!

After cleaning up back at the hotel, dinner for our last night was at Villa Azur. This place is spectacular…we had stepped into an exquisite garden with multiple chandeliers, drapings, and subtle, glistening lights. It was the perfect combination of vintage and elegance. Their gourmet menu was mouthwatering, especially if you like anything truffle…stuffed burrata with truffle, truffle brie cheese, truffled roasted chicken, and the “must try” macaroni & shaved truffle (you get the point.) Other options such as their salmon with quinoa, scallops, and calamari were delectable as well. I don’t think you could go wrong with any order. We had just as much fun with their cocktail list.  Their “Villa Azur” was my favorite…I stuck with the champagne theme of the weekend.  After a very filling meal, a few of us headed back to the hotel to try to catch up on some sleep.

For us girls with departure flights Sunday afternoon, we had the chance to grab brunch at La Cote in Fontainebleau, which was only a ten minute walk from our hotel. I did not realize how trendy and massive Fontainebleau is…now this is where to go if you’re looking for a party. The pools and music were loud and pumping before noon! (Which also made it a great place for people watching.) La Cote’s food was perfect for curing any hangover with burgers, pizza, wings, and sandwiches, but also had a large variety of seafood dishes. And for those still up for a cocktail, their sangria was delicious and refreshing. Stopping for brunch at La Cote also gave us a chance to sit out in the warm weather for a little bit longer before heading back home to the cold. (I know it’s not that cold in Texas, but still!)

All in all, it was a successful bachelorette weekend, partying in the city where the heat is on...