South Beach Hotel

I'll admit it ... I've only stayed in a South Beach Hotel for one night. Yep, just one night ... but what a night. And what a hotel.

Wind back to the first leg of the Rising Tour ... and to the longest road trip we've ever taken to a show (yep, even longer than the Cleveland pilgrimage). We flew to Miami and spent a few days lounging about in the Keys before heading north to catch the show.

Friends of ours recommended the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in South Beach. It was perhaps the best hotel recommendation we've ever had. The Loews is marvelous. Expensive sure, but worth it. Expensive hotels are one of my weaknesses. FWIW, I'd rather not travel than travel cheap. Consequently, most of the time I end up not traveling.

The pool attendents at the Loews South Beach will spray you down with Evian water for a (not so modest) fee. The German tourists aren't that modest on the beach, mind you. And the frozen blender drinks at the hotel's poolside bar? Get ready to take out a home equity loan. But mmmmmm glllllll ... are they good.

The show, of course, was awesome. While the sound was spotty in the first part of the show, it soon cleared up. But how could you rank a show with Dion, Bono, Dave Stewart, and the story how Miami Steve came to be named Miami Steve?

All things considered, I'd rather spend a night in a splendid South Beach hotel then in my yard barn. Of course, a weekend in a nice South Beach hotel would cost more then that yard barn ...