Miami Art Week(end) of Culture
December 2-5, 2021

 

Imagine blue skies, palm trees, beautiful beaches — and ART — all together in one! That's what Miami Art Week is all about.

Centered around North America’s biggest contemporary art fair, Art Basel Miami, the entire city of Miami transforms into a canvas for ephemeral installations and art happenings, and museums and private collections display their most impressive exhibits for 1 week/year only.

And while this annual celebration of the arts can feel daunting for the uninitiated, I have curated a 4-day weekend of art-full bliss with the perfect mix of art fairs, museums and free time to explore the city and its wealth of culture — plus the opportunity to share your experiences and impressions with new friends and old over delicious group brunches and dinners.

You can stay with the group at the top-rated Hampton Inn & Suites in Downtown/Brickell, or choose your own accommodation based on my recommendations below.

Group activities will include guided tours of the South Beach Art Deco district, Art Basel Miami fair and Perez Art Museum — as well as entry to the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens with the group (self-guided).

Optional activities at an additional cost (NOT include in the trip price) are: self-guided visits to any additional art fairs (recommended are Untitled, NADA and VOLTA), the Wynwood Walls and Miami’s top private collections: the Marguiles, de la Cruz and Rubell Museums.

It it sure to be a memorable weekend of art, community & connection, so I hope you will join us!

If you’ve never been on a Women of Culture trip before, you must fill out the form here in order to be invited to book, so as to make sure the experience is a good fit for you.

*Trip is only open to fully vaccinated individuals who can show proof of both shots as well as a photo ID. Masks may also be required in certain venues.

Tentative Schedule:

(price for all items with a star are included in trip price - all transportation & meals are separate)

Thursday December 2nd:

(recommended hotel check-in/arrival at 2pm)

4pm | Guided tour of the South Beach Art Deco district*
Meet at 1100 Washington Ave.

7pm | Welcome dinner at Havana Vieja in South Beach
944 Washington Ave.

*

Friday December 3rd:

12pm | Guided tour of Art Basel*

2pm | Lunch at Layla South Beach

3pm | Free time to return to Art Basel, go to the Bass art museum,
Untitled art fair or the beach/pool

7:30pm | Dinner at La Mar by Gaston Acurio in Brickell
500 Brickell Key Dr.

(Book this day only here)

*

Saturday December 4th:

11am | Private guided tour of the Perez Art Museum*
1103 Biscayne Blvd

12:30pm | Brunch at Verde
1103 Biscayne Blvd

2pm | Free time to go to NADA, VOLTA or the Art Miami fairs,
private collection visits or the beach/pool

7pm | Dinner at Beaker & Gray in Wynwood
2637 N Miami Ave

(Book this day only here)

*

Sunday 12/5:

10:30am | Vizcaya Village farmer’s market & guided tour of the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens*

1pm | Farewell lunch at Vizcaya Cafe
3251 S Miami Ave

(Book this day only here)

(recommended to depart at 4pm or later)

The schedule is subject to change at the leader's discretion and also according to the weather. It has been designed to address the varied needs and interests of the group while also giving all the optimal amount of time to enjoy a mix of the activities available, though it’s not set in stone and all activities are optional (though no refunds will be provided for any included activities that aren’t attended).

Please note that the trip DOES NOT INCLUDE any food (aside from continental breakfast at the hotel) or transportation to/from Miami or within Miami. The hotel is very accessible by public transport within downtown Miami, but we will be taking shared rides into South Beach, so it’s best to budget for around $20/day in transport costs, plus at least $50/day for meals.

If you have any issues with the schedule or prefer to deviate from the itinerary, please kindly inform the trip leader in advance of the trip.

Tickets & Cost

If you will be staying with the group, you must fill out the short questionnaire here to make sure the group and trip are a good fit before booking.

Full experience options include the selected accommodation option (either double or single room) at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Downtown/Brickell, and the activities starred above (Guided tours of the Art Basel Miami fair, Art Deco district and Perez Art Museum as well as entry to the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens with the group).

All transportation, meals (aside from the free continental breakfast at the hotel) and other activities are NOT INCLUDED and must be paid separately.

Room Options
All prices are per person (no meals or transport included)

Private King Bedroom
$1450 early bird through 11/6; $1500 full price
(2 nights only: $1050 early bird through 11/6; $1100 full price)**

Shared Queen bedroom (2 queen beds)
$1100 early bird through 11/6; $1150 full price
(2 nights only: $750 early bird through 11/6; $700 full price)**

Activities/tours Only
$350 early bird through 11/6; $400 full price
(2 nights only: $300 early bird through 11/6; $350 full price)**

*Art-full members save 5-10% and can book directly here for 3 nights and here for 2 nights.

***

**Note that the 2-night only option does NOT include tickets to the private, guided tours of the Art Basel fair or the South Beach Art Deco District.

Please note that all payments are FINAL and non-refundable, unless the entire trip has to be cancelled due to the health crisis. You MUST cancel if you feel sick or learn you have been exposed to the virus within 14 days of the departure date. You may transfer your ticket to someone else but the substitute must be approved by trip leader.

If you’ve never been on a Women of Culture trip before, please fill out the questionnaire here before booking, or email me at alex@womenofculture.org with any questions.

Recommended Flights:

You must book your own travel to/from Miami, but for the 3-night option, it is recommended to arrive by 2pm (at the latest) on Thursday December 2nd and depart after 4pm on Sunday December 5th in order to participate in all planned activities. These are only suggestions - Spirit and Frontier also have lower cost options between NYC and MIA. Alternatively, you could fly to Fort Lauderdale and uber (approximate 35 minute/ $50 uber drive away from the hotel)

JetBlue flight #4121:
Departs JFK on 12/2 at 9:29am > Arrives MIA at 12:39pm ($99)

JetBlue flight #4045:
Departs MIA on 12/5 at 4:12pm > Arrives JFK at 7pm ($239)

***

More about our accommodation at the Hampton Inn Downtown/Brickell:

(rated 4.5/Excellent on Tripadvisor and #2 of 151 hotels in Miami)

A boutique style LEED Silver Certified Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton combines urban design, eclectic mix, contemporary art collection, Brickell elegance with the best price for the business and leisure travelers coming to Brickell area.

Located within walking distance to Brickell Miami's global financial hub, and over 30 of the best restaurants, cafes, bars, shopping and entertainment in the area. It is located less than 5 minutes from the Port of Miami, 15 minutes from Miami International Airport, Miami Beach, Aventura, Coral Gables, the Dolphin Mall, and the best South Florida Beaches.

Recent reviews from Tripadvisor:

“Please stay here! Everything about this place is amazing and the customer service is out of this world!! As soon as we walked through the door, just the air was welcoming. The room was very spacious and CLEAN and there’s so many nice lounges, bars, restaurants and stores in walking distance.”

“This hotel was very clean, comfortable, and walking distance to a lot of restaurants and bars. Staff provided excellent customer service. I would definitely stay here again and recommend to friends and family.”

“This is by far the nicest Hampton Inn we have ever stayed at. The mattress and bed sheets are so new that we didn’t want to get up every morning.”

***

More about Art Basel & Art Week Miami

Art Week Miami has become a ‘must attend’ event on the annual social calendar of any art collector, aficionado or enthusiast, attracting a “who’s who” of the art world to South Beach each year. With numerous art and design fairs spread throughout Miami, it’s a great excuse to head to soak up some sun, art and culture on the beach. Not to mention that Miami has become a cultural destination in and of itself, with over 20 cultural institutions and private collections, set amidst the iconic Art Deco architecture of South Beach.

The Downtown/Brickell neighborhood is rated 4.8/5 on Tripadvisor for travelers, due to its walk-ability and proximity to public transportation, plus fashionable shops & rooftop bars.

FAQ's

1. Can I book my own hotel?

Yes, you can book the activities/tours only option and join the group for all other events (meals, etc). There are some attendees staying at the Majestic South Beach Hotel, and I have some rooms held at Circa39 in South Beach (approx. $450/night per King room) - please email me at alex@womenofculture.org if you prefer that option, or here are a few of my recommendations near to the Hampton Inn:

2. What is NOT included in the cost of the 3-night trip?

All meals, aside from breakfast at the hotel, transportation (to/from Miami as well as in Miami), as well as any additional activities or rideshare services, are separate and must be paid individually. You should estimate around $20/day on Uber and at least $50+ per day to spend on food/drinks. Other recommended activities/costs include:

3. What if I don’t know anyone — do I need to come with a friend?

No! Most women attend out Weekend of Culture trips on their own, and the idea is that we will all get to know one another over the course of the weekend. However, please do let me know if you are coming with a friend with whom you would like to share a room.

4. Do I have to stay with the group/attend all pre-planned activities on the itinerary?

No, you are welcome to pick and choose though there will be no refunds for included activities that weren’t attended, and you will have to arrange your own transport/taxi if you would like to go somewhere separately from the group that involves driving.

5. I’ve already been on another Weekend of Culture trip, how can I purchase?

Great, can’t wait to have you join us again! Please go ahead and reserve your spot here, or paypal me the amount of the room you would like (as long as it shows as being available on the checkout page) using this link, and I will send you a confirmation upon receipt.