There's Nothing Like the Big City

Miami: The Vice Is Entirely Up to You You Gotta Do at Least One . . . Have a drink at the Delano. The tourists outnumber the beautiful people on Saturday nights, but the Philippe Starck-designed lobby is still Alice-in-Wonderland gorgeous. Grab one of the coveted outdoor tables at News Cafe, order a café con leche and an omelet (everything on the menu is served 24 hours a day), and watch the trend- and tan-addicted saunter by. Explore the city's Design District--a chic stretch of furniture stores, galleries, and architecture firms 10 minutes from South Beach. Open-Air EntertainmentEvery weekend, local crafts vendors and musicians descend on Española Way--a pedestrian-only street lined by 1920s Mediterranean Revival buildings that's ideal for a leisurely stroll. Sweet FixFrom the classics (like Nutella and hazelnut) to the exotic (like tamarind and passion fruit), La Gelateria makes all its gelato on-site. Shops You Can't Find EverywhereFly Boutique: Vintage merchandise, such as Pucci shifts, Miu Miu heels, and slouchy leather handbags. Mia: Gold and silver jewelry by local and international designers--and at reasonable prices (above). Brownes & Co. : The chicest, tiniest department store ever. It stocks products by everyone from Anthousa to Zarvis, and it has a full-service spa and yoga studio. In the same building is the store where Ulli from Project Runway sells her wares. Sabrina Monte Carlo: A mix of the high-end and cute beachy pieces. 40Northeast: Funky furniture and home accessories in the middle of the Miami Design District. Shopping Street Collins Avenue (bet. Fifth and Eighth) is a browser's delight, with both mass (Gap, Zara, Sephora, A/X) and haute (Sabrina, Leo, Intermix). Home Base The Marriott South Beach, at the southern end of Ocean Drive, is a bit out of the South Beach fray, and that can be a relief. Boutique-style amenities include flat-screen televisions and 300-thread-count sheets. The swimming pool is closed until December for renovations, but guests can use the one next door. Comfort Inn & Suites features well-decorated suites with two queen beds in one room and a couch and living area in the other. The lobby sports lace curtains and cute furniture--and has a breakfast nook instead of a bar. The Hotel scores with its attention to detail: tie-dyed bathrobes in the Todd Oldham-decorated rooms, Frette towels and linens, complimentary Internet access, and beach chairs you can borrow. We Love BrunchOn Miami Beach's quiet east side, Oliver's Bistro has the essentials--thick French toast, soft scrambled eggs, fruit salad--and no South Beach attitude. Must-See MuseumsThe Museum of Contemporary Art's 10th Anniversary Collection is at its Goldman Warehouse outpost until June 3. With its ivy-covered walls and lush gardens, The Vizcaya Museum (above) is an unexpected European oasis right in the middle of Miami. It's the former estate of an industrialist named James Deering. Pamper YourselfHidden above a jewelry store, the Touch Skin & Body Care Studio is a low-key spa destination with a nondescript reception. But great massages and facials--using custom-blend and Dr. Hauschka products--await in the eight softly lit, simple treatment rooms, and the spa's modest rates are a nice surprise on ritzy Lincoln Road. What's for Dinner? Prime 112 is a trendy celeb magnet, and it has the culinary chops to back that status up. A perfectly cooked rib eye comes smothered in foie gras butter. You can rub shoulders with the likes of J. Lo and Shaq at The Forge, a loud, crowded, old-school hotspot that serves classics like bone-in filet mignon and sesame tuna. On Sunday night, during the Soul Kitchen party, fried chicken gets paired with R&B music. It's also ladies' night, with free champagne till midnight. Where to Kick Up Your HeelsGrown-up drinks: The legendary '40s-era Raleigh Hotel recently got a meticulous restoration, and its Martini Bar is a sleek homage to the stiff cocktail. Outdoor seating: Vue is on the Hotel Victor's second-floor terrace, with views of South Beach and the Atlantic. Till midnight: Between the raucous cherry-hued Redroom, the intimate, white-curtained Rumbar, and the open-air Sandbar, Skybar has a setting to suit every mood. Till 3 A.M.: Mokai is a new hotspot that has already drawn Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, as well as Entourage's Adrian Grenier. Banquettes and tables are set in secluded nooks, so the whole club is like a VIP room. Till dawn: Club Deuce is a bona fide dive--and it's the perfect prelude to a noshfest at San Loco Taqueria (where the sauces are described as "mild, hot, serious, or stupid"). Try Something New in Miami Dance your corazón out! Even the uncoordinated are welcome at the Yuca Lounge in Salsa Mia: The lounge runs two-hour salsa lessons on Friday nights, after which the place transforms into a nightclub till 3 A.M. so you can show off your new moves. 501 Lincoln Road, 305/987-3033, salsamia.com, classes are $30. The Marriott South Beach 161 Ocean Dr., 305/536-7700, marriott.com, from $260 Comfort Inn & Suites South Beach1238 Collins Ave., 305/531-3406, choicehotels.com, from $190 The Hotel 801 Collins Ave., 305/531-2222, thehotelofsouthbeach.com, from $275 Prime 112 112 Ocean Dr., 305/532-8112, rib eye from $47 The Forge 432 41st St., 305/538-8533, filet mignon $55 Oliver's Bistro 959 West Ave., 305/535-3050 La Gelateria 670 Lincoln Rd., 786/276-9475, cone $3 (the shop also goes by Gelateria Parmalat) Raleigh Hotel Martini Bar 1775 Collins Ave., 305/534-6300 Vue 1144 Ocean Dr., 305/428-1234 Skybar 1901 Collins Ave., 786/276-6772 Mokai 235 23rd St., 305/531-4166 Club Deuce 222 14th St., 305/531-6200 San Loco Taqueria 235 14th St., 305/538-3009, tacos from $2.25 Fly Boutique 650 Lincoln Rd., 305/604-8508 Mia 1439 Alton Rd., 305/532-6064 Brownes & Co. 841 Lincoln Rd., 305/532-8703 Sabrina Monte Carlo 530 Collins Ave., 305/672-9950 40Northeast 40 NE 40th St., 305/573-0554 MOCA at Goldman Warehouse 404 NW 26th St., 305/893-6211, mocanomi.org, by donation The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens 3251 S. Miami Ave., 305/250-9133, $12 Delano 1685 Collins Ave., 305/672-2000 News Café 800 Ocean Dr., 305/538-6397 Design District miamidesigndistrict.net Touch Skin & Body Care Studio 1000 Lincoln Rd., Ste. 240, 305/673-5133, one-hour massage from $80 Española Way Bet. 14th and 15th Sts., and Jefferson and Washington Sts., 305/531-0038 Yuca Lounge 501 Lincoln Road, 305/987-3033, salsamia.com

Low-cost carrier Spirit has invented a membership club that's unique for airlines. Here's the deal: Pay $30 a year, and Spirit offers you a chance to book "amazingly low" fares. The airline e-mails these sale fares at least once every six weeks. But only club members can book them. In other words, Spirit is replacing the common practice of e-mailing sale fares for free with a program of e-mailing sale fares to customers who pay for the privilege. Spirit is calling its program the "$9 Fare Club" because its sale fares will usually cost $9 or less, plus taxes. Now we love $9 plane tickets as much as anyone. But Spirit's program is yet another example of a trend that we recently bemoaned: Airlines are charging fees for services that used to be complimentary for everyone. ("Maybe We Should Charge Extra If You Read This Page.") In this case, Spirit is charging you for the opportunity to hear about its sale fares, not for a guarantee that you'll actually be able to book its sale fares. (According to Spirit's rules, "Membership in the Club does not guarantee availability of special fares.") The $9 Fare Club appears to be part of an industry-wide trend that disturbs us. As Budget Travel Editor Erik Torkells recently pointed out, "I'd never argue that companies shouldn't have tiers of service; paying more to get more is a fundamental principle of the service economy. But what has happened in recent years is that a company will introduce a special new level of service, then turn around and starting making the basic level--the one that doesn't cost extra--a little shabbier, then even a little shabbier than that. Treating someone better doesn't have to mean treating someone else worse, and yet that's what tends to happen." In fairness, Spirit is a discount carrier that has recently brought low fares to many markets, especially those served by its main hubs in Detroit and Fort Lauderdale. Spirit has also just pledged to cut its standard fares (available to any customer) even further on many of its routes, which include 33 airports in the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean. That's great news for budget-minded travelers. What still bothers us, though, is that Spirit's actions are part of a frenzy for fees in the airline industry. (See our story "If You Want That Pillow, You're Gonna Have to Pay.") We hope this industry trend peters out soon. In the meantime, do you want to know who is on your side? Our Extra Mile Awards are given to companies making travel easier, more affordable, or more enjoyable.

Montreal: Like Paris, but a Lot Closer Shops You Can't Find Everywhere Eva B.: Creaky floors and an eclectic collection of costume jewelry, vintage clothing, and retro footwear make this a rummager's paradise. The owner is friendly, but she drives a hard bargain. Lola & Emily: Designed to look like the apartment of a fashionable girl about town, the boutique stocks flirty Third Floor underwear, Joe's Jeans, and Velvet dresses. Parasuco: The sexy jeans may have infiltrated a mall near you, but the brand's flagship (in a former bank) is only in Montreal. The newly renovated three-level emporium has a two-story chandelier, custom mosaic floor, and full-service spa and salon. Boutique Reborn: This shop in Old Montreal is a treasure trove of highly covetable items from labels such as Preen, Acne Jeans, and Cheap Monday, as well as pieces by local designers. Mona Moore: A girly shop with shoes from the likes of Pierre Hardy, Balenciaga, and Miu Miu. We Love BrunchThe best thing at Eggspectation is the Brioche Beauty, a cinnamon brioche that's buttered, grilled, and topped with yogurt, roasted almonds, and honey, then served with mixed fruit. So yummy! Hot Ticket Canadian humor is showcased at two clubs: the Comedy Nest and Comedyworks. If you're in town over the summer, keep an eye out for the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, which puts on lots of free shows. Sweet FixRockaberry bakes homemade pies in wonderful flavors like Toblerone Cheese, Chocolate Banana Split, and Rockabrownie. Home Base Hyatt Regency Montreal is east of rue Crescent's party bars and west of the hip restaurants on boulevard St.-Laurent. Rooms at the SpringHill Suites feature two double beds, a pullout sofa, and a basic kitchen, all amid the stone buildings of Old Montreal. Boutique Hotel St. Paul tucks a luxurious, minimalist aesthetic inside a historic beaux arts structure: Double rooms have wood floors and oversize marble soaking tubs in the bathrooms. Where to Kick Up Your Heels Grown-up drinks: Inside the Hotel Place d'Armes, Suite 701 is a lounge with leather banquettes; it specializes in martinis (and cute banker types, if you're into that). Outdoor seating: For expertly prepared mojitos served in airy white cabanas, each of which features a sleek, pillow-covered bed alongside tables and chairs, head to Time Boutique Café. Till midnight: If Le Blanc's fusion menu isn't entertaining enough, the live music (jazz, swing, or pop, depending on the night) definitely will be. Till 3 A.M.: At Altitude 737, atop one of the tallest buildings in Montreal, fancy cocktails accompany dance music and amazing views. Till dawn: Stereo, fitted with one of the best you-know-what systems in the city, is the late-night destination of jet-setters, drag queens, and club kids for dancing into the morning. Something you'll regret: A Montreal institution, Le 281 features male exotic dancers--not Chippendale types, but more contemporary versions of hotness, such as the jock, the hipster, and the intellectual. If you need to work up courage, shots (including one named "The Orgasm") are mixed right at your table. What's for Dinner? Fab but not fussy, the delicious seven-course tasting menu at Toqué!--with native ingredients such as Nova Scotia princess scallops and Basses-Laurentides suckling pig--is a big draw for foodies. The Italian cuisine at Buonanotte, a hotspot for 15 years, is secondary to the scenester vibe and beautiful-people crowd: George Clooney and Gisele Bündchen are among the celebs who've been spotted here. Around midnight, a DJ spins club music. Pamper Yourself Rainspa's soothing waterfalls and softly lit rooms--plus the only real hammam (Turkish bath) in town--make the bustle of Old Montreal seem miles away. So Gloppy, but So Darn GoodPoutine is a disgusting (yet tasty!) combo of french fries, cheese curds, and gravy--it's most commonly enjoyed after a drink or five, but at La Banquise, a beloved hole-in-the-wall, you can order the dish 24 hours a day. Streets Made for ShoppingBoulevard St.-Laurent (bet. avenues Laurier and Bernard): up-and-coming designers like Denis Gagnon, Marie-M, and Renata Morales. Rue Ste.-Catherine (bet. rue de la Montagne and rue Aylmer): mainstream Canadian brands (Roots, Browns, Jacob) and classic department stores (Ogilvy, La Baie, Simons). Rue St.-Paul (bet. rues McGill and Bonsecours): sleek shops selling local clothes, furniture, and art, right in Old Montreal. You Gotta do at Least One . . . In Old Montreal and the Old Port, wander down rue St.-Jacques and rue Notre-Dame for fun encounters with hawkers, buskers, and gorgeous architecture. Visit the Montreal Botanical Garden for the rare-plant collections and the seasonal blooms. Bike along the picturesque Lachine Canal, and stop for fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, and maple syrup at the outdoor farmers market, Marché Atwater. Enjoy the panoramic view of Montreal, its islands, and the St. Lawrence River from atop Mount Royal Park. Try Something New in Montreal Take a ride through the bumpy St. Lawrence River rapids, located in front of the Old Port, with Lachine Rapids Jet Boat Tours. 514/284-9607, jetboatingmontreal.com, $51, equipment provided. Hyatt Regency Montreal 1255 rue Jeanne-Mance, 514/982-1234, montreal.hyatt.com, from $150 SpringHill Suites 445 rue St.-Jean-Baptiste, 514/875-4333, springhillmontreal.com, from $114 Hotel St. Paul 355 rue McGill, 514/380-2222, hotelstpaul.com, from $176 Toqué! 900 place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, 514/499-2084, tasting menu $77 Buonanotte 3518 blvd. St.-Laurent, 514/848-0644, entrées from $10 Eggspectation Four locations including 201 rue St.-Jacques Ouest, 514/282-0119 Rockaberry 4275 rue St.-Denis, 514/844-9479 Suite 701 55 rue St.-Jacques Ouest, 514/842-1887 Time Boutique Café 3509 blvd. St.-Laurent, 514/842-2626 Le Blanc 3435 blvd. St.-Laurent, 514/288-9909 Altitude 737 1 place Ville-Marie, 514/397-0737, Fri. and Sat. from $10 Stereo 858 rue Ste.-Catherine Est, 514/286-0325, cover from $17 Le 281 94 rue Ste.-Catherine Est, 514/871-2281 La Banquise 994 rue Rachel Est, 514/525-2415, $4 Eva B. 2013 blvd. St.-Laurent, 514/849-8246 Lola & Emily 3475 blvd. St.-Laurent, 514/288-7598 Parasuco 1414 rue Crescent, 514/284-2288 Boutique Reborn 231 rue St.-Paul Ouest, 514/499-8549 Mona Moore 1446 rue Sherbrooke Ouest, 514/842-0662 Montreal Botanical Garden 4101 rue Sherbrooke Est, 514/872-1400, from $9.75 Montreal on Wheels 27 rue de la Commune Est, 877/866-0633, caroulemontreal.com, bikes $7 per hour Comedy Nest 2313 rue Ste.-Catherine Ouest, 514/932-6378, $10 Ernie Butler's Comedyworks 1238 rue Bishop, 514/398-9661, from $3 Rainspa 55 rue St.-Jacques, 514/282-2727, one-hour massage $72 Lachine Rapids Jet Boat Tours 47 rue de la Commune Ouest, 514/284-9607, jetboatingmontreal.com

Chicago: The Chic Starts Right Here Where to Kick Up Your HeelsTwilight entertainment: Castaways Bar & Grill, on the North Avenue Boathouse's rooftop, serves electric lemonades and piña coladas from a bar decorated with fishing nets and fake lobsters--but the real lure is the view of the bathing-suit-clad crowds on Lake Michigan's North Avenue Beach. Grown-up drinks: At warm and mellow Clybar, couches surround a hand-carved cherrywood fireplace, and fiber-optic lights in the ceiling create a starry sky. The martinis come in interesting flavors like pomegranate-lemon and chocolate-cherry. Outdoor seating: Sheffield's is an open-air beer garden with picnic tables in an ivy-covered courtyard; it's regularly packed with a young professional crowd. Till midnight: Strange memorabilia, antiques, and found art line the walls of Old Town Ale House, a dive where the jukebox plays jazz, blues, and Sinatra. Till 3 A.M.: Serious partiers let loose on Friday nights with live-band karaoke at Wicker Park's Pontiac Café & Bar. It's a modest setup (black plastic chairs, lone disco ball), but the fun is world-class. Something you'll regret: Frat guys, bachelorettes, and bikers get down at Hogs & Honeys, a saloon with a mechanical bull and three stripper poles. Pamper Yourself Its Loop location targets professionals, but Spa Space's top-notch technicians draw clients from all corners of the city. The wine-and-roses manicure comes with an antioxidant-rich grape-seed scrub and rose-oil massage. Home BaseDowntown's Hotel Monaco serves fresh-baked cookies in the afternoon and wine every evening--and has plush animal-print robes hanging in every room. A block from the Magnificent Mile, The James specializes in high-tech minimalism: Double rooms have slate-tiled bathrooms, martini shakers, and iPod docking stations. Majestic Hotel, on a tree-lined street in Lakeview East, charms guests with antique-style beds and tapestries. Suites fit up to five and have kitchenettes with a wet bar, fridge, and microwave. We Love Brunch Ina's is wildly popular for its comfort food--and if it was a long night, you simply have to try the scrapple. Best of all, the restaurant (located in the West Loop) has a patio. Shops You Can't Find Everywhere Lori's Designer Shoes: This flagship of a five-location chain stocks Aerosoles along with more niche designs like Castañer espadrilles and 100% boots. Lili Boutique: Great service and a selection of upscale women's clothing. Highlights include Twinkle tops and dresses, edgy accessories like Dolce Vita shoes and Rebecca Minkoff bags, and designer denim by Earnest Sewn. Akira: Fun, funky clothes, from designer jeans to $20 blouses, with a wide range of prices and labels, including Hudson, Free People, and Frankie B. Vive la Femme: For the latest looks exclusively in sizes 12-24, including dresses, jackets, pants, tops, and skirts by Jessica Svoboda and Anna Scholz. Lenny & Me: An unpretentious consignment shop that's especially good for sexy retro dresses, screen-printed tees, and decades-old accessories. You Gotta Do at Least One . . . Gawk at 50 landmarks during the Chicago Architecture Foundation's 90-minute river cruise. Catch a show at Second City, the comedy club that launched the careers of Tina Fey, Mike Myers, and Amy Sedaris. Watch the Cubs from Wrigley Field's bleachers, where fans buy each other rounds of beers--making it like the world's largest singles bar. What's for Dinner? Rick Bayless cooks authentic Mexican at his world-famous Frontera Grill. The innovative and mostly vegetarian menu at Green Zebra consists of small plates such as crispy sweet-potato dumplings with water chestnuts and dandelion miso broth. Japonais is a dimly lit French-Japanese restaurant and lounge. Good for sharing: Le Quack Japonais, a take on Peking duck. After a kitchen fire in 2006, Pequod's traded its neon signs and White Sox mural for hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, and plasma TVs. Luckily, its thin-crust and deep-dish pizzas stayed absolutely the same. They're served atop whale-shaped boards. Sweet Fix Alliance Bakery and Café has charm to burn, what with a tin ceiling painted gold and 1930s wooden moldings from Poland. Order a key lime bar and sit out front. Bean There, Done That Chicago's newest landmark is a shiny, legume-shaped sculpture in Millennium Park that reflects and distorts the city's skyline on its stainless-steel surface. Locals refer to it as The Bean, though British creator Anish Kapoor understandably prefers its real name, Cloud Gate. Must-See Museum Show The Art Institute of Chicago's Japonisme exhibit juxtaposes 19th-century European paintings by Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin, and Manet with works by the Japanese artists who influenced them. Try Something New in Chicago Learn to sail on Lake Michigan and get stunning skyline views. Chicago Sailing charters from $75 an hour, quad (two-hour minimum). 773/871-7245, chicagosailing.com. Hotel Monaco 225 N. Wabash Ave., 866/610-0081, monaco-chicago.com, from $229 The James 55 E. Ontario St., 877/526-3755, jameshotels.com, from $250 Majestic Hotel 528 W. Brompton Ave., 800/727-5108, cityinns.com/majestic, from $179 Frontera Grill 445 N. Clark St., 312/661-1434, pork loin $21 Green Zebra 1460 W. Chicago Ave., 312/243-7100, dumplings $11 Japonais 600 W. Chicago Ave., 312/822-9600, duck $38 Pequod's 2207 N. Clybourn Ave., 773/327-1512, pizza from $10 Ina's 1235 W. Randolph St., 312/226-8227 Alliance Bakery 1736 W. Division St., 773/278-0366, alliance-bakery.com Castaways Bar 1603 N. Lake Shore Dr., 773/281-1200 Clybar 2417 N. Clybourn Ave., 773/388-1877 Sheffield's 3258 N. Sheffield Ave., 773/281-4989 Old Town Ale House 219 W. North Ave., 312/944-7020 Pontiac Café 1531 N. Damen Ave., 773/252-7767 Hogs & Honeys 1551 N. Sheffield Ave., 312/377-1733, from $5 Lori's Designer Shoes 824 W. Armitage Ave., 773/281-5655, lorisshoes.com Lili Boutique 1543 N. Wells St., 312/654-8511, shoplili.com Akira 2357 N. Clark St., 773/404-5826; 1814 W. North Ave., 773/489-0818; akirachicago.com Vive la Femme 2048 N. Damen Ave., 773/772-7429, vivelafemme.com Lenny & Me 1463 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773/489-5576 Art Institute of Chicago 312/443-3600, artic.edu, $12 Chicago Architecture Foundation 224 S. Michigan Ave., 312/922-3432, architecture.org, from $26 Second City 1616 N. Wells St., 312/664-4032, secondcity.com, from $14 Wrigley Field 773/404-2827, chicago.cubs.mlb.com, from $8 Spa Space 161 N. Canal St., 312/466-9585, spaspace.com, $35 Chicago Sailing 2712 N. Campbell Ave., 773/871-7245, chicagosailing.com