There's Nothing Like the Big City

New York: If You Can Make It There . . . Where to Kick Up Your HeelsGrown-up drinks: On every table at Pegu Club are droppers with lime juice and mixers for individualized drink calibration--if the obsessive bartenders didn't master your concoction from the get-go. Outdoor seating: Overlook the Meatpacking District nightlife scene without ever leaving it at Plunge, the poolside rooftop lounge of Hotel Gansevoort. Till midnight: Italian wines and paninis are served at both of Bar Veloce's intimate, counter-and-bar-stool outposts. Till 3 A.M.: On the 20th floor of an office tower, 230 Fifth is a 20,000-square-foot club on two levels, with Versace-meets-Versailles decor and a spectacular terrace with 500 chairs. Till dawn: Les Enfants Terribles is a French-African restaurant by day; later, it's a hotspot for those in the know. Something you'll regret: Kitschy Mexican joint Tortilla Flats rocks all night, especially after 1 A.M. on weekends, when margarita pitchers are $5 off. Must-See Museum ShowThe Whitney's Summer of Love: Art of the Psychedelic Era--paintings, album covers, posters, photographs, and sculptures that came out of the social changes of the 1960s and '70s. Streets That Are Made for Shopping Elizabeth Street (bet. Houston and Spring): independent boutiques with stylish heels and dresses. East Seventh and East Ninth Streets (bet. Second Avenue and Avenue A): funky vintage threads. Madison Avenue (bet. 57th and 72nd Streets): celebrity designers like Donna and Calvin. You Gotta Do at Least One . . . Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge; then wander through the neighborhood of Dumbo, stopping for pizza at Grimaldi's and dessert at Jacques Torres Chocolate. See the Manhattan skyline from the Staten Island Ferry (it's free!). Venture up to the three-floor art deco observation deck at Rockefeller Center--it reopened in 2005 as Top of the Rock, and the views are wow. Row a boat around the Central Park Lake for a lazy afternoon. Shops You Can't Find EverywherePatricia Field Boutique: The store of the stylist and fashion guru behind Sex and the City stocks her own label and those of her favorite designers. The Market NYC: Up-and-coming clothing and jewelry designers sell their wares in booths (FYI, it's also known as Young Designer's Market). Kate's Paperie: The company's five Manhattan locations are filled to the brim with unique note cards, calendars, journals, handmade wrapping paper, and racks of fine stationery; the SoHo store is the best. Dylan's Candy Bar: Flagship of the burgeoning sweets empire of Ralph Lauren's daughter features hard-to-find candy, cute candy-related clothes and gifts, and a retro soda fountain (love the peppermint-striped stools!). INA: Four locations sell seasonal, high-end women's clothing on consignment. We Love BrunchThe quintessential uptown New York brunch destination, Sarabeth's is renowned for its signature pumpkin muffins and scones and the mighty eggs Benedict. Pamper YourselfBliss's flagship spa in SoHo is where the brand got its start. New on the menu: a soaking-and-scrubbing for your achy feet (it's called Heel Magnolias, natch). Sweet Fix Chef Will Goldfarb regularly changes the menu at his dessert-only restaurant, Room 4 Dessert. Particular favorites include layers of flavors in a champagne flute (above), and dessert flights--one plate with four variations on a theme. Psst . . . Avoid the mile-long lines at the Times Square TKTS booth by buying discounted Broadway tickets in advance at playbill.com and theatermania.com. Home BaseRooms at Hotel Gansevoort, in the popular Meatpacking District, come with down duvets, feather beds, and 400-thread-count Egyptian-cotton sheets. And there's a spa downstairs when you need some TLC. The Bentley Hotel has bright, airy rooms--and the hotel gets bonus points for being near Bloomingdale's. The suites at the Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square overlook the Theater District and fit up to six with two beds in one room and a pullout sofa in the other. What's for Dinner? Spice Market, Jean-Georges Vongerichten's popular Meatpacking District restaurant, attracts a high-profile clientele with its intense Asian-fusion flavors, like an appetizer of mango, crystallized tamarind, and cherry tomatoes, and its wooden-temple decor. At the end of an easy-to-miss Lower East Side alley, Freemans is a reliable hipster hideaway in a former carriage house where the food is definitely better than it needs to be: The stuffed prunes wrapped in bacon, called devils-on-horseback, are an out-of-this-world appetizer. Try Something New in New York Fly through the air at Trapeze School New York. It's exhilarating, as anyone who saw Carrie do it on Sex and the City knows. 917/797-1872, newyork.trapezeschool.com, classes from $47. Hotel Gansevoort 18 Ninth Ave., 212/206-6700, hotelgansevoort.com, from $425 Bentley Hotel 500 E. 62nd St., 212/644-6000, from $237 Doubletree Guest Suites Times Square 1568 Broadway, 212/719-1600, doubletree.com, suite from $329 Spice Market 403 W. 13th St., 212/675-2322, pork $16 Freemans Freeman Alley, off Rivington St., 212/420-0012, trout $16 Sarabeth's Three locations, including 40 Central Park South, 212/826-5959 Room 4 Dessert 17 Cleveland Pl., 212/941-5405, flight $14 Pegu Club 77 W. Houston St., 212/473-7348 Plunge Hotel Gansevoort, 18 Ninth Ave., 212/206-6700 Bar Veloce 175 Second Ave., 212/260-3200; 176 Seventh Ave., 212/629-5300 230 Fifth 230 Fifth Ave., 212/725-4300 Les Enfants Terribles 37 Canal St., 212/777-7518 Tortilla Flats 767 Washington St., 212/243-1053 Patricia Field Boutique 302 Bowery, 212/966-4066 The Market NYC 268 Mulberry St., 212/580-8995, weekends only Kate's Paperie Five locations, including 561 Broadway, 800/809-9880, katespaperie.com Dylan's Candy Bar 1011 Third Ave., 646/735-0078 INA Four locations, including 212 Prince St., 212/334-9048 Whitney Museum of American Art 945 Madison Ave., 212/570-3600, whitney.org, $15 Grimaldi's 19 Old Fulton St., 718/858-4300 Jacques Torres Chocolate 66 Water St., 718/875-9772 Top of the Rock 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 877/692-7625, topoftherocknyc.com, $18 Central Park Rowboats 212/516-2233, nycgovparks.org, $12 for first hour Bliss 568 Broadway, 212/219-8970, blissworld.com Trapeze School New York Below Canal Street on West Street, between Piers 34 and 26, 917/797-1872, newyork.trapezeschool.com

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