Ocean Blue Hostel

Ocean Blue Hostel in South Beach lives up to its name — a budget-friendly base a short distance from the Atlantic, in a neighborhood that rewards anyone willing to trade room size for location. South Beach's ocean and everything surrounding it is the main event; a hostel like Ocean Blue keeps you close to it without the price tag of a full-service hotel. For the independent traveler, a no-frills hostel in this zip code is a smart trade-off. You spend your money on experiences — sunsets on the sand, meals at sidewalk cafes, walks through the Art Deco district — rather than on a room you'll barely be in.