A private tour (for small groups) of the Art Deco district in South Beach with exclusive access to select buildings and filled with fascinating stories about the history, architecture and culture infused with lively humor and passion for the area. Tours offered throughout the day!
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Have you ever traveled to a city and taken a group tour or private tour? Which was better? Sure, everyone loves the VIP Treatment--personal, undivided attention, catering to your interest, pace and questions. That's WHY WE'RE RATED #1 WALKING TOUR IN SOUTH BEACH!! Tours available in English, Spanish, French and Italian. We're open 7 days a week including holidays!
If you are planning to attend the ART DECO WEEKEND FESTIVAL, Jan 13-15, click here!
Introducing...
YOUR PERSONAL TOUR GUIDE
Christine & Calvin (C&C) are certified tour guides and offer customized South Beach/Art Deco Walking tours for two or more people. Whether you're a couple, a family of three or more, or a convention group, C&C are your personal walking tour guides for discovering Miami Beach.
A TOUR CUSTOMIZED FOR YOU
It's your trip, and this is your tour! There are many benefits to having your own personal tour guide:
1. GET THE VIP TREATMENT! This is your private tour with personal attention (for no more than two sets of customers at a time) where you can freely talk with the guide and ask any questions and get exclusive access to select Art Deco buildings not permitted to any other tour company.
2. You're not limited to one time frame as offered by large group tours. We're the only boutique tour service that offers the walking tours more than once a day. Our most popular tour is the twilight tour, around 4pm as the sun is setting so you see the buildings in daylight and dusk.
3. Are design or architecture your cup of tea? Or do you enjoy a good thriller full of mafia/criminal (true) stories? Or do you sport a capital "HB" for history buff? C&C can laser in on your preference but be sure to let them know before the tour. If you enjoy all three, ask for the "garden variety"!
4. Be in all the photos! No matter the size of your group, C&C are ready to act as photographer so everyone is in the picture!
5. A popular benefit is the "tour after the tour". Christine will email you the highlights of the tour so you don't forget those fascinating details. Even better if you keep a travel journal or blog, you'll have plenty to write about! No other tour company offers this feature!
6. Book a tour and your guide will go beyond and answer any questions about restaurants, other activities and so much more. You have your own local contact--just like having a personal friend or family member to ask for suggestions, ideas and opinions.
7. Price is important, for just a few dollars more than a group tour, get the personal attention, the exclusive access, the VIP treatment!
8. Last but not least, your visit raises awareness of a local effort to help homeless, voiceless animals.
By the end of the tour, you'll enjoy the full flavor of Miami Beach, it's colorful history and characters.
SHABBY CHIC PRICES
Unlike other private tours which charge $75/person, this two-hour tour is available for just $30/person . (For groups of 10 or more people, please contact Christine for special rates). A minimum 50% deposit is required. Full payment may be requested during peak season November 1 - May 31. The tour is offered for maximum two sets of customers so you may be joining another party.
For an absolute PRIVATE TOUR, to focus on your specific interests or combination (history, architecture, design, etc) the rate is minimum $40/person or more depending on the day of the week and season. Please contact Christine for private tour rates.
To inquire about reservations, please contact Christine at artdecotours@yahoo.com or text at 305-218-9952. Email or text work best as we're often giving tours.
To learn more about the Art Deco Walking Tours, click here.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Welcome to Miami Beach & Your Personal Tour Guide
Art Deco Walking Tours
Miami Beach aka "America's Riviera" boasts a colorful past and present. More than neon or pastel colors and Miami Vice stories, Miami Beach offers an eclectic history and a true melting pot of founders, pioneers and residents. For a city known for Cuban food, Salsa dancing and rhythms, and other Caribbean influences, did you know the name "Miami" is a native American Indian word for "Big Water"? Learn about the city's origins ...
Take a Walking Tour of the South Beach Art Deco District--the first 20th century buildings to receive historic designation. Hear the story and learn about a frail, widow's fight to protect these 1930's treasures against deep-pocket developers with political ties.
Return home with more than a sun burn and sand in your shoes. Impress your friends and neighbors with an entertaining history of Miami Beach--the architecture, the role of the Miami Vice series and the influence of the fashion industry and the mafia. Or don't tell them and beat them at Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit. Did you know Miami Beach was the only city to prosper during Prohibition and the Depression? Miami vices actually galvanized the young city.
CHILDREN, SCHOLARS, GENERATIONS X, Y, AND Z
Come as a family, group of friends or on a tour, C&C can tell a tale to keep your child's attention, or speak architect-ease for scholarly tours. There's something for everyone.
THE ACTUAL TOUR
We are mostly walking outside throughout South Beach primarily between 8th and 14th streets. The tour steps inside a few buildings to point out Art Deco and other highlights and to help you visualize what happened in those hotels in 1930's, 1970's, and today. If you have a preferred starting point or ending place, let's say you're with a special group and want to have cocktails at specific bar at end of the tour. No problem, I can start and end the tour wherever you prefer.
Tour stops include the Versace mansion (Mediterranean Revival as pictured on left), and Art Deco classics such as The Carlyle Hotel, The Cardozo, Jerry's Famous Deli, the 11th Street Diner and the Wolfsonian. Find out which of these buildings were backdrops for the Miami Vice scenes, and movies like the Birdcage with Robin Williams. Legend has it Capone ran his gambling syndicate from the 2nd floor of a small hotel also used in a film with Sylvester Stallone and Sharon Stone. PRICES
TIMES
Tours for the most part are offered at 10am, 1pm and 4pm. Although we may be able to offer tours at other hours, simple send an email.
*** Remember to wear comfortable walking shoes and drink or bring cold bottled water! ***
PAYMENT:
Reservations and a deposit are required. In the event of a Hurricane Warning, the tour may be cancelled by you or Christine. While it may be pouring rain in one part of Miami, it may not rain at all in South Beach so we always meet at agreed time.
RESERVATION or INQUIRIES:
Christine is ready to answer any and all questions to help customize your visit to Miami. Please contact her, artdecotours@yahoo.com. Or you may call 305-218-9952. Email or text is best as you'll receive a quicker response.
YOUR VISIT SUPPORTS LOCAL CHARITY
Christine and Calvin ae passionate about a little known cause and working hard to create a local, then regional and eventually national campaign. Yes they are determined! The good news--there is a solution, a cure! The bad news and the frustration--the mass public is unaware! If you would like to contribute to Christine's hands-on efforts or if you have strong ties to the media, she would love to hear from you! Click here for her local cause.
Christine and Calvin ae passionate about a little known cause and working hard to create a local, then regional and eventually national campaign. Yes they are determined! The good news--there is a solution, a cure! The bad news and the frustration--the mass public is unaware! If you would like to contribute to Christine's hands-on efforts or if you have strong ties to the media, she would love to hear from you! Click here for her local cause.
Looking forward to meeting you in Miami!
ABOUT Christine Michaels
A resident of Miami for 12 years, Christine is a former public relations manager and spokesperson for local icon company. She also serves as a volunteer for the Miami Design Preservation League. Christine enjoys highlighting the best of Miami. From Salsa dance lessons, to eating black beans and rice and fried plantains, to bike riding to the beach in the middle of winter (a cool 75 degrees), Christine savors every sight, sound and aroma of exotic, tropical Miami!
[Other Specialty Tours
OTHER TOURS
If you have already taken the Art Deco Walking Tour and are interested in other cultural tours, below are a few to consider.
Mimo Tour
This tour is part 2 of the Miami Beach History. It begins with a chauffeured ride to the MiMo district which took the spotlight after Art Deco. If you are staying at a hotel in downtown or South Beach, Christine will pick you up in a sedan and drive you up "Millionaire's Row" . This tour entails stories of the architecture (MiMo = Miami Modern), the mafia, and the other colorful characters as you then walk through the Eden Roc and Fountainbleau --rival hotels during their heyday.This tour is for 2-4 people maximum. Duration approximately 2.5 hours. PRICE- $125 TOTAL* for 2-4 people.ONLY AVAILABLE Weekends with advance reservation.
Little Havana ( Saturday and Sundays 10am, 1pm, 4pm)
This area was once the future Hollywood of the Southeast and an exclusive neighborhood. Learn how history changed its course and is home to cuban coffee, pastelitos and more. Visit a cigar factory and watch workers roll and tip fresh cigars, see elderly men stay youthful playing Dominoes at dominoe park and sample authentic Cuban bites. Duration is 2 hours. PRICE - $30/person. We meet in Little Havana. Address provided at time of reservation. (Christine can pick you up if you are staying in Downtown Miami only). Click here for more information.
Customized Tour
The beauty of a small boutique/concierge service is that we can customize any tour for you! We have had requests for an Art Deco with Shopping tour in South Beach, or Christine can pick you up in a sedan and chauffer you for a Miami highlight tour. The latter is especially popular for those who are in a wheelchair or have limited walking abilities. One photographer wanted to see all the famous Miami pools. Christine heightened the experience with stories to match. These tours should be booked well in advance. Prices vary depending on the season, length of time, and type of tour.
PRICE, DEPOSIT and REFUND policy
The tour is exactly two hours and the price is $30 per person (children under 12 are free), For a group of 20 or more the rate is $20/person.
Tours available daily: 10am, 1pm, 4pm and sometimes evenings for those who want just the neon lights view.
RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE by: Email: artdecotours@yahoo.com or call 305-218-9952. Email or text message is best as we're often giving tours and sometimes the voicemail message is not clear.
A minimum 50% deposit is required. Deposit is made via three methods. For groups of 3 or more, we reserve the right to ask for full payment in advance.
CREDIT CARD
1- Receive a payment link to your email and comfortably pay with your Credit Card (the email will come from service@PayPal but you do not have to register with PayPal unless you already have account)
--or-- if you do not have access to internet
2- Pay with credit card over the phone. Please know there is a $2.00 service charge for this method.
PAYPAL
3- Art Deco Tours accepts PayPal funds. If you already have an account, just click on the Deposit button on this website, and pay with PayPal funds OR your credit card.
The balance is paid in cash on the day of the tour.
Upon receipt of the deposit, a confirmation will be emailed with the meeting place and other helpful tips.
Please do not hesitate to ask any questions. Large group tours or customized tours are available. Advance planning is recommended.
CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY
The deposit is non-refundable except for an official Hurricane Watch/Warning the day of the tour. Since this is a walking tour primarily outdoors, if it should rain for more than 20 minutes along the tour route, you may terminate the tour and decide what amount to pay for the tour. The deposit is also 100% refundable. Tour continues in drizzle rain.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Year Contest to Thank Past Clients
NEW YEAR CONTEST
to Thank Past Guests
As a small thank you and to encourage you to follow the changes taking place within the District*, I'm offering a little contest and giving away the following to one lucky winner!
1. Your choice of the original book about South Beach Art Deco buildings Deco Delights authored by the savior of the buildings, Barbara Capitman OR the sensational nonfictional book Sins of Miami, personally autographed by author, Alex Daoud.
2. A poster of the Colony Hotel, the most photographed Art Deco building in South Beach.
These items will be shipped to you free anywhere in the WORLD!
HOW TO WIN:
You have several opportunities for more than one entry by:
1. Following us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ArtDecoTours. We promise we do not inundate the page. We are mostly giving tours but feel it's important to document changes. (One entry)
2. Add a comment and/or photo to the Facebook page. (One entry regardless of number of comments/photos).
3. To help boost tourism and much needed job growth in my homestate of Florida, follow My Fabulous Florida & Marvelous Miami on Facebook about various, unique and sometimes lesser known Florida and Miami activities (one entry). Again, I only update once a week.
Send me an email (to artdecotours@yahoo.com) by January 15 and let me know which of the above you entered. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on our Facebook page and sent an email after the annual Art Deco Weekend Festival on January 17, 2012.
The whole process takes less than 10 minutes!
Thank you for supporting a small business, a backbone of the US economy.
*Note: For customers who took our tour from January through September 2011 please know the Hotel Victor (famous for Jellyfish theme) and The Tides hotels were both sold and changes to their unique interior decor will soon change. Some good and some heartbreaking.
Please know your email has NOT and will NEVER be shared with any other person or business or organization. I do not send past clients regular emails. At the end of the year, I like to give thanks for living in Miami, loving my job, for good health and the ability to walk a lot and meet wonderful people like you from across the country and world!
Wishing you and your family a HAPPY, HEALTHY, & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!
Christine Michaels
Founder and owner
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Art Deco Weekend Festival
The annual Art Deco Weekend Festival is January 13-15, 2012.
This is one of the busiest and most popular festivals of the season and like others, Ocean Drive is closed for the festivities. Vendors set up their booths and throngs of attendees crowd the street.
We will continue our tours this weekend but it's important to know that with the crowds and elevated noise, this will not be our usual, quiet stroll along Ocean drive to admire the architecture before entering select buildings.
PRICE
The cost per person is $30 and complete payment is due upon reservation. Please email artdecotours@yahoo.com for reservation.
SIZE OF GROUP
Please know due to heightened crowds and interest, we will take more than our standard 2 sets of customers. But we will still limit the group to less than 10 people.
PARKING
ALSO, it's important to know that parking becomes increasingly scarce early in the day. If you are driving into South Beach for the festival, we strongly recommend to arrive before 1pm to park in city garages. Otherwise private garages and hotel valet charge $50 and upward per vehicle.
Another helpful tip: AVOID Collins Avenue (one lane each direction) and take Washington Avenue (two lanes each direction) which is one block west of Collins Avenue. You're likely to find parking in garages on northend of the district at 13th street and beyond.
TIMES of TOURS
Jan 13, Friday: 10am, 1pm
Jan 14, Saturday: 9:30am (you'll miss the parade at 11am), and 3pm
Jan 15, Sunday: 10am, 1pm
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Testimonials
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| Keith and Blake Bankwitz at Cuban Cigar Company in Little Havana |
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| Christine and Blake Bankwitz at Fountainebleau lobby |
Marlene Bankwitz
Dearborn, Michigan
August 21, 2011
"Excellent tour! Great Expertise! Christine was extremely knowledgeable and personable.
Thouroughly enjoyed the tour.....Christine is a wealth of information you won't get anywhere else! Well worth the time. Would highly recommend."
Barbara M and Lucille H from Sarasota, FL
August 6, 2011
Kim Lau, Mimi Taylor, Renee Murphy, Janine Davidson
Northern Virginia, April 17, 2010
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"(Christine) is awesome. If you're looking for courteous and nice and informative tour guide, you found it! People with disabilities certainly need to check out Christine's touring service. She's awesome, careful, nice and courteous...and, of course, a safe driver."
Julie Anderson
Mailing Address PO Box 188, Royal Oak, MI 48068
"Christine provided us with a customized tour of South Beach, and even took us to Little Havana on request. She was so flexible on time and itinerary, as well as accommodating a special request for our tour to be by car. Her insights and knowledge of the architecture and history of Miami brought the city to life. We recommend anyone visiting the Miami area to take a tour with Christine, as it will make your trip so much more memorable. Oh, and the airport pickup/dropoff service is a great deal! "
Norm Andresen
Julie Anderson & Norm Andresen, November 2009 (from Detroit, Michigan)
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Suzanne and Jeff, UTAH, August 23, 2009
Janice (Palm Beach, FL) and Christine (Pennsylvania)
July 31, 2009
Lauren, Salt Lake City, UT 5-31-09
Mary Kay & Family, December 2008
Jipsy & Carlos, December 2008
We loved the tour. Visiting from Detroit, my wife and I love history especially as it relates to the auto industry. Christine tapped into her knowledge of the gasoline society (Rockefellers and Henry Flagler) and how it shaped theJohn & Susan, October 2008
development of Miami Beach.
Christine's tour was excellent. Since English is our second language,Peter Hausen & Family, September 13, 2008
Christine's clear enunciation of the English language without regional accent was very helpful. Christine's tour was informative and entertaining even for our teenage children. It was a great introduction to Miami and she offered much advice on restaurants and other activities.
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