Babesta Beat AW16

miami Greetings from PASSPORTED’S HENLEY VASQUEZ

photos courtesy of Art Basel Miami and Faena Hotel.

J ust when you thought you had to throw in the beach towel for your fantasy see - and - be - seen modern art sojourn to M iami ( or find a sleepover sitter ) fear not ! A rt B asel M iami , when planned right , can be a perfect family get away , ticking the boxes of culture and fun . “I think any destination, and any event, can be kid friendly, if you plan it right,” says Henley Vasquez, co-founder of luxury family travel company Passported. “What’s not to love about a good beach, good food and colorful art?” We got the scoop about artful away-time in sunny Florida from the jetsetting Vazquez, equal parts entrepreneur, journalist and travel agent. Where do we stay? I love all the hotels in mid-beach, up in the 30s and 40s. You’re close enough to the dining and nightlife scene (and it’s easy to get across to the arty stuff in the Design District and Wynwood) but not in the thick of South Beach crowds. The new Faena is hands-down the place to score a room right now but I still love the Edition, which has two pools so adults can chill by one and the other is more family oriented. The other new place a lot of families are liking is the 1 Hotel. It’s a little farther south

TALKS ART BASEL WITH YOUR FAM - WHY NOT!

than I like to stay, and a little bigger than I generally like, but they have rooms with two king beds—unheard of!—that are a great fit for a family who doesn’t want to splurge on a suite or connecting room, plus all the linens are organic and there’s a Soul Cycle if you need to keep a fitness routine going. What sort of prep ahead of time should I do? Start by booking your flight and hotels. Rooms sell out well ahead of time, and prices are high, so if you know where you want to be and don’t want to pay a fortune for it, the sooner you book, the better. Then figure out what exhibits are on, which galleries have the shows that interest you and your crew, and where the parties are that you want to attend. Dinner reservations and a good babysitter are key to making evenings run smoothly (those both book up, too). Are there events that are kid-friendly or geared toward families at ABM? Anything outdoors, like films or performances in Collins or SoundScape Parks, are a good bet with kids. But even at the Convention Center, the Miami Children’s Museum sets up a playroom for kids ages

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babesta beat fall/winter 2016