Im probably staying at the new W

Thanks for the suggestions!

New boat in your future?

As others have said:
(1) Ensure that you book a hotel that has parking! This is a must, and I can't stress it enough!
(2) Walking distance (or short cab ride) to convention center is ideal. Once you get there and get parked, you won't want to be moving your car, I can guarantee you that.

I believe I will be making this event for my first time this year also. I really hope we can find some rooms for under 1000/night. I hear south beach at night time is rather dangerous also

Well, you can certainly do better than that, but honestly don't expect much more than a shthole roach motel for anything less than 300 bucks a night unless it's a good distance away.

And yes stick to the main roads, lol.

I got a tip from my cab driver last year. He said its $75 cab fair from Lauderdale airpot to South Beach. Its $35 from Miami airport. From searching so far, I have more time options and much better rates if I fly into Lauderdale. Any thoughts?

I stay at the Winterhaven on Ocean Drive, a nice clean (renovated in the early 2000s) historic hotel. It is on the North end, close walk to the Convention Center and all the action on Ocean Dr. but far enough North to be quiet at night. They have a little martini bar in the lobby which is great for pre-evening festivities. I just booked a king bed room for $315/night. I have stayed there 4 times and loved each trip.
Also just booked Continental nonstop out of Newark, NJ Round trip to Miami for $500 each. I am going early Fri-Monday afternoon. Flying Thurs. or Tues. would have been cheaper, but I can't adjust my schedule.

I couldn't find a flight cheap enough to justify flying into Ft. Lauderdale.

If you stay on Ocean or Collins you will be fine. Just remember it is a city.

It is far less expensive to search and find a "time share" or "apartment" rather than a hotel.

Figure $1K for a week and you can get a full house and some are within walking or cab distance from the show