3. Do like the high rollers do: Come early, leave early. Most of the big buyers come Monday, Tuesday at the latest, in their private jets. They go to the NetJets party on Tuesday night. They buy art on Wednesday and they are gone by the time Art Basel opens to the public, on Thursday, December 6. You will be, too. The Delano has a room—partial ocean view, king-size bed—available December 1 through 5 for $685 a night. The same kind of room would go for $1,875 a night during Art Basel, with a four-night minimum. If it were available.

4. Go way downscale. There are motels in Miami close to the Design District and Wynwood that offer real bargains. Yes, there may be hookers. In fact, hookers are pretty much guaranteed to be patrolling on Biscayne Boulevard. (Think the Reeperbahn.) But look at these rates: The Motel Blu, at 7700 Biscayne Boulevard, has rooms with Wi-Fi, DirectTV, and a pool available for around $64 a night. The King Motel at 7150 Biscayne is the same price. The key word here is “available.” Yes, you will need a car, but you will be able to drive to Wynwood in 10 minutes. 

5. Take advantage of the rotten real estate market. Since condos are in over-supply, why not rent one for Basel? Mitzi Koch has a string of rentals available, like this one in the Murano Grande, in the South of Fifth neighborhood. It’s $650 a night and can sleep four.

Linda Lee, a former editor at the New York Times and of the Art Basel Miami Beach magazine, runs Miami Architecture & Design Week, December 3–9, and the Web site www.ma2dweek.com.