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Thread: planning trip to Miami

  1. #1
    Veteran Member charlygirl's Avatar
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    Default planning trip to Miami

    Ahh ! I'm planning my first trip to Miami Beach alone by plane from Atlanta in April and I don't have a clue.
    I've searched the boards but all the questions are aimed at travelling to Miami to work and I'm going for a weeks vacation only.
    I've scoured the internet but cannot find anything aimed at someone who doesnt want to spend $1000 on a flight and a hotel room for one.

    Can anyone advise me on some relatively cheap good internet flight companies (bar expedia).

    Also is it costworthy to book a hotel room right on Miami or South beach or better (cheaper) to book further away.

    Is April going to be the high season for travelling to Miami. Is the weather generally OK during this month (no rain storms or something like that).

    Is downtown Miami a rough (Little Havana, Coconut Grove) place to stay? or are there better areas where I can get ot the beach fairly easily?

    I'm trying to figure out a place to stay thats near lots of stores, the beach and very touristy and 'walk freindly' as opposed to car friendly with lots of clubs and bars.

    Do you know of any websites that give the real deal about these things such as the areas (as opposed to the sites aimed at tourism).

    I guess I'm just a bit chicken, but it's good to know what your going to get before you get there right?

  2. #2
    Featured Member xbloodydewdropx's Avatar
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    Default Re: planning trip to Miami

    consider flying into ft. lauderdale, as the fares might be cheaper (although i base this on flights from my own area). do some searching online for flights to both ft. lauderdale airport and miami. each airport has shared bus/limosine service that takes you to your destination, for between 17 and 25 dollars (again, this is based on my knowledge of living there a few years ago).

    as for where to stay...if you're going to be spending the majority of your time on miami beach, south beach is a great place to stay. do some searching online as well, and you should be able to find a decent hotel rate. you can walk to pretty much anywhere, or take a cab for a mile and not spend too much on that ride. there are stores, clubs, bars, and "touristy" things on or near the beach. you could stay in a place on the beach, but not necessarily right on the water...walk a couple of blocks, etc.

    if you stay in downtown miami, you would have to rely on public transportation (possibly confusing and time consuming unless you are familiar with it....also not good for super-late nights)...if you're renting a car, that would eliminate that problem, but parking on the beach is always interesting and hard to find. also, cab fare to the beach from other places can add up to huuugee amounts. there are certain areas of miami that are indeed rough...so staying in crowded touristy areas is probably safer than staying somewhere else.

    all in all, it's a great place to be in april. i've lived outside of miami, and south beach, on separate occassions. personally, i thought the beach was the best place location-wise. you could always take a cab or bus to the grove for one night and still have your "base-camp," so to speak, on the beach. depends how you want to spend most of your vacation. have fun!!!

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    Featured Member xbloodydewdropx's Avatar
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    Default Re: planning trip to Miami

    another quick note: for online vacations, try orbitz, priceline, and travelocity. it might be cheaper to find the flights and hotels seperately, or together....try a variety of combos. also, consider looking at miami newspapers online for places to stay (this is just a guess, may not yield anything). The Miami Herald is a main one, and the New Times is the local free paper. happy hunting...

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    Veteran Member charlygirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: planning trip to Miami

    Thank you! I'll look into all that.

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    God/dess velvet's Avatar
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    Default Re: planning trip to Miami

    definatly stay on south beach. april is part of spring break so it may be a tad more expenisve. however, you can find deals. you dont want to stay anywhere else if you want to do the beach/tourist thing. north miami beach is less expensive but it is a little ways from the "action" i wouldnt advise flying into ft lauderdale. it is almost an hour away from south beach. i'm going in march so i have been doing some research. however i'm driving in. as i already live in fl.

  6. #6
    Pamela
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    Default Re: planning trip to Miami

    If you need to rent a car while there, fly into Ft. Lauderdale.....save money! Rentals are right there! Getting a room? Book it ASAP! Once in Lauderdale Miami (south) is less than an hour drive. I did it in less than 45 minutes easy!

    Also Downtown Miami north or south SUCKS. It can be very scary. I know i danced and lived in lauderdale most my life, and hit Miami every week!

    South beach is cleaner, and safer. Better crowd. But still very very busy. And lots of shit to put up with.

    Be safe, have fun.

    Pamela

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    Featured Member MadisonM's Avatar
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    Default Re: planning trip to Miami

    I like travelocity.... ok for all you traveling girls... I have a question about car rentals. I've never had to rent a car before, but I may be going down to Florida by myself for about a week in March (won't know for sure for a few more weeks). While I'm down there, I would rather rent a car than have to take a cab everywhere, but I'm only 20, and I heard that if you're under 25 then it costs tons of money to rent a car, and some places won't even rent to you if you're under 25 or 21. Is this true? Because I'm sure taking a cab everywhere would get quite costly.
    Take the road less traveled- just make sure you have a map.

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    God/dess velvet's Avatar
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    Default Re: planning trip to Miami

    you will have to call around. but yes most wont rent to under 25's and probley not many will do under 21.

    if you are going to south beach you wont need a cab. most everything is right there. if not sobe what part of fl.

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    Veteran Member charlygirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: planning trip to Miami

    Wow, I was thinking Miami was just one big city with a beach! It's more complicated than it looks. Thanks girls.

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    Featured Member MadisonM's Avatar
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    Default Re: planning trip to Miami

    Quote Originally Posted by velvet
    you will have to call around. but yes most wont rent to under 25's and probley not many will do under 21.

    if you are going to south beach you wont need a cab. most everything is right there. if not sobe what part of fl.
    If I go, I would be going to Clearwater, and/or St. Pete's Beach.I still don't know for sure, I won't know for a few more weeks, but I'm worried about it if I would have to go because I've enver traveled by myself before and I don't know how I would get around.
    Take the road less traveled- just make sure you have a map.

  11. #11
    God/dess AinNY's Avatar
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    Default Re: planning trip to Miami

    like everyone else said...stay in south beach...there are reasonable places for about 100-120 per night....

    you want to be on ocean($$$) or collins and below 20th st.....you can go north of 20th...but you'll be just outside of the main area of south beach....if you dont mind walking...that might be a cheaper option...

    check out Hotel Shelly-i think thats how you spell it (and its sister hotel right across the street). They arent "on" the beach...but they are right across the street from it. Nice little hotels for the money. Thats usually where my friends and I crash if they come into town for the weekend and want to chill and no one wants to drive back to my place.

    Check Jet Blue...they always have reasonable fares.

    Good luck...you'll have a great time down here.

    and dont forget to check out my favorite place....the nude beach

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