Miami Travel Guide

Getting There By Air

Flights to Miami are offered by a number of different airlines, including American Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic. Mimai flights from the UK take less than nine hours. As it's a year round destination, it can be tricky to bag cheap flights to Miami, but if you travel during the off-peak summer months, when it is hot and humid, you may be able to find a bargain.

Miami International Airport (MIA)
Tel: (305) 876 7000.
Website: www.miami-airport.com

Located 11km (7 miles) northwest of the city, Miami International Airport has a central terminal in the shape of a horseshoe, with seven concourses (A-G). For easy access to any of the concourses, there is a moving walkway on Level 3. The new South Terminal (concourses H-J) is now open and the North Terminal is scheduled to open in 2011, adding 100 international gates and 30 domestic gates to overall capacity.

Airport facilities
Throughout the terminal, there are plenty of restaurants, cafés, snack bars, gift and duty-free shops, pharmacies, post office, newspaper stands, unisex hairstyling salon and foreign currency exchange booths. Car hire firms include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National. There are five Tourist Information Centers (the main one, at level 2 of Concourse E, is open 0600-2200), a full-service bank (concourse B, level 4, and concourse J) and several ATMs (including concourse C and G, level 2).

Transport to the city
Some hotels provide a free minibus or limousine service from the airport. Alternatively, the best value for money option is the SuperShuttle (tel: (305) 871 2000; www.supershuttle.com). Minivans depart from the lower level of the terminal outside baggage claim, with 24-hour service to points as far north as Palm Beach and to some of the Lower Keyes. On average, Miami destinations cost US$15-25 one way.

Approximate flight times to Miami
From London is 8 hours 30 minutes; from New York is 3 hours; from Los Angeles is 5 hours; from Toronto is 3 hours 45 minutes and from Sydney is 18 hours.

Getting There By Road

When it comes to driving in Miami, bear in mind that Americans drive on the right-hand side of the road. Speed limits range from 24kph (15mph) to 72kph (45mph) in the city, 88kph (55mph) on most state highways and 88-112kph (55-70mph) on interstates and the Florida Turnpike. Speeding fines are hefty. All drivers must be over 16 years and are required to hold a current driving license. The State of Florida recognizes valid driver's licenses from the USA and other countries, as well as International Driving Permits. Visitors who plan on driving should have Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) as part of their standard travel insurance.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) (tel: (305) 661 6131 or 1 800 222 1333; www.aaa.com) provides information and road maps and may offer reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in other countries.

Emergency breakdown services
AAA (tel: 1 800 222 4357/AAA HELP).

Routes to the city
The I-95 is the major north-south expressway, providing access into Miami from Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. It runs through downtown Miami and into US-1 (also called Dixie Highway), which continues south to Key West. Another toll-paying expressway, the Florida Turnpike, heads southwards from Orlando and central Florida to the Golden Glades Interchange in the north. The major east-west expressway to downtown Miami is State Road 836 (Dolphin Expressway), connecting Florida's Turnpike in the west with the I-95 and Miami Beach (via the I-395) in the east.

Driving times to the city
From Fort Lauderdale - 1 hour; Palm Beach - 2 hours; Key West - 3 hours 30 minutes; Orlando - 5 hours.

Coach services
Greyhound (tel: 1 800 231 2222; www.greyhound.com) operates three main coach stations in Miami: at 4111 NW 27th Street, near the airport; at 1012 NW First Avenue near Bayside, downtown Miami; and at 16000 NW Seventh Avenue in North Miami. Greyhound operates direct links to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Key West, as well as long distance destinations such as New Orleans, Washington DC and New York.

Getting There By Rail

Rail Services
Miami's main Amtrak rail terminal is located at 8303 NW 37th Avenue (tel: (305) 835 1221). The station has very basic facilities, including a checked baggage service, an enclosed waiting area, payphones and vending machines.

Rail Operators
Amtrak (tel: 1 800 872 7245; www.amtrak.com) is the national railway provider offering comfortable trains and a reliable, efficient services to cities throughout the USA and Canada. Amtrak's Silver Meteor and Silver Star trains operate up the Atlantic coast from Miami to New York City.

Connections
From Orlando - 5 hours; Jacksonville - 8 hours 30 minutes; New York City - 29 hours.

Getting Around in Miami, Florida

Public Transport

Getting around Greater Miami can be difficult due to the size of the city. Nevertheless, Miami-Dade Transit Service (MDT) (tel: (305) 770 3131; www.miamidade.gov/transit) provides a variety of useful public transport options, including Metrorail, Metrobus and Metromover.

The Metrorail (tel: (305) 770 3131; www.miamidade.gov/transit/metrorail.asp) is the longest elevated rapid transit system in America. At 34km (21 miles), it runs from Kendall northwards through South Miami, Coral Gables, downtown Miami and then northwest to the Hialeah district. There are 22 stations and the entire journey takes 42 minutes. Trains run approximately every 10-20 minutes and more frequently at peak hours. Exact change only is placed in the slot at the entrance turnstiles.

The trains connect to the Metrobus and Tri-Rail. Transfers to the Metrobus, at the Government Center station or Brickell station, must be purchased at the original boarding station.

Metrobus (tel: (305) 770 3131; www.miamidade.gov/transit/metrobus.asp) operates a comprehensive bus service with 94 routes, some running 24 hours. Blue and green bus-stop signs list the routes and destinations. Exact change is required.

Downtown Miami is served by the futuristic, driverless Metromover (tel: (305) 770 3131; www.miamidade.gov/transit/metromover.asp), an elevated, three-loop, fully automated monorail. It operates daily from about 0500 to midnight, with the outer Loop serving Brickell and Omni operating as one continuous loop from about 1900 until midnight. The Metromover is free to all travelers. It is safe, air-conditioned and it also provides unparalleled views.

The South Beach Local makes getting around South Beach a breeze (tel: (305) 770 3131; www.miamidade.gov/transit). The bus runs every 10-15 minutes and is very cheap.

A monthly Metropass allows for unlimited travel on the Metrobus, Metrorail and Metromover. This pass is available for purchase from the Transit Information Center on the second level of the Government Center Metrorail station, online and at designated outlets.

The 7-Day Visitor Passport (www.miamidade.gov/transit/passtokens.asp) enables tourists to select seven consecutive days of unlimited rides on the Metrobus and Metrorail. Buy the pass from the airport (Mercado Miami store, Concourse F), Welcome Centers and other select locations.

Taxis

Taxis are plentiful but it is not the norm to hail one in the street. They are easily available from taxi stands outside most hotels and shopping malls, although it is more common to telephone for one.

Firms include Metro Taxi Co (tel: (305) 888 8888), Aventura Taxi (tel: (305) 599 9999), Coral Gables City Taxi (tel: (305) 444 4242), South Miami-Dade Taxi (tel: (305) 242 7117) and Yellow Cabs (tel: (305) 444 4444). A 15-20% tip is expected.

Driving in the City

Greater Miami comprises 30 municipalities but Miami is divided into quadrants. Flagler Street runs east-west, thus dividing the city into north and south sections, while Miami Avenue runs north-south, splitting the city into east and west sections. Most Miami addresses refer to these quadrants.

Greater Miami traffic can be terrible; cars can come to an absolute standstill along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue in South Beach during weekday rush hour and weekend nights.

There is plenty of metered parking available in Miami but not elsewhere. Visitors should check displayed information for rates and hours of operation. The average rates for parking meters range from US$0.75 to US$1.50 per hour. Some newer meters accept Visa and Mastercard as well as cash. On weekends, parking garages fill up with shoppers during the day and clubbers during the night. Further information on locations of car parks, hours and rates is available from the Miami Parking System, 190 NE Third Street (tel: (305) 373 6789; www.miamiparking.com).

Car Hire

Hiring a car is relatively straightforward. Drivers must be over 25 years old, possess a valid national driving license and a credit card to hold a deposit of at least US$500. When arranging car hire, visitors should enquire about an all-inclusive rate and ask how this compares to the regular daily rate. An all-inclusive rate should include all taxes, airport fees and car-handling fees. CWD (also known as LDW), which makes the hire company, rather than the driver, responsible for damage to the car, and SLI (supplementary liability insurance), also sometimes called top-up liability insurance or EP (extended protection), increases third-party liability coverage. All-inclusive rates may also include a tank of petrol and additional drivers. There is usually an extra charge for child seats.

Major providers include Alamo (tel: (305) 633 6076; www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: (305) 341 0936; www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (305) 871 3053; www.drivebudget.com), Hertz (tel: (305) 871 0300; www.hertz.com), Interamerican (tel: (305) 635 3060; www.interamerican.com), and Thrifty (tel: (877) 871 5051; www.thrifty.com).

Bicycle Hire

Most hire outlets are in bike-friendly Miami Beach. They include the Miami Beach Bicycle Center, 601 Fifth Street (tel: (305) 674 0150; www.bikemiamibeach.com) and Mangrove Cycles, 260 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne (tel: (305) 361 5555; www.mangrovecycles.com). Miami occasionally holds car-free, bike-and-stroll days in and around downtown Miami, Brickell and the Miami River. Look out for details in the local press.