How To Plan A Trip To Miami: 9 Best Things To Know

Are you wondering how to plan a trip to Miami? Great news! This South Florida destination is fabulous.

The biggest town in Florida, with its beaches, bars, parks, museums, art galleries, and natural sites, Miami is a great destination for a vacation pretty much any time of year.

Whether you are looking to spend a weekend in Miami basking in the sun or are interested in a longer trip around Florida, even if you are just having a layover in Miami (which happened to me on many occasions). No matter what, you won’t be disappointed. This city has plenty to keep you busy.

But how should you go about planning a trip to Miami? I have been on a trip to Miami that was memorable and in this post, I will help you with tips for a perfect trip. You don’t have to buy Miami vacation packages to have a great holiday!

Continue reading for more useful tips for your Miami trip. 

How To Plan A Trip To Miami

The best time to visit Miami

The first thing you need to consider when planning a trip to Miami, Florida, is when is the best time to go. 

Good news: any time is a good time to go to Miami. Having said that, Florida, and especially Miami, is amazing in the spring before the temperatures become unbearably hot. It’s just the ideal weather to go to Miami Beach and the perfect season for a Florida road trip.

Summer in Miami means hot, at times unbearably hot temperatures. That’s why it is low season there. On a positive note, that means hardly fighting for the best seat in the restaurant or the best spot on the beach. So, perhaps that may be a good time to plan your Miami trip.

Visiting Miami in the fall seems ideal: temperatures are pleasant again, still good to go to experience Miami beach, and a good mix of people visit the city.

Winter is the perfect season to visit: while the rest of the US is freezing, the temperatures in Florida are mild, with the occasional cold-ish front.

All in all, I believe that visiting in October is the best idea.

Who should visit Miami

What most people don’t realize is that Miami has something for everyone. There are plenty of parties for spring breakers, relaxing retreats for romantic getaways, excitement and beauty for a girl’s trip to Miami, and so much more.

Miami tends to draw a combination of people: younger people looking for a good party during a school break and others just looking to escape the freezing winters from further north in the United States and Canada.

It’s also a great place for foodies who want the most authentic taste of Cuban food without going all the way over to Cuba. There’s a very large Cuban population; one study showed that about 60% of Cuban immigrants in the U.S. live in the greater Miami area.

If you want to experience the best Cuban food around Little Havana, this Miami: Little Havana Food Walking Tour with Tastings is an excellent walking tour. You’ll sample various different foods that will surely leave your taste buds singing.

Visa requirements for the United States

Unless you visit Florida from other places in the United States, you will likely need a Visa for your Miami trip. If you come from a European country, you will need an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) to travel to the United States, even for a simple layover.

ESTA costs only $21 and lasts for a period of 2 years, and it can be easily obtained through the ESTA website.

Make sure not to make my mistake and look into getting your visa before your Miami trip. In 2011, when I was returning from Mexico, I was meant to have a layover in Miami. I had not checked the small print at the bottom of my flight confirmation that said I’d be required to get an ESTA, even just for transit.

The airline wouldn’t let me check in unless I got a visa, and I had to spring my way around the airport looking for an internet point (wifi wasn’t a thing back then) to get my visa on the spot.

Cheap flights to Miami

Despite what many travel experts say, there are no secrets to finding cheap flights. If you are planning your holidays in Miami, the key to finding cheap flights for your vacation is to be flexible on the dates and, by all means, to start planning well in advance.

Newsletters for cheaper flights

You may want to subscribe to some newsletters or Facebook pages for travel hacks. I am a fan of Fly 4 Free, and I get regular updates on the best offers. The key to nailing a deal is to catch it as soon as it comes. Error fares or super cheap deals don’t stay on for long (quite the opposite). This is probably the best way to find cheap flights to Miami.

Other ways to find cheap tickets to Miami include monitoring the airlines (Miami is the main hub for American Airlines) and asking a travel agent who, through powerful software such as Amadeus or Galileo, will likely find many more deals than the regular traveler searching online.

Google Flights

You should also be able to track flight prices with Google Flights. This will help you keep an eye on the price range of a specific flight you’re looking at.

Google Flights recently launched something called the Flight Guarantee. They are offering to guarantee you get the lowest price when booking via Google Flights from anywhere in the United States. Google will reimburse you if the price goes down after you purchase your flight.

How to get to Miami from the airport

Getting from Miami International Airport to the city and even the Miami Beach area is easy. You can count on the Metrobus, the Metrorail, the Tri-Rail, and the Miami Beach bus, which all connect the city and the airport for a fraction of the amount a taxi would cost, avoiding the traffic. The services are regular, running from the early hours to late at night.

You can always call an Uber if you don’t want to take public transportation. Ubers are usually more affordable than taxis, though they can get expensive during peak hours.

How to get around Miami

If you love walking as much as I do, you will be glad to know that Miami is a very walkable city. Opt for the odd bus ride or rent a bike for longer distances. Walking or biking along Ocean Drive is fun, so try that too! Uber is a good way to get around town, as well.

In terms of public transportation, you have ample choice. Let me outline the main options below.

Metrorail and Metromover

There’s no subway in Miami, but you can count on Metrorail and Metromover. 

The Metrorail runs until 11:00 pm during the week and until midnight at weekends. It serves 23 stations, including the airport – you will have to purchase a card from any vending machine at the station.

Metromover is pretty much the same thing, but only for downtown Miami. It is free.

Metrobus

The Metrobus is a bus system running 95 routes around Miami County. You can get pretty much anywhere with that, but keep in mind the schedule can be irregular, buses are late, and if you need to get a connecting bus, your trip may be longer than expected.

So perhaps this is not a good idea for your trip to Miami in case you only have a few days there.

Trolleys

Miami and Miami Beach run a free trolley service between popular areas to connect passengers to Metrobus stops and Metrorail stations.

Map your itinerary ahead of time

There are many different activities and tours around Miami; you should plan everything you want to do well before your trip. Otherwise, you might get bogged down with the beach and parties.

Of course, if all you want to do is go to the beach and party, that’s okay. But if you want to see more, consider booking and planning right now.

And Miami isn’t all about the beach. It’s a great starting point to visit the Everglades National Park and other intriguing places around Miami.

Miami: Everglades National Park Airboat Tour & Wildlife Show – This is the best, most exciting tour of the Everglades. Not only will you spot alligators, turtles, and birds, but you’ll learn a lot about the thriving ecosystem here.

For more ideas on what to do in this amazing city, read my post The Best Things To Do In Miami.

Best neighborhoods in Miami

A city like Miami has no shortage of good hotels. Booking.com has some excellent Miami hotel choices. It’s just a matter of picking a good area to stay.

South Beach

Most visitors head straight to South Beach, where there are bars and clubs galore, beautiful cafés, and great restaurants, and the nightlife is amazing.

South Beach is a beautiful neighborhood that is not too crowded. It’s right on the beach, and there’s plenty to do.

However, it is usually much more expensive as it’s considered a higher-end neighborhood.

Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove has some excellent hotels. It’s known as a more bohemian neighborhood and is home to the famous and unique boardwalk.

It’s also right on the water and centrally located in Miami, making it one of the most popular regions for tourists.

Downtown Miami

Downtown Miami has recently become one of the trendiest areas in town, with new condos and shiny buildings, elegant restaurants, fun bars and clubs, museums, and concert halls.

This is the best place to stay for those wanting to be as close to all the action as possible. You really can’t get more convenient than downtown Miami.

Miami Beach

When I think of hotels where to stay in Miami, my mind goes straight to Miami Beach. This area has some of the city’s best hotels (think Setai Miami Beach) and restaurants; there are regular events, and Miamians love it.

Little Havana

Little Havana – just the name will resonate with you. You will realize how much of a Cuban influence in Miami when you land at the airport and hear everyone speaking perfect Spanish – not a common thing in the US! There’s a huge Cuban population in Miami.

Little Havana is among the best places to stay in Miami: it’s where the Cubans who fled Castro’s regime frocked and ended up shaping the city into what it is today.

Only in the last 10 years or so has Little Havana become a more popular place to visit and stay in Miami, with some excellent hotels, but the choice of places to visit, stay, and eat is very good.

Brickell

Brickell is one of the newest neighborhoods of Miami, packed with shiny, brand-new buildings, and gives a good idea of what Miami is shaping up to be.

Brickell is where to stay in Miami if you are looking for a more historic neighborhood, and you will find some great hotels.

Where to stay in Miami

Now that we’ve reviewed the best neighborhoods in Miami let’s review a few hotel recommendations in different neighborhoods and for every budget:

EAST Miami – This is a wonderful hotel in the trendy Brickell neighborhood. It’s a good location, and very easy to walk around the neighborhood and take public transportation to other parts of Miami. The hotel has a nice outdoor swimming pool, modern decor, and good city views.

Life House, Little Havana – If you want to stay in Little Havana, this is one of the best hotels in a great location. The hotel is nicely decorated, with a handful of common areas with plants, trees, and other touches of nature.

The Vagabond Hotel – This beautiful hotel is only about 5 miles (8km) from Miami Beach. It’s a nice hotel, with a small swimming pool and a cozy atmosphere. You’ll find a poolside bar, several sunbeds, and other areas to hang out.

Further Readings

Are you planning a trip to the US? Make sure to read all my posts:

• 15 Great Day Trips From Miami
• The Best Day Trip To Key West
• A Great Itinerary For 3 Days In San Francisco
• 15 Unmissable Things To Do In California
• The Perfect Itinerary To See New York In 2 Days
• 35 Cool Things To Do In New York City
• A Complete Guide To Visiting The Statue Of Liberty
• 5 Days In New York: An Easy To Follow New York Itinerary
• A Fabulous Itinerary For 3 Days In New York
• An Easy To Follow Itinerary For 4 Days In New York
• 10 Not To Miss Hikes Near Denver
• 12 Unmissable Things To Do In Yellowstone
• The 23 Best National Parks In USA

Pint It For Later!