I took one of my very helpful aunts to Miami (March 2019) because we couldn’t wait for winter to be over. Luckily we also found a great cruise price for a weekend overnight cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival.
Miami Summary
- There’s downtown Miami and Miami Beach (North/Mid/South) and the beach is much less Miami Vice and GTA than you’d expect.
- Beach hotels are consistently more expensive than most places I travel. Staying by the airport / downtown can save money
- You can get day passes for beach hotels and pools.
- Great people watching
- Easy public transit from the airport station via the MIA Mover and Beach Express bus.
The Flight to/from Miami
I used some Delta frequent flyer miles for our tickets and we flew from Milwaukee to Atlanta to Miami on the way there, and via NYC-Laguardia on the way home.
Unfortunately the assistants struggled getting the aisle wheelchair actually down the aisle on the MD-90 plane from MKE to ATL. It’s a single-aisle plane but the transition from First class to economy is at an angle and the chair was too long. I got upgraded to First but bumped someone from their seat.
I had some chair damage on these flights but was able to complete the cruise without an issue, just an inconvenience. On the way home, my armrest fell off.
Miami Transportation
There are accessible taxis in Miami and if you find one, get the driver’s number. They will usually be happy to come and get you and this saves waiting time if they are available directly.
I don’t like the taxis as a primary mode of transportation in Miami however. The accessible ones are few and far between. They’re also expensive.
From the airport you can get to the beaches with the Beach Express bus for a few bucks. Read more here about cruise shuttles and arrival strategies for Miami.
Miami Hotels
On this trip we stayed at the Sheraton Miami Airport before the cruise and the Kimpton Surfcomber after.
- Sheraton Miami Airport – We got a club level room and the club was fantastic. It’s on the top floor and had very nice staff and a wonderful view of the golf course. Breakfast and afternoon snacks were included. It’s across the street from the airport transit station which gets you right to the terminals and also the beach buses.
- Kimpton Surfcomber – Located on the beach in South Beach, this was a nice boutique-style hotel with an art deco flare. The location was great for catching the Miami boardwalk and there were a lot of dining and shopping options nearby, including Lincoln Rd.
The Stuff to do in Miami
This was my second time in Miami and my first time leaving on a cruise from there. If you’ve been to Orlando or northern Florida, you’ll be surprised at how blue the water is in Miami compared to there. This time around I rolled up and down the beach, we ate, and hung out at South Pointe Park. We also checked out all the huge yachts and just enjoyed watching all the spring breakers.
I had planned to go to the Miami Open tennis tournament but decided to hang out at the beach that day instead since my favorite players weren’t playing.
I also ordered delivery from La Sandwicherie which has the most amazing croissant sandwiches. Make sure you get the secret sauce!
Or course, you can board your cruises at the port and head to the Caribbean. I really enjoy Miami as a cruise departure city because there is a lot to do.
My Miami Memories
The spring breakers were fun to watch. Packs of three or four girls or guys wandering around, trying to look all fancy in their skimpy swimsuits was highly entertaining.
The dumb paper straws at the Starbucks down there like to disintegrate into the drink and then stop working completely.
We saw Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht in the harbor when we got on our cruise ship. He probably doesn’t need any more money.
Why You Should Go to Miami Anyway
If you want to see some tropical-looking water without leaving the contiguous 48 states but also feel like you’re in the midst of everything, this is your place. There is a lot of eye candy from the people to the buildings to the beach. It’s easy to enjoy a relaxing time, but it is a little pricey here. The new transit options from the airport make getting to the beach much easier and less expensive.
You Should Go Anyway 