Enjoy your Miami vacation to the fullest with these recommendations and ideas.
Miami is the ultimate vacation destination whether you’re looking for history and culture, parties and nightlife, incredible cuisine and drinks, or family-friendly fun. It’s got everything you’d dream of and more, but don’t fall for the commercialism.
We’re sharing our favorite insider tips and recommendations to help you make the most of your Miami vacation:
Don’t opt for the snazziest hotels right away
Miami is a tourist hub and a major tourist destination, which is why there’s no shortage of hotels and accommodations all around the city. But instead of jumping on the first, fanciest, and most luxurious hotel you see, dig around to find the right one. Finding the right hotel will require you to compare prices and maybe settle on fewer–or different–amenities, but it’s going to save you a lot of money. Hotel bills can rack up pretty quickly, and if you’re in Miami for longer, we recommend booking a short-term rental where you have access to a kitchen, laundry, and other facilities too.
Plan out the parties that you want to attend
Miami will always have parties going on around, including boat, pool, rooftop and regular parties, festivals, events, and the usual clubs and bars. Even if your vacation is centered around partying your brains out, you should plan out your trip more carefully. Choose parties, clubs, and bars you want to head to, set up a schedule, find a babysitter if you have kids around, and space things out. You don’t want to exhaust yourself or end up with a raging hangover that prevents you from having any fun at all.
Eat local and budget for food that you consume
Miami offers you some of the most luxurious restaurants in the world, but it also gives you an opportunity to eat like a local. There are hundreds of places all around the city where you can eat for cheap, including food trucks and stands, local eateries and restaurants, as well as many home-based businesses that will serve you. You can try out dozens of cuisines and dishes, from Cubano sandwiches to Mexican mole to the richest soul food, all at pretty affordable rates. Check out this guide to eating around Miami, and pick your favorites.
Keep an eye out for free activities and tours
One thing that many tourists and travelers coming to Miami forget or don’t know about is that there are plenty of free activities to do around town. You can check out free museum days, free walking tours, and free public places and activities that you don’t have to pay for. It’s one of the perks of living in such a fantastic city, and a little planning ahead can help you save hundreds of dollars in entrance fees and cover charges. Many local museums and tourist attractions have free days and visitation slots during the week so that you can plan your itinerary accordingly.
Buy alcohol from liquor stores during the day
A pro-tip for Miami tourists and partygoers is to stock up on liquor during the day. Since you’re on vacation, you’ll probably be drinking more than usual, and even during your downtime. Unfortunately, Miami’s curfews have a ban on alcohol sales after a certain time, which means you’ll only be able to buy drinks from hotels or bars at quite the price hike. If you want to save more and drink at your leisure, this pro-tip is the way to go.
Familiarize yourself with Miami’s public transport
Another way to save time and money when you’re out and about in Miami during your vacation is to use Miami’s extensive public transport system. From the Metromover to the Metrorail and other options like Uber and Lyft, you can look into shared and private transport around Miami.
Learn all about how you can make the most of your time Miami with miami tourist attractions, including visiting all the must-see places in Miami, how to get around like a local, and the most exciting events and happenings around town; subscribe to Calle Ocho News. You’re going to have the most incredible time around town!
About the Author
Matéo G. is a travel blogger and writer who is based out of Miami. Rather than focusing on international travel and adventure, he believes in supporting the local economy, which is why he focuses so much on local travel.
