Peetje

Hi there,

Me and my friend are flying into Miami late March. We have about 5 days to spend there. We dont have much money, so going to themeparks or anything expensive is out of the question. We already have the Everglades on our list of things to go see. We will rent a car so we can drive places.

Can anyone give us some tips on things to see/do?

All suggestions will be appreciated.

Patrick

I'm curious about your ages and interests, which might make a big difference.

South Beach is filled with "expensive" restaurants and clubs, but for the price of a cup of coffee you can sit at the Times Cafe or a cafe on Lincoln Road and people watch and/or stroll for hours.
Coconut Grove is lively and similar, with funky and arty shops and cheaper restaurants. Viscaya, a wonderful old mansion and gardens there is not too expensive (look for discount coupons wherever you're staying). Nearby Fairchild Gardens is interesting if you are into tropical plants?

If you're looking for any cultural or arts entertainment check out University of Miami or the other colleges for free or cheap events. Various street fairs and concerts are going to be happening somewhere each weekend in Miami -- cheap eats and free entertainment.

Where are you staying? That might make a difference too, even though you have a car.

Key West is a long drive and maybe not worth the trip to you, but you could easily head to Key Largo and hang out, swim or do a snorkle trip.

And do go out to Key Biscayne. Some nice quiet beaches there.

Peetje

My friend and I are both 27 and from Holland. Where we are going to stay is not sure yet. I found some pretty good deals on Expedia for Hotels in Downtown Miami (good area or not?)

We like several things...from sitting on our butt and do absolutely nothing at all...to seeing the cultural sights of a city. Since we have a car we were thinking about driving to the keyes or maybe going up to Orlando. Think it is worth doing that?

I know I am prolly not helping much and am just hoping for some tips on sights we didnt think of

Thanks again!

DavidDJ

Peetje,

Do yourself a favor and cancel the hotel in Downtown Miami. I was in Fort Lauderdale last year on business and decided to drive down to Miami one evening to check it out. From what I saw the downtown was pretty deserted and did not appear to be very safe. Needless to say I doubled checked to make sure my doors were locked. I believe that there are some areas in downtown that do have nightlife (ie: Little Havana). This probably explains the good deal on the hotel. I would suggest staying in Miami Beach instead. Maybe the locals can give you some better information. In Fort Lauderdale I stayed at the Lago Mar which was a very nice hotel, however it was on the expensive side. The corporate rate was aroung $160 per night.

mclaurie

Peetje, if you're not prepared to spend money on theme parks, why consider Orlando? That's the reason to go, tons of theme parks & expensive. Don't go (and it's not close).
The Keys are lovely & different than Miami but I don't think day trips make sense-too much driving. Either consider splitting the trip & spending a few days in the Keys & a few in Miami or, if you're just looking to relax stay in Miami & explore. Vizcaya, which Patrick mentioned, is a beautiful Italian style villa built on the water with acres of formal gardens. It's very unusual for the US. The inside is open as a museum now. Entry is about $6 a person & there are free guided tours.
Key Biscayne (not one of the "keys") is right near Miami, an easy drive & the public beach there is great.
You could also take a drive up to Palm Beach, about an hour and a bit north of Miami.

Larry1

A day trip to Key Largo from Miami is certainly doable- it is as close as Palm Beach (and without the horrible rush hour traffic that is found in the Miami/Lauderdale/Palm Beach corridor).

Spider

Downtown Miami is not the best spot for tourists. I'd reccommend something across the bay in Miami Beach, or south of downtown in Coconut Grove. Have fun!

mandy163

I would recommend staying on the beach. Downtown is not a great place to stay, although the Shops at Bayside are fun during the day, and if you're into clubbing, Space is incredible. You can find cheap hotels in South Beach (although the cheaper ones are definitely not as swanky and nice as the more expensive ones). The nightlife is amazing, although the cover on most clubs is expensive. You can search on cooljunkie.com for guest lists and what not to try to avoid that. Also, on Ocean drive, many of the bars/attractions don't charge cover and some of the best people watching in the world can be accomplished. Lincoln Road is also nice, there are art galleries and such there that are either cheap or free. I love viscaya, too.

rjw_lgb_ca

I agree with the other posters-- stay in Miami Beach. And I would highly recommend South Beach, based on your youth. You may have to dig a bit for good rates on a hotel room, but South Beach is worth it. Lots of fun, great architecture, wild times! And you can chill out there, believe me. I do it every year. Have fun!

Things to do:

-- Rollerblade up and down the beach when you're not soaking up the sun on the sand

-- Ice coffees and people-watching at the News Café

-- Late afternoons on Lincoln Road Mall

-- Walking tours of the Art Deco District

-- Cocktails at the Blue Door (Delano)

-- Pub crawl, starting at midnight (check with your concierge for the best clubs, as well as VIP passes)

--Hob-nobbing with the snobs up at the Bal Harbour Shops

You'll have a great time. Enjoy!

resipsaloquitur

Be sure to sample Cuban food while you are in Miami. Because the demand is so high, there are innumerable Cuban restaurants at every price level, so it
it is easy to find good, classic Cuban at a moderate price.

rjw_lgb_ca

resipsaloquitur, you're quite right! And in South Beach, the best is at that old hole in the wall, Puerto Sagua (on Collins). Greasy diner atmosphere, but the best Cuban food around!

For a more upscale experience, Gloria Estefan's Larios on the Beach (on Ocean) is perfectly acceptable (although the entrées are hit-or-miss). Great mojitos, great music.