We are going to have a several hour layover in Miami International which I'm not thrilled about.. Is there something we can do.. we will have our luggage for a two week cruise with us..any place to safely leave it? The airport has a bad reputatation and as seniors I need to feel somewhat safe

I once had a several hour layover in MIA.

In doing some research ahead of time, I found that there was a hotel inside the airport.

My companion and I went there and had a perfectly nice lunch, quiet and away from the crowds.

There's a left luggage office near the AA E concourse check-in - maybe other places too. Between $4 and $12 per bag per day. Rent a car (around $60) and go into South Beach for a look at the cool art deco architecture, a walk on the beach, maybe a meal, then back to the airport (20 min.) for your flight.

<i>The airport has a bad reputatation and as seniors I need to feel somewhat safe</i>

huh???

You think there are gangs and criminals running around the airport?

That's the most ridiculous statement I have read recently.

How long is several hours?

MIA is no more safe or more dangerous than any other US airport I've been in.

You didn't specify how many hours is &quot;several hours', but til you get out of the airport, see anything and get back to the airport in time to make your next flight you should just stay at the airport.

I've been to this airport several times. Several hours is not enough time to go anywhere useful. Find things to do within the airport.

P.S. the airport is fine. You watch your purse and luggage carefully like you would at any other airport.

Arrive at 5:30 p.m. and leave at 1:50 A.M. THAT'S a long lay over...

I guess I'd opt for the onsite hotel then. If you think the airport is dangerous you don't want anything to do with the surrounding neighborhoods.

It's evening, it will get dark and there is NOTHING near the airport. You'd have to drive about 45 minutes to get anywhere decent.

I'm a little confused. Are you going from the boat to the airport? Does your boat leave at 1:30 a.m. (seems highly unlikely)? Or are you connecting to another flight and catching your cruise in a different city?

We were in MIA about two years ago and it was a waste land. Dingy, huge, dank, ugly, few open services. We were sure we were in a third world airport. No, wait, I've seen better third world airports. MIA was like no other we've ever seen. And hope to never see again.

regards - tom

MIA is almost certainly as safe as any other airport, but it is a pretty dingy place. Definite 3rd world ambience to it.

My suggestion would be one of the following:

1) Do the car rental thing mentioned above and go to South Beach.
2) Do the hotel thing.
3) Buy a lounge day pass for the airline you are flying (I assume AA?).

THAT IS A GREAT IDEA!!! buying a lounge pass for AAA Thanks.. now I have to look into it

Here is the link to the AA one-day pass:

http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...OneDayPass.jsp

Note that you would need to buy one for each adult traveler.

If there are 2 of you it will cost you $75. I'm a AC member but I will be honest with you, I would NEVER spend that kind of money for a day pass to AC. (Last year I paid $350 for the year membership and to me it was worth it because I flew a great deal, but it cost me about 4.5x daily memberships. I used the ACs about 50 times.

All that gives you is a couch, free coffee, juice, water and few snacks as in pretzels, etc.

You have to pay for drinks and food.

If you need a shower the new MIA ACs have wonderful shower rooms as well.

Still IMHO, it's not worth the $75 for the day pass.

Take the $75, take a taxi to a nice restaurant/bar somewhere near the airport and it will probably cover the cost of the ride/food/drink or 2.

Another possibility is to take a free hotel shuttle to a major hotel and that way, you will save on the cost of taxi ride and spend the $75 on nice dinner and couple of drinks at one of the hotels restaurants.

If you are still considering AC day pass use Terminal D AC.

https://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do...miralsClub.jsp

Was quoted $50.00 per person at their lounge, but the woman wasn't quite sure what the amenities were. No we are waiting for a charter plane from Princess to go to Manaus...Lots to think about.. Parrot Pop thinks $100.00 for those hours is too much...

I agree that staying at the AC for that period of time is a lot of $$$.

If you're going to be there most of the day, why don't you see about airpot hotels have a short stay until midnight or so?

Please remember that your non-carryon bags will have had to be checked as you're inside security.

The link for the hotel at the airport is as follows:

http://miahotel.miami-airport.com/

Who knows, you might be able to work a deal with them for the short time.

If not, I would suggest a lonnnnngg lingering dinner at the hotel. You're certainly not getting food at the AC, at least not decent food. Nose around and you'll see some info on the restaurant.

I like the idea of renting a car and going to South Beach for dinner. I'm guessing it would be cheaper than a cab and you could leave your bags in the trunk. The airport hotel idea isn't a bad one, either.

I have been through MIA a bunch in the past few months. Some parts of the airport (for example, I think in E terminal, where you go up a short escalator to catch an elevated train, really look they haven't been renovated, or cleaned, in years). Add to that what seem to be interminable walks to your gate, through long lines of security control and it isn't my favorite place.

But, on a more practical level: where can I get at least an Ok meal there? It seems its either Au Bon Pain or some small Cuban takeaway spots, which isn't what I really want right before I depart.

Is the best option trying to get some food at the Admiral's Club? Thanks.

Since your flight leaves at 1:50am, I'd check the closing time of the Admiral's Club before deciding to go the day-pass route. The AA website says the club closes at 11:30, but others here will have more experience with that than I do. That would be a big negative for me to spend the money and not be able to use the club up until flight time--especially at that time of night.