Hotel near Miami airport
 

We are flying into Miami airport from Ecuador, landing at 19:23 and hiring a car. We were wondering where to stay for the night. Next day we are planning to drive to Key West.

It has been suggested on this forum that the airport area is not a great place to stay, so was looking for suggestions. Don't want to drive too far that evening, and am not sure how late you can arrive at a hotel. We return to the UK after 8 days.

Any thoughts would be very welcome.
Thanks.
Peter

I guess it depends what you are looking for. If it's just a good nights sleep, a breakfast, then go, hotels near the airport are fine and a bargain. My choice is Hyatt Place, just west of the airport and "on the way" to head to Key West.

Hampton Inn, South Miami/Homestead.....no Miami traffic to deal with in the morning.

I've stayed at the Sofitel Miami airport, it was very nice. Their French restaurant was quite good as I remember.

FYI - you comment that "It has been suggested on this forum that the airport area is not a great place to stay" apples only if you are planning to spend an extended time visiting Miami or Miami Beach but for a single night while on route to Key West (or some other destination) then it make perfect sense.

Just about every major hotel/motel chain has a location within 1 to 2 miles of the airport - google "Miami Airport Hotels" for scores of links. If you stay at one of the hotels on the south or west side of the airport you'll be going against morning rush hour traffic on your way to Key West. Simply hope on Highway 836 West (aka Dolphin Expressway) for a mile or so then take Highway 826 South (aka PalmettoExpressway ) for your trip out of the "city. Hint - go to Google maps for more details directions.

Check out Sofitel, Courtyard by Marriott, Regency, Days End, Crown Plaza, Double Tree, sheraton, Hampton Inn & Suites, Radisson, Hilton they are all very convenient and have easy access to the highway for your trip to Key West.

With your arrival at about 8pm, I would get away from the airport and head south right away... that Hampton Inn listed above by clarkgriswold is away from all of the morning traffic and they will hold your room all night if you reserve ahead and get delayed...

If I was headed to the Keys, there is NO WAY i would put myself in the AM traffic by the airport...

for what it's worth traffic in the morning on the 836 is heading east into dowmtown. To go to the keys you would have to go west you would be against traffic if you're staying at an airport hotel. On the 826, you would bypass the traffic as well since there would only be traffic up until it crosses 836, people trying to get to downtown exit. If you're going on 826 south of the 836 you would not get any major traffic in the morning having said that the Airport Hilton and the Sofitel are both good choices. Actually any of the hotels on blue lagoon drive. They are right next to the 836. Your only traffic might be from the parking lot to the on ramp. But this would be less then half a mile. I would stay away from anything off of Lejeune road.
I wouldn't want to drive to South miami /Homestead at night after such a long flight.
Also keep in mind that there is a hotel in the actual airport. Its called Miami airport hotel. You could always go straight to this hotel and pick up your car in the morning saving you $ in the rental fee and hotel parking charges.
Good luck and enjoy.

Actually there would probably no difference in the rental car fees, assuming they will be returning and flying out in the morning. And most of the "airport motels " have free parking

Every time I've rented a car they charge me depending on the days of my rental. If I turn in the car one day earlier, it's less expensive. As far as parking fee, the 2 of the hotels mentioned (Sofitel and hilton) charge for both self and valet parking.

I agree there is plenty of free parking in some of the hotels near MIA. And what NOBODY here, including YOU, has said (in terms of all that traffic which might be in "the other direction" is <B>the time you plan to leave for Key West</B> which will make the biggest difference of all.

Just don't even think about he Airport Holiday Inn.

"Every time I've rented a car they charge me depending on the days of my rental. If I turn in the car one day earlier, it's less expensive."

Forgive me for making myself unclear. What I meant was that the OP already said they are arriving in the evening. The rental period is in terms of 24 hours. If they pick their car up after 8 in the evening, their rental days will be the same picking it up at 8 or even 9 the next morning -- so long as they weren't planning on returning the car at the end of their stay BEFORE 8 o 9 in the morning. And since they are flying from Miami to UK at the end of the trip, that hour for a departure is pretty unlikely!

And yes, a couple of the more expensive hotels mentined DO charge parking. And the OP is entitled to stay wherever they want, but for half the price of the Hilton or Sofitel, they can stay in a place with free parking that is still very nice. I personally was suggesting the places like Holiday Inn Express or Hyatt Place that are just west of the airport and all offer free parking.

Dukey, sorry, I don't get your point about the time they are leaving. Assuming they are leaving in the morning (which seems to be the case), the traffic WILL be better regardless of the actual time if they are leaving from west of the airport and traveling west and south as opposed to the traffic heading north and east.

Dukey, the op clearly asks for a hotel for one night near the airport. I think its a pretty good assumption they will leave in the morning. However you're right if they wait to leave at 10 or 11 traffic will be less of an issue. Neo, the problem with staying west of the airport (Doral) is that, if they are leaving the hotel before 9:30 traffic on the 826 is a mess. However, there is a Hyatt house and a homewood suites on blue lagoon drive south of the airport that would have free parking.

The 826??? You mean the Palmetto? I've never heard of that road being referred to as anything but the Palmetto.

To the OP, head away from the airport, it is a seedy area. The drive to either Homestead or Florida City isn't that far and you'll get a good jump on your drive and not have to deal with traffic.

There are plenty of good chains right on the highway.

mabella, I guess I'm not sure how much time they will lose going south on that very short stretch of 826 to get to the 836 which they are going to have to get on anyway staying at the Blue Lagoon area. Or if it makes sense from the Doral motels to simply go west on Doral Blvd the fairly short distance to the turnpike to head south. Any way you slice, there WILL be lots of traffic.

And note to the OP. Make sure you check with your rental car company about turning on the transponder for tolls and what charges it involves.

We had a similar sort of issue a while back - arriving late into MIA and didn't want to make the trek up to the Palm Beach area after midnight. We stayed at the Sheraton near the airport and then just walked to pick up the rental car the next day, rather than picking it up that night. Worked pretty well and the Sheraton was nice enough.

Jojo,,yes the palmetto. Yes us locals call it the palmetto but if your looking at a map or being guided by a GPS,,it is actually the 826.
Neo the 826 going south up until the 836 anytime before 9:30 am. Will be bumper to bumper unless of course they are traveling on a Saturday.
The other thing no one seems to realize is that the only way out of the Miami Airport is on its east side through Lejune Road up to either 836 on the south or 36 Street on the north which means unless the op stays on the hotels off of Lejeune (which btw is the seedy side eveyone keeps refering too) she will be driving past all those hotels on blue lagoon drive to get to the ones on 36,street.And before someone suggests that you can go up 36 street remember it is a regular street with several traffic lights and a 40 mph, speed limit. Which will make for a somewhat longer drive. But you are right that if they do stay in the Doral area hotels they can head west and catch the turnpike to the keys.
I still stand by my suggestion of staying in one of the hotels on blue lagoon drive.They can catch the turnpike directly from the 836 as well avoiding the 826 altogether.