I'm considering taking advantage of AAdvantage's just announced reduced mileage awards for a flight to Miami for 5 days/4 nights in October or November. My experience in Miami is limited to a drunken Orange Bowl weekend (those were the days!). I've only driven by South Beach and think that's where we'll want to stay.

I'm in the very preliminary stages and am just trying to decide whether I want to use my miles for this trip. Would Oct. or the beginning of Nov. be a good time to go? If so, what kind of stuff could we do besides laying at the beach and pool (we're in our late 20's but we're not into the club scenes)? Maybe a close museum or something like that besides the mall/shopping?

As far as lodging, I think I'll do Priceline either Resort/4* Miami or South Beach zone. It seems like we'll end up with the Royal Palm, Eden Roc, or Palms that way, which will be fine with me. If anyone has any experiences with these hotels, please share...

Please advise about some ideas for close activities to South Beach.

Thanks in advance!

The Eden Roc and the Palms aren't in South Beach, they are in Mid Beach. If South Beach is where you want to be, don't even think of staying in Mid Beach because you'll need a car and a car is a massive PIA in South Beach. Parking is scarce and expensive.

My rule of thumb is unless an airline ticket is more than $500, I will not cash in my miles. If the miles are cut in half by the reduced mileage award, I would not use them if you can fly for $250.

What are your interests? The Jewish Museum is in South Beach as well as lots of shopping, dining, art galleries, great architecture, etc.

Gotravel,

I was hoping that you'd reply since it seems like you've been to Miami/South Beach quite a bit.

I'm still milling around the idea of cashing in the miles. We have a bunch of miles but we're planning on doing SF/Wine Country and either St. Lucia, St. John, or Tulum next year.

I read in an earlier thread where you indicated that staying in the Mid Beach area is less pedestrian friendly than South Beach. We like relaxed trips where we don't have to drive (my trip in Miami about 7 years ago involved driving which was awful).

What do you think of the Royal Palm in South Beach, which seems to come up the most for 4* South Beach?

The Jewish Musuem sounds interesting. Our interests include good restaurants, someplace intersting to have drinks and appetizers, and something unique to do after the beach. I love art galleries and would like to hear a little more about the Jewish Musuem.

Also consider a visit to the Wolfsonian, a wide-ranging museum of design. http://www.wolfsonian.org/visitus/index.html

You'll have to forgive me because I'm absolutely exhausted from my training this week and I promise tomaorrow to come back and give you a list of great things to do. From my addled brain.

Here is a link for the Jewish Museum

http://www.jewishmuseum.com/index2.html

Take a tour with Dr. George and definitely the Key Biscayne/Stiltsville Tour if it is available. From the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. This is a real treat and Dr. George is one of the most respected historians in South Florida.

http://www.historical-museum.org/edu...ours/tours.htm

Take a tour from the design preservation league of Miami's Design District (downtown in Miami).


I haven't stayed at the Royal Palm since it was a Crown Plaza but it is a great property. In any other town it would be one of the nicest hotels in the city but Miami is so over run with lux hotels, it falls in the middle.

Thanks! Let me know if you think of anything else!