Miami Beach or Key West?
 

Hi. My family and I are traveling to Florida all the way from Norway from July 10th to July 26th. We are spending the first six days in Miami, and now we are wondering if its worth the trip all the way to Key West? So what would you prefer, Miami or Key West? It would be nice if you could tell me something about the weather differences too! Can't seem to find any information about it anywhere. And it would also be nice with a little information about the beaches :) Thnak you!!

Key West is great for those who would love a quaint small historic village with lots of bars with live entertainment. To me it is an exciting party town, but has no good beaches (mostly just rocky coastline). It's about a 3 hour scenic water view drive from Miami. Miami is a large urban city with great beaches and fun seaside restaurants and bars with live music.

With 16 days, you have plenty of time for both. Remember that Miami and Miami Beach are NOT the same place. They are two separate cities. Miami Beach is the popular tourist area. The Miami International Airport is in the City of Miami.

I don't think there is enough to do in the Miami Beach area for so much time, so you should plan to spend some time in other areas of southern Florida.

The weather between the two places will be very similar. Plan for hot and humid. Go to the Florida section of Fodor's. Hopefully you will find helpful information there too.

Post any other questions. Will try to help.

You have the time to do both! We enjoyed the busyiness of South Beach in Miami Beach but we dearly loved the Keys and the scenic drive to the Keys. Even though it's only a 4hr drive from Miami, I would suggest staying over in, maybe Islamorada and taking the time to visit:
http://www.bahiahondapark.com/ and
http://www.pennekamppark.com/
before continueing on to Key West

Thank you guys.
If we decide to go to Key West, is there any good hotels you would prefer? And is there an "side" that is better than the other, I mean with the beach?

If you go to Key West you want to stay in Old Town, close to Mallory Square so you can walk to the festivities every night. Staying in Old Town provides you with everything walkable and you are right in the middle of the action! Beaches in Key West are, as the other poster stated, small and man made. A hotel that has great reviews is the Pier House Resort and it is oceanfront with a beach.
If you wanted to stay a night on the way to Key West, like I said above in Islamorada, The Hampton Inn has very good reviews: http://www.keys-resort.com/ You can do a search here on Key West Hotels, there is a lot of info.

There isn't really a beach in Key West, although the Casa Marina hotel has trucked in sand to make a small beach. We enjoyed the boat trip from Key West to the Dry Tortugas. Also, loved snorkeling at John Pennekamp State Park, near Islamorada.

Why would anyone come to Miami in July? It's too hot, too crowded, too expensive, no space on the beach, etc.
I was in Orlando and Miami in Sept, and it was still too bloody hot.
But, yes, I do recommend Key West.

Check out my recent trip reports on the region:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...t-184065-2.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-augustine.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...t-184065-2.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm

With six days, you should be able to fit in a trip to Key West as well as considering day trips to Ft. Lauderdale and the Palm Beach/West Palm Beach area if you want.

And given that you plan to travel during hurricane season to South Florida, it's wise to have trip insurance. One never knows.

To POMAH,
Well, USA is cheep for us who live in Norway, like really really cheap. And we are used to the heat, we have been in the USA before :)