pwpark

We will be staying at Universal Studios' onsite hotel for 4 days in August, then 3 days in South Beach. Does a family of 5 need to have a car in these 2 places to get food?

Our entertainment will be mainly onsite or at the hotels, so I can't imagine we need it for sights, but am wondering if a family of 5 (parents, 2 teens, a 7yo) really need options.

Thanks.

persimmondeb

I have never been to South Beach, and I have no opinion on that, but the Orlando question can be answered by asking yourself if you are comfortable relying on the offerings at Citywalk and in the hotels. They do have a good number of restaurants, and I think you can eat for four days without a lot of repetition, but it is cheaper offsite. Orlando abounds in cheap eats once you leave the theme parks.

Rachel

I would look at the cost of your transportation to/from the airport to your hotel. It may be cheaper to rent a car.

sassy_cat

You can easily get food in both these areas without a car.

Citywalk gives you plenty of options. The restaurants are chains (Hard Rock, Margaritaville, Starbucks, etc. Here's a link

http://www.universalorlando.com/Over...tcitywalk.aspx

South Beach also has plenty of restaurants within walking distance (and limited parking).

As Rachel suggested I'd look at the cost of car rental before deciding (check hotel parking charges too!).

Orlando_Vic

I suspect that you can easily do without a car at Universal Studios, particularly if you are staying at an onsite hotel. As persimmondeb says, there are a lot of dining choices at Citiwalk.

I can't speak with authority about all of South Beach, but the Collins Avenue section has severely limited street parking and you should expect to pay $20-$25 per night for hotel parking. That may factor into you decision to rent or not rent a car there

_______________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

owlwoman

Agree with others, you might want a car in Orlando, they're usually pretty reasonable, not sure in Universal charges for parking at the hotel.

In Miami, SB, no, you won't need a car, very compact area and easy to walk to all restaurants, beaches, etc.

santamonica

Our family visited Universal Studios and South Beach (Hard Rock and National Hotel, respectively). We like both a lot. Certainly no car at Universal Studios. Car at South Beach maybe if you want to get to the everglades, calle ocho, other places in Miami. But it might be more fun w/o the car. Have a good trip!

Graziella5b

If you stay in South Beach, no car is needed. The matter in fact the use of car in the South Beach area is expensive if you have to rely on valet parking in restaurants and hotels also charge a per day parking. One of nice parts of South Beach is that along Collins there are many shops and along Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road tons of restaurants and cafes , also a few along Washington Avenue. No car needed and I believe there is a free electric small bus or something like that to be used within the South Beach area. The beach of course is located right there and certainly you can walk to the beach, besides many hotels are right on the beach.
Now if you wish to visit greater Miami, or even areas out of Miami like the Everglades of course a car is a must unless you go on a tour.
The public transportation in the greater Miami is not the best but buses exist like for instance should you wish to go to Aventura Mall , a large Mall in Aventura you can take a bus , I believe the 120 BusMAx is a bus that stops only a few times and would be the best to take there, then there is the S bus.
If I were to go to South Beach for three days I would not have a car, to go and come from the airport there are several options including taxis at a flat rate etc.
Should you be interested in having a bird eye tour of Miami , you can take a bus from South Beach and then the Metromover ,a4.4 mile automated "people mover" system that serves downtown Miami with a loop route noth to the Omni shopping center and South to the financial distric. It is free.

Good luck.

Graziella5b

I wish to add that indeed there is a bus called SOUTH BEACH LOCAL , it provides public transportation with many stops throghout South Beach and the fare is only .25 cents.
It is the cheapest and most scenic way to travel in South Beach
according to the Transportation web site and it runs every 10-15 minutes, stopping at numerous bus stops . It is air condioned. Hours of operation are Monday to Saturday 7.45 AM 1 AM
and Sundays and Holidays 10 Am to 1 AM.
Since walking is very nice in SouthBeach if you add the services of this bus you can do fine without a car, I believe, of course should it be more convenient a taxi is always an option.

pwpark

These are very helpful suggestions, Thank you.