We're flying on a redeye from LA to Miami, arriving at 7am. Flight to St. Thomas doesn't leave til 1pm. I hate to spend 6 long hours in an airport, but we're flying on AA miles, and there is no other flight we can take. Any ideas on how we can spend those 6 hours? What time do you think we need to be back at MIA, given that we will have boarding passes and our luggage will be checked through?

Get a pool pass from the Miami Airport Hotel and spend your day on the rooftop pool at the airport. Includes showers, robes, chairs, etc.

Coral Gables is only about 10 minutes from the airport. I suggest the Biltmore Hotel in CG or The Venetian Pool.

Take gotravels advice. The traffic alone around airport is bad at that time of day, so going anywhere will use most of your time just to get anywhere.

I wouldn't chance leaving the airport with that little of time, either. I just spent a week sitting in the traffic around Miami and it was awful. I would be afraid of missing my flight in being delayed returning back to the airport.