Things to know BEFORE you go to Miami 2020 | Florida Travel Guide

In this video, we'll cover all you need toknow before traveling to Miami.

Including where are all the major attractions, the best time to visit, where to stay and for how long, public transportation, how muchthings cost, the best apps to use, the best views of the city and other practical information.

Here are 11 essential tips to know beforeyou visit Miami: NUMBER 11: The map of Miami.

Miami lies between the enormous tropical wastelandscalled the Everglades to the west and Biscayne Bay to the east.

For orientation, let's start with downtownMiami, full of impressive modern Manhattan like skyscrapers and continue to Miami Beach.

The city is situated on natural and artificialbarrier islands known for beautiful beaches.

South Beach includes the renowned Ocean Drive, home to the Art Deco district, the world's largest concentration of Art Deco architecture.

Lincoln Road Mall is a promenade full of stores, restaurants and galleries.

And South Pointe Park Pier is located rightat the very tip of South Pointe Beach.

Bayside Marketplace, a large waterfront shoppingcenter filled with popular shops and restaurants is located close to Bayfront Park and theFreedom Tower.

We shouldn't forget about two interestingneighborhoods: Little Havana, the Cuban District with famous Calle Ocho and Little Haiti knownfor its unique international restaurants and thriving art scenes.

South of Little Haiti, you will find WynwoodWalls, a one-of-a-kind outdoor gallery featuring large colorful street murals.

Coconut Grove, a charming old neighborhoodwhere you'll find the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is bounded by the Biscayne Bay.

Located in Coral Gables, you will find theiconic Venetian port.

On the other side of a causeway south of downtownMiami lies Key Biscayne, a paradise-like Island with amazing beaches and parks.

If you continue south, you will find Fairchildtropical Botanic Garden next to Matheson hammock Park.

Continue further south to Zoo Miami.

If you have time, don't forget to visit Florida'ssouthernmost point, Key West.

You can arrive to Miami through two majorairports; Miami International Airport located only about six miles from downtown Miami andFort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport located about 25 miles from downtown.

If you're arriving by train, you have twooptions; if you're using the Amtrak, you'll arrive at the Miami station and if you useTri Rail and Brightline, you will arrive at Virgin MiamiCentral in downtown Miami.

To get a better sense of the distance, an11 mile or 18 kilometer car ride from Miami International Airport to the Art Deco districttakes about 20 minutes.

It takes about 30 minutes to walk from oneside of Ocean Drive to the other.

NUMBER 10: Weather and climate.

Miami has a tropical monsoon climate.

It gets a great amount of sunshine throughoutthe year as well as plenty of rain, especially in the hurricane season, from June to November.

In fact, did you know that Miami gets morerain than Seattle or New York City? Winters are warm with temperatures rangingbetween 63 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit or 8 and 15 degrees Celsius.

Summers are hot and humid, temperatures rangebetween 77 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit or 25 and 31 degrees Celsius, and rain showers andthunderstorms are frequent.

In the spring and fall, the weather is relativelymild.

Temperatures range between 67 and 83 degreesFahrenheit or 19 and 20 degrees Celsius in the spring and between 70 and 86 degrees Fahrenheitor 21 and 30 degrees Celsius in the fall.

Of course these are all just averages, theweather and temperatures can be different at the time of your visit, so remember tocheck the weather forecast before you travel.

NUMBER 9: Best time to visit.

The best time to visit Miami is in the springfrom March to May when the weather is warm but not humid and hurricane season has notstarted yet.

Also, the peak season is coming to an endwhich means less crowds and lower prices.

June to September are the cheapest monthsto visit Miami.

Probably this convenient time to visit isJuly when the weather is hot and humid, plus this is the hurricane season, but don't worry, Miami has it all from year-round sunshine to natural beauty to an exciting food artand culture scene so you'll have a wonderful time regardless of the season.

And how can you figure out the best days andhours to see the attractions? Just check Google to see how crowded a specificlocation is at a certain time of day.

Of course, we recommend going early duringthe week and/or in the morning.

Many travelers stay in Miami for three daysto see the top attractions and feel the vibe of this vibrant city.

If you want a more relaxed schedule and stillget the best of what Miami has to offer, we recommend staying at least two more days.

NUMBER 8: Where to stay and prices of accommodation.

If this is your first time in Miami, you canstay in downtown.

If you're on a budget, you'll find most backpackerfriendly hostels in Miami Beach.

For beaches and nightlife, choose South Beachand for cool restaurants, bars and boutiques, stay in Brickell.

If you're traveling with a family, CoconutGrove and Key Biscayne may be the best options for you.

A mid-range hotel room in Miami costs between100 and $250 per night.

For budget hotels, the average is $120.

Again, these are all the average prices andthe ranges for different hotel categories are relatively wide.

However, with little research online, youcan get better deals and especially if your dates are flexible, you don't travel in highseason or if you visit Miami during the week, you can also book an Airbnb.

The average cost per night for two peopleis $130 and $170 for four guests.

Check out our video on the best apps for bookingyour stay.

NUMBER 7: Transportation from and to the airport.

To get to and from Miami International Airport, you can use: Metro Rail, Metro bus, Miami Beach bus, Tri-rail, Shuttle Bus or hotelshuttles, taxis, private transfers, Ubers and Lyfts and car rentals.

To get to and from Fort Lauderdale HollywoodInternational Airport, you can use Tri-rail, shuttle bus, taxis, private transfers, Ubersand Lyfts or car rentals.

Arriving by train: You can travel to Miamiby train from over 200 destinations via Amtrak, Tri-rail and Brightline.

For more information, check out our travelguide.

Arriving by car: You can use Google Maps fordriving directions to Miami.

You'll probably also want to know where topark in advance.

Apps like PayByPhone, ParkMobile, SpotHeroand Parkways will help you find and book parking locations in the city.

You can book one of the many hotels in Miamithat offer parking.

However, some hotels in popular areas suchas South Beach charge extra for parking, so make sure to always check in advance.

Getting around the city: Many top attractionsin Miami are spread out.

So, renting a car can save you a lot of timewhen getting around.

But if you want to save some money on tollsand parking or if you're staying in just one area, you should take advantage of the city'spublic transport system.

You can use the Metrorail, Metrobus, MetroMover or Trolleys.

Other options for getting around the cityalso includes taxis and Ubers and Lyfts.

We recommend Scooters, Segways, bikes evenwalking to explore the sandy beaches or pedestrian friendly areas such as South Beach but notas main means of transportation for getting around Miami.

NUMBER 6: General information.

Here are some of the things that you shouldknow for a nice and easy experience in Miami; drinking water.

It is completely safe to drink tap water inMiami.

We'll cover apps for finding drinking fountainsin the city in a minute.

In Miami Beach, you can get ice-cold purifiedwater from Woosh Refill Stations for a small fee.

Learn more in our travel guide.

We've also created a mobile-friendly PDF documentcovering all the things in this video plus the top 20 things to do in Miami with maps, links, opening hours and more.

Toilets: There are several public restroomsat or near major attractions; on beaches and in the parks.

Alternatively, you can use the toilets atcafes, restaurants and even at hotel lobbies.

We'll cover apps for finding restrooms later.

Free Wi-Fi: There are many free Wi-Fi hotspotsin fast-food stores, cafes or hotels throughout Miami.

Stay tuned to find out more.

Crowds and lines: Miami is one of the world'smost visited cities.

With the huge crowds, exploring the city canbe a challenge.

Even if you can't avoid the crowds, you cando some things to make your trip to Miami a more pleasant experience.

You can avoid peak seasons, avoid travelingduring rush hours, get up early in the morning to explore the city without the crowds, useGoogle Maps or a similar app to check how crowded a specific location is at a certaintime of day, or explore the suburbs once you've visited the must-see attractions at the CityCenter.

Safety: Overall, Miami is a safe city especiallyfor tourists.

However, pickpocketing can be an issue aroundMiami Beach and downtown.

You should also watch out for scams like fakepetitions and people who try to distract you or offer help in your luggage.

As you should do in all major cities aroundthe world, watch your valuables and use common sense.

NUMBER 5: For international travelers.

If you're coming from outside the US, youwill probably need a special US travel adapter to charge your phone and other devices.

This is what a U.

S.

Power plug looks like.

If you travel a lot, consider buying a universaltravel adapter that you can use in other countries too.

Money exchange: To get US dollars, you canwithdraw from ATMs located at the banks, but also hotel lobbies, fast-food joints and otherplaces in the city.

You might need to pay a convenience fee ontop of your banks charge for using an ATM outside your network.

You can also consider using prepaid cardsthat don't charge fees for ATM withdrawals.

You can also exchange your foreign cash forUS dollars at a currency exchange office.

You usually get better rates out in the cityrather than at hotels and airports.

Internet: You can purchase a prepaid SIM cardto access the internet on your phone.

Local carriers include T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Ultra Mobile and others.

See our travel guide for more information.

Alternatively, you can consider renting apocket Wi-Fi or mobile hotspot.

For more information, check out our travelguide.

Tipping: You should always tip at restaurants, bars and hotels in the United States and therefore Miami.

The normal rates are between 15 and 20% pre-taxfor wait staff at restaurants and 1 to $2 per drink or 15 to 20% of the bar tab forbartenders.

For Uber and Lyft drivers, 10% is a standard.

Read more about tipping in our Travel Guide.

NUMBER 4: Best apps to use in Miami.

Your phone can be your best buddy in Miami.

Here is a list of useful apps: Miami-Dade/TransitTracker to get practical information on Miami's bus, train and mover car system.

PayByPhone, ParkMobile, ParkMe – Miami Beach, SpotHero or ParkWhiz to find and book parking near your destination.

Groupon for promo codes and saving, alertsfor nearby dining and other deals.

TripAdvisor and Yelp for reviews of restaurants, hotels, museums, tours et cetera.

Uber or Lyft for getting around the city, Google Maps or Apple Maps for walking, public transportation, driving et cetera.

Google Maps also lets you download maps whichis a great option if you don't want to use roaming.

SitOrSuat or Flush for finding public restrooms, Tap to find the nearest drinking water fountain or refill station and Wi-Fi Map or Wi-Fi Finderwhich helps you find Wi-Fi throughout Miami.

Check out our travel guide for links to downloadthese apps on iOS and Android and for more great Miami apps suggestions.

NUMBER 3: Food and prizes.

You have plenty of dining options in Miami, from stylish five-star restaurants to amazing Street food places.

We suggest using Yelp or TripAdvisor to findthe nearby place with good reviews.

In Miami, a meal from a food truck costs about$10 while an inexpensive restaurant meal costs about $15 on average.

You can have a three-course meal for two ata mid-range restaurant for around $65.

A burger can be as cheap as $4 at a fast foodjoint or as expensive as $20 at a mid-range restaurant.

As for drinks, a coffee costs between $1.

50and $5, a bottle of soda about $2, beer from 5 to $8 and a happy hour drink special from$5.

You can get a Pastelito, a traditional Cubanpastry for under $1.

There are several great cheap eats in Miami.

Check out our travel guide for a list of thebest inexpensive dining places.

Finally, you can choose to buy food and drinksat a local grocery store or fresh fruits at a farmers market to hold down the costs.

Use Google Maps or similar app to locate astore or market near you.

NUMBER 2: City passes and guided tours.

You can choose from all-inclusive pick-your-attractionsor build your own passes.

With all-inclusive passes like the Miami SightseeingDay Pass and Go Miami all-inclusive card, you can visit an unlimited number of attractionsfor one, two, three or five days.

You'll also get to Skip The Line at certainlocations.

See our travel guide for current prices andlinks.

Another great way to discover different neighborhoodsin Miami are walking tours organized by professional guides who know a great deal about the city'srich history and culture.

See our travel guide for links to websitesand other interesting tours.

NUMBER 1: Best free views of the city.

You can enjoy several amazing views of Miamifrom one of the following locations completely free of charge.

Ride a free Metro over promenade Miami Riveror on the opposite side on Miami River walk Bayfront Park, Brickell Key, Bayside Marketplace, on top of the MacArthur Causeway and South Point Park and Pier.

Check our travel guide for more places withamazing free and paid views of the city and maps, links, opening hours and other informationthat will help make your trip to Miami stress-free.

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