Miami Travel advice

[Webbo]

I will be arriving into Miami International airport from Brazil in a few weeks at around 7pm on a Thursday evening, the next day I am driving on to Naples beach for a few days so I will want a hotel for the evening. Can anyone advise if I should stay at a hotel near the airport or is it better to go downtown or to the beach area and stop there for the night? Is it a lot of messing around just for the evening or worthwhile?  Thanks 

[El Hoze]

Happy to help, I live in Miami. The main beach area (South Beach) is fairly close to the airport, about 20 min and a straight shot east from MIA. Easy. The area around the airport is fairly dismal, and you figure it will still be a 5 min drive over. Downtown (as the locals call Brickell) is also about 20 min and not worth it in my mind...it's like any downtown. I would personally opt to sleep at the beach. Even if just to wake up there on the beach and have breakfast etc versus at the airport. The ocean this time of year is very warm to take a quick swim. And if you'd be awake for a nightcap the night before, all the better. It's a long flight I know. To get out to Naples the following day leaving from the beach area vs airport area is all the same effectively. 

[Philc2001]

2 minutes ago, El Hoze said:

Happy to help, I live in Miami. The main beach area (South Beach) is fairly close to the airport, about 20 min and a straight shot east from MIA. Easy. The area around the airport is fairly dismal, and you figure it will still be a 5 min drive over. Downtown (as the locals call Brickell) is also about 20 min and not worth it in my mind...it's like any downtown. I would personally opt to sleep at the beach. Even if just to wake up there on the beach and have breakfast etc versus at the airport. The ocean this time of year is very warm to take a quick swim. And if you'd be awake for a nightcap the night before, all the better. It's a long flight I know. To get out to Naples the following day leaving from the beach area vs airport area is all the same effectively. 

Totally in agreement with all this. Definitely head over to SoBe, even if just for a few hours. Lots to see and do at any time and way into the night. 

[zeedubbya]

If you've never been to South Beach you should go.  Have dinner, walk the beach and have breakfast before you head to Naples next morning.  It's worthwhile, as the above posters have said. I don't believe there's anywhere I've ever been which compares to the vibe in SoBe.  

[Fuzz AI]

South Beach is definitely a nice place to walk around, especially if you are fond of art deco.

[El Hoze]

6 hours ago, Fuzz said:

South Beach is definitely a nice place to walk around, especially if you are fond of art deco.

Yes, South Beach is a feast for the eyes. Including the architecture! 

[Webbo]

The good lady is flying in from London to join me so architecture it is.  Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated. Any south beach hotels I should consider ?

[golf4less]

One Hotel, South Beach is a beautiful hotel but a little north of the shopping district. If you wanna be close to Lincoln St. the Ritz Carlton is right there. 

[Habana Mike]

Book the Colony if you can. Classic art deco hotel right on the strip, beach across the street. http://www.colonymiami.com/

Kelly and I stayed once and loved it, until they started the SoBe 5K right out front the following morning....sounded like a flock of geese at 6AM!

[El Hoze]

Rates this time of year should be fairly inexpensive. You should have your pick and since you're only sleeping there location won't be a big deal, anywhere on/near the beach is fine. I'd see what prices look like and go from there. The One is very nice (new) and the other new ones are The Edition (Marriott) and Faena (have one in Buenos Aires too). The Ritz is a great location at the end of Lincoln Road but a bit dated. And normally you'd want to be a bit further south close to the action but given your schedule and being in/out I'd opt further north so you cut your drive by a few min each way as you'll likely head north on your way out to Naples.