Miami Beach, FL Road Trips

Miami Beach, like Miami, has a huge Latin American population, and Spanish is a language often used for day-to-day discourse in many places. However, English is the language of preference, particularly when dealing with businesses and government. Spanglish, a mixture of English and Spanish, is a somewhat common occurrence, with bilingual locals switching between English and Spanish mid-sentence. The local Latin population is mostly Cuban exiles (who have now become second and third generation locals), with South Americans from various countries gaining ground. There is also a large Haitian community and many signs and public announcements are in English, Spanish and Creole. It's a common occurrence to encounter people who mostly or only speak Spanish, English, Haitian, or other languages, more so than most other places in the US. You may find stores where some employees speak English and some speak Spanish, and they may not be strong in both languages. It will be beneficial for you to learn a few words and phrases to be able to ask basic questions in either language. Miami Beach has a rich history as a trend-setting arts center, from the world famous nightclubs of the 1950s to the rich cultural life of today's modern South Beach. Today the entertainment, production and arts communities of Miami Beach are stronger than ever. Art museums, ballet performances, cultural events and entertainment are a part of this great city. Art Center at Lincoln Road has performance art exhibitions, as well as classes and courses including photography, jewelry-making and painting.

See #Districts for listings. Many international cuisines are to be found, with a heavy leaning towards Latin foods, particularly Cuban cuisine. Some Cuban cuisine to try includes a sandwich cubano (Cuban sandwich) and a cafecito (literally it means little coffee, but compares to a strong, sweet espresso).

See #Districts for listings. Most of Miami Beach's nightlife is concentrated in South Beach, but there are still a few places along the rest of the beach. If you go inland, Miami's nightlife will be centered on Coconut Grove. "Cuba Libre" is a popular drink, known to the rest of the world as plain old "Rum and Coke". Also popular is the "Mojito", a sugar/mint/soda-water and rum drink. Joining an organized nightlife tour like the ever-popular South Beach VIP Pub Crawl can save money, and has the added benefit of new friends and other travelers to socialize with.

See #Districts for listings. Miami Beach is a tourist town and has many hotels, located mostly around the beach area. High season (fewer rooms, higher prices,) is during the winter months of November through February, with summer being the low season. There are hostels throughout the city. One may also be interested in a vacation rental. Do your homework when booking a hotel in South Beach. Nearly all of the hotels have a restaurant, at least a small one, out in front of the hotel. That appears to be what gets the hotel a three-star rating. However in many cases, the hotel by itself is far from three-stars. Read reviews from other travelers before booking or you might be very disappointed. The cost of services in hotels can be pricey like in hotels elsewhere in the world, but you can seek out local services within walking distances or online such as the popular Oliom. laundry service, which is only for hotel guests in Miami Beach. . Since you can pretty much walk or bike to anywhere in South Beach, trying out local services is the best way to get a feel of the place.

Miami International Airport (MIA) is closest, but Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) is only around 40 minutes away by shuttle (depending on traffic) and the plane tickets are often cheaper. Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport offers charter flights to the Miami area. Take I-95 North or South to 395 over Biscayne Bay which turns into 5th Street. Taxi- Initial rate is $2.50, plus $0.40 for every 1/6 mile. There is a flat rate from the airport to Miami Beach based on 5 different zones, ranging from $24 to $52. Shared Taxi/Shuttle Service- For a cheaper ride to your destination in South Beach, you can opt to use a "shared taxi/shuttle service". This costs about $18/person plus a tip (about $23/person). You can find the shuttles outside of the airport baggage claim area. No need for reservations. For your trip back to the airport, you can contact the company to pick you up from your hotel and take you back at the same rates. From MIA, you can take the 36 or 150 or 100 buses to Miami Beach. The 150 continues to South Beach. The fare is approximately $2.25. From FLL, you can take the #1 Broward County bus to Aventura Mall, and transfer there to the Miami-Dade 100 bus. From downtown Miami, take the 20 or 100 bus.

Taxis are generally expensive, but available at almost any time and place. Car rentals are the most convenient form of transportation for visitors, with local companies offering better prices but national chains offering more convenience regarding return policies and shop times. South Beach Local - a shuttle bus that operates in a loop from 19th St to the southern end of Miami Beach (buses travel in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions). Fare is only 25 cents. Miami-Dade Transit has several routes serving Miami Beach. The most useful is the 100, which runs north-south along the entire length of the island, continuing to downtown Miami. The 100 runs every 12 minutes during the day, and hourly all night long. Schedules and routes are available from the website or by calling +1 305 770-3131. South Beach Decocarts, 1000 5th St, +1 786 383-2278 [1] is the newest addition with stylish Eco-friendly golf cart rentals. Hourly, daily and weekly rentals are available. Each Decocart can fit 4 adults (great for groups) and requires a driver's license. It can hold shopping bags and other items you won't be able to transport with a bike or scooter. Decocarts also offers trendy E-Bikes that don't require a license. Miami Beach has a network of bike paths and bike lanes, although not as comprehensive as other major cities. The paved "Beach Walk" runs parallel to Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue and is on the beach, and the South Point Park runs along the bay. In Miami Beach and South Beach riding is permitted on sidewalks, which luckily are wider than average.

Emergency telephone number for fire, police and rescue emergencies is 911. Police are unusually omnipresent, even by American standards.