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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Miami -recommendations for accommodation base for week with teens

5 replies

floridaidea · 13/08/2024 15:44

Hello, travelling to the US in October. First 5 nights staying in NYC and then taking flights to Miami. Planning to base ourselves somewhere in the Miami vicinity for the next 7 nights before returning to the UK.
We're hiring a car and would like to visit the Keys, Everglades, maybe Fort Lauderdale and Miami itself.
Maybe a trip to Disney (?) but our 2 kids are older teens so not really bothered about theme parks. I realise Disney involves an 8 hour round drive.

I've looked at Coconut Grove area or Fort Lauderdale beach area. We want a beachside accommodation preferably, hotel suite type, family friendly in a safe area. Any recommendations re areas and accommodations welcomed. Thanks Smile

OP posts:
Dontmesswithmyhead · 14/08/2024 11:18

Fort Lauderdale is lovely. I prefer Las Olas to the beach as it is more like a high street. The beach area has some parks but is mainly a long strip and walking between spots is tough in the heat.

Take a river taxis and see the huge boats and houses, that’s fun for a long morning. You can also walk down the river walk to other bars. The Riverside hotel is nice but $$$$.

You can get to Naples, the Keys - both a long drive. 10,000 island bay is good in the Everglades and you’ll see lots of wildlife including dolphins. Go further up the coast to nature reserves and of course down to Miami. Miami is huge, but driving to South Beach or places like Little Cuba is nice. You’ll need a plan!

floridaidea · 14/08/2024 19:38

@Dontmesswithmyhead
Thanks ☺️
Plenty to think about there 🙏

OP posts:
jeaux90 · 15/08/2024 08:29

We did Florida with the teens last summer. They were a bit meh about Miami, but loved Universal studios, coco beach/kennedy space station. Enjoyed the houses etc in Miami but then thought the airboat ride from Everglades city was amazing. Finished up with a few days on the gulf keys which they also loved.

budgiegirl · 15/08/2024 09:59

We've been a couple of times to the south of Florida with our teens - as there are 5 of us, and we're usually on a fairly tight budget, we often stay in suite style hotels. In Fort Lauderdale we stayed at the Embassy Suites - nothing fancy, but comfortable and a great breakfast, with a good pool area, and near to a water taxi stop.

In Miami we stayed in Brickell, which was a good location, near to the Metromover, so easy to get around the financial area and to Bayside Market. If you've got a car, you can easily drive to South Beach, although parking is expensive, or you can get an uber very easily.

It's a simple enough drive over to the Everglades, but I wouldn't really want to do the drive if you're thinking of going to Key West for the day. It's at least 3.5 hours each way if the traffic is ok, and it's usually much longer. Not so bad if you are going to the closer Keys.

Think about splitting your 7 nights, perhaps 4 in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, and 3 in the Keys - we stayed at a Holiday Inn in Marathon - again, simple but comfortable, great pool, nice beaches nearby, and an easier drive down to Key West for the day. Or stay in Key West itself if budget allows.

I know some people aren't keen on Miami, but my teens think it's the best place they've ever been - especially South Beach which they loved. They also loved the Thriller boat ride of Bayside - it's very cheesy, but good fun.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 15/08/2024 10:47

What budgiegirl wrote. I have a soft spot for Miami and Fort Lauderdale and have had some great holidays there.

Fort Lauderdale has some nice beachfront hotels along A1A (the beachfront road). It also has a Galleria mall nearby and there is also the Sawgrass outlet to visit. Can also recommend seeing Las olas blvd, there is a good Cheesecake Factory restaurant.

BTW the metro mover in downtown Miami is free to use and this can be used to go to Bayside. Can recommend the Thriller boat ride and there is also a Hard Rock Cafe which your teens would probably like.

It’s about 3 hours each way from Miami to Key West and parking there can be an issue. It has a laid back atmosphere to it, quite unlike Miami.

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