Miami - anyone been who can give me some tips?

[Frostyaf]

Flying into Miami in April, will stay there for a few days before going to Orlando.
Im a bit confused about where to look for accommodation - is Miami Beach more where tourists to than Miami itself? South beach/north beach? Staying with children so looking for a safe-ish area to stay in, without too much travelling to see things as we'll be doing lots of driving later. Any suggestions appreciated!

We stayed in the central Miami business area and got a taxi to Miami beach. It was quite pricey though to get a taxi back. We were only there a few days. We found a place on booking.com.

Thank you. We will hire a car but possibly not till we leave Miami - it all looks really expensive. Dc are getting too big to all be in one room which makes it harder again!

When we went with the kids, all teens at the time, we stayed in a suite hotel in Brickell, near a stop for the Metromover. Very easy to catch the free metro to Bayside Market for restaurants etc, and from there we would get an uber over to South Beach. It was easy enough, and felt safe.

We've also stayed on South Beach itself, which is great, but more expensive, so we did that when the kids weren't with us!

I've only been looking at the beach area so I should expand my search. Definitely a suite with a sofa bed type thing would work better for us. I think I need to find out more about which areas are considered safe for tourists (I've booked hotels in Europe right in the middle of the red light district before)

Wynwood is where a lot happens. Creative district with wallart, microbreweries, restaurants.

If you are looking for South beach on a budget, try the Ocean Five motel. We were there 2 years ago. Ocean drive was great, all the big cars. The beach was clean and fun to visit. My kids loved it!

Aw, that sounded good but has no availability for our dates.

On this map, are there areas we should really avoid? I can't get to grips with the layout of the place, seems so unusual to have the double sided beach next to the city!

We stayed at Hotel South Beach and it was incredible. It was spendy but it was so worth it.

I’d definitely recommend booking a food tour, the food is incredible and the tour will take you to all the best places.

We also toured the island on segways which was so much fun.

The beaches on that map are all situated on the Atlantic coastline on the far right hand side

. South beach hotels overlooking the ocean can be very noisy at night with parties going on into the early hours. Rooms can be small too.

The Hampton inn and suites in Brickell is recommended and you can take the free people mover to Bayside. They have the thriller speedboat ride there along with lots of child friendly restaurants and stores.

If your kids like basketball the Miami Heat play at the nearby Kaseya Centre. The Frost science center is also well worth a visit.

We stayed in Miami for four nights on our way to Orlando. We found it to be extortionate - accommodation, food, drinks. All of it was eye wateringly expensive.

We stayed at The Palms on South Beach - lovely, but pricey.

The coastline that faces out the way to the open sea is the actual beach, whereas the coastline that faces towards the city isn’t a beach, it’s more like a channel for boats and ships - from what we saw anyway.

I'm also going to Miami in April and going on a cruise from there. Are there any big shopping malls.

We stayed at the Loews with our two kids. Two double beds and a sofa bed in two rooms but it was VERY expensive. Safe area.

I would, however, be mindful that April is Spring Break time and Miami is a favoured destination. South Beach turns into party central (more than normal!!!).

Brickell is a safe area but feels rather sterile.

I really wouldn’t stay in Wynwood. It’s a fab area to visit during the day but is surrounded by the area of Miami with the highest murder and violent crime rates due to gang turf war. Ask locally about which blocks you need to stick to. Don’t let it put you off visiting though as during the day it’s perfectly safe so long as you stick to the set area and it was a highlight of our trip.

Really good tips here, thank you all.
Teenager adamant he won't sleep in the same bed as anyone, so really looking for the 2 doubles plus sofa bed type room (or two rooms - but even dearer obviously). Maybe I should look at Airbnb? Location even more important than I think!
Im glad we will only be there for 3 nights wirh all the comments about the expensiveness of Miami!
we were going to get a car at the airport when we arrive but im wondering about that now too.

There's the Dolphin Mall, not far from the airport. We spent a few hours there between a cruise and our flight later in the day

we were going to get a car at the airport when we arrive but im wondering about that now too

It's not the easiest city to move around by public transport, although cabs and Ubers are easy and plentiful. We've visited a few times - once we had a car, and it was fairly easy to drive around, and we had no problem parking (no during Spring Break though). But it was expensive to park, and we didn't bother with a car on our other visits. Perhaps leave the car until you're finished in Miami

My advice would be to drive away from Miami as quickly as you can and spend the time exploring the Everglades from the Homestead area. But I’m not a city person…

I would, however, be mindful that April is Spring Break time and Miami is a favoured destination. South Beach turns into party central (more than normal!!!)

I think by April, the main events for Spring Break in Miami will be over - it's mostly in March. But it will get busy for Easter though - but hopefully not quite as crazy as Spring Break. We were in Miami with our kids one year at Easter, and it was fine.

To be honest, we just got Ubers everywhere in Miami. Also ensures you don’t end up in the “wrong” area. They were plentiful and sensibly priced. Valet parking (which is often compulsory) can be $70 plus tip.

There are certain areas to definitely avoid - a quick Google can give you what you need. I would be wary of not knowing actual Air BnB locations until you’ve booked as a result. Literally one block can make a difference.

It’s just one of those places where if you’re sensible then there’s no problems and you’ll have a great time.

Family friendly accommodation is hard to find though without spending a fortune. Many South Beach hotels don’t have interconnected rooms as they were built in the Art Deco period. There’s more choice in the newer hotels in Brickell and Coral Gables, but then you’re not on South Beach.

I absolutely loved Miami - stayed there several times both with children and without. Initially we stayed at the Sagamore - has small suites with a kitchenette area. Great pool area. Then when I went on my own at the Kimpton Surfcomber - similar location. Easy walking to the parks, beach, art deco district, main shopping area and restaurants. We caught the bus from the airport - dead easy to South Beach and very cheap back then. We took the busses to Aventura Mall and to centre of Miami. It was lovely to walk by the water and look at all of the cruise ships - they are huge! There was a metro in the sky route - Metromover. Even to the Childrens Museum - bus stops right outside. We did an Art Deco walking tour - lot of fun -- really interesting. Didnt bother with a car at all. I cant remember how we got to Vizcaya though.

South beach is lovely although it’s not a location I’d take kids to.

I've always stayed at South Beach as it just feels like classic TV show Miami Vice style Miami (showing my age with that reference!).

I stay on the western side so it's walking distance to everything but away from the thumping party madness. Had a lovely time at the Mondrian when they upgraded me to the 2 bed penthouse suite (!) which had stunning sea/city views but usually choose an AirBNB and spend far too much money 'self-catering' in WholeFoods (their deli has the most amazing quesadillas and cakes).

I'm so glad I posted, lots for me to look into.

@HundredMilesAnHour the Miami Vice vibes is exactly why dh wants to go! 😃