We are planning a vacation in early January with college aged daughter. First we will stay with relatives in Jupiter FL and then will rent a car and drive to Miami and spend a few days. Any advice about good areas to stay and also if you have any specific hotel recommendations or AirBnBs or VRBOs would love to hear! (Probably leaning more towards a hotel as I’ve been burned with cancelled flights and easier to cancel with a hotel if need be.)
Another question – is it better to have a rental car in Miami or use public transportation/ubers?
My 19 year old will probably be interested in the beach and pool if warm enough. Some sight seeing and maybe a musuem. We are flexible! Thanks for any ideas on where to stay or what to do!
Depends on budget. I stay inland or by the Fort Lauderdale airport so I can be $150 a night or less (and then I drive- nothing is far). . By the beach you can be many hundreds. If you want Miami for places it’s even higher. Airbnb - to me- the issue on short stays is the fee.
Agree with @tsbna44 re budget; can be more helpful with more info on that. A few things to keep in mind: it is very high season in Miami then and some of the areas to me feel very crowded (eg Aventura/Sunny Isles), water will be in the 70s and temps could be in 40-50 range (usually get 1-2 weeks in that range although usually second and third week of January) and Miami/FL museums are quite limited in number and size although there are a couple of quality choices for art. There is really no public transportation infrastructure in So Fla; rental or Uber would depend on location of stay.
@SuntasticMom sometimes when we go on a vacation for a few days to a popular place, we are willing to pay a little more for convenience, and a nice experience.
I hope folks give you suggestions on places in Miami…and the price points for those places.
1 Hotel South Beach was great. That is the balcony view facing North. Perfect location, cool contemporary vibe and numerous food options. The views were stunning and rooms extremely nice.
Definitely a splurge but worth it if you can swing it for a few days. 20 minutes to the Miami Airport.
This was our most recent and favorite but all depends on what you are looking for.
The Delano is a great Hotel but we felt like we were the only people staying there who weren’t influencers or related to the Kardashians.
The Clevelander had a constant party feel and was very Art Deco vibe wise. We were to old and that was 10 years ago.
Both the W and Loews were true to the brand and great for a family looking for proximity and convenience.
All of the aforementioned are short walks to one another and direct beach access or very close (Clevelander across the street) and on the main drag.
Enjoy and bring your own sun screen. $35 pool side at the W (some things stay with you)
