Travel Diaries – Miami Florida

This was my second visit to Miami. My first was back in 2008 when I was a good bit younger and lacked the knowledge I now have when it comes to booking holidays. This ultimately led to my time in Miami not being a good one for me. So much so a lot of the trip was spent elsewhere after an impromptu decision to bail out. The hotel was a pretty poor choice too and the thought of going back still makes me shudder even now.

When Jack and I booked our fights to Florida we soon began planning our time there. We decided to head to Miami and give it another shot. See if my opinion might be proved wrong. Armed with a better knowledge of travel and booking we got it right. For the most part, let me explain.

Location Location Location…

Ok, so firstly we had to decide where would be best to stay. It wasn’t long before we decided to stay in Miami Beach. This is a great all-rounder location for anyone visiting I feel. Our hotel of choice was the Nautilus By Arlo, a modern Art Deco hotel situated on Collins Avenue. It backed out onto the famed Miami Beach and only a short walk from South Beach.

When I booked I specifically looked for a hotel that offered parking. This one did. However, when we arrived we soon learned that their idea of parking was valet only. At $42 per night, it wasn’t a bargain by any means. When we checked in we were also informed of an additional charge on top of prepaying our accommodation for towels at the pool. This was a compulsory charge of $39.50 enforced by the hotel regardless of whether you use their sun loungers and towels or not. This really set the tone for the coming few days we had scheduled in Miami. Expense. It felt like everyone wanted your money and things weren’t cheap.

Miami South Beach

Ah, South Beach. You might have seen it on films or tv shows. It is Florida’s trendy, cultural cousin with so much going on and a certain buzz about it. Famed for being glamorous with happening nightlight spots and more delicious restaurants than you can count.

Something I adore about South Beach is the well-known art decor style. It’s such a classic look and synonymous with Miami.

South Beach is truly stunning to behold with its sprawling white sandy beach and crystal blue waves washing up on the shore and the colourful lifeguard huts. An absolute must-see while in Miami.

Restaurants

Miami strikes me as a modern and trendy place which I feel is apparent with the restaurant selection. Typically when you think of restaurants in America healthy is not the first thought. However, Miami is abundant with great little places for a healthy, vegan meal. Our first morning we found a fab place called Pura Vida on Washington Avenue. They had a great selection of breakfast and lunch options while keeping it clean. We tried the Açai bowl which was amazing. They serve everything in 100% recyclable materials, no plastic at all. They also sell a range of eco-friendly products including reusable coffee cups, material shopping bags and clothing. Definitely worth a look if you’re in the area.

Another great find was Juice and Java also on Washington Avenue. All their food is clean and natural. We enjoyed brunch where I ate a delicious meal of avocado on toast with smoked salmon and poached egg. I don’t think I’ve eaten avocado on toast are often since being in Miami.

If you want to head out of the beach to eat you’ll find plenty of choice in Mid-Town Miami. We came here for dinner and ate in a restaurant called Hurricane Grill which serves tropical-inspired cuisine. We both ordered tacos with a side of loaded fries.

Another great spot just a short drive away from the beach is Bayside. You will find an array of restaurants and shops in and around this area. You will find both local individual restaurants and some chains, Bayside is home to both Bubba Gump Shrimp Co and The Hard Rock Cafe Miami.

Shopping

Miami has so much to offer when it comes to shopping. I don’t feel that I was able to take full advantage of the shopping opportunities because we ran out of time. We did make a stop by Dolphin Mall which is an outlet mall. It has a great range of shops all with even better discounts. When you need to refuel you’ll be spoiled for choice whether you seek a quick coffee pit stop or a sit-down meal.

Bayside has a small shopping area, some chains and some individual shops with cute gifts and souvenirs. On the beach, you will be spoiled for choice with shops at every turn. Some of the best shopping spots are Lincoln Road, Collins Avenue, Ocean Drive and South Beach.

If luxury shopping is what you seek, the new and very chic Design District, dedicated to innovative fashion, design, architecture and dining experiences is the place for you. Here you will find everything from Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hermès, Christian Louboutin, Dior to name but a few. To shop here would be the dream, it is handbag heaven!

Miami Dolphins

Both Jack and I have always been keen to watch a sports game while in America. Whether you’re into sports or not I’m sure we have watched tv shows or films where they get a mention. Friends more so for me. Despite having zero knowledge of sports I wanted the experience and American’s don’t do things by half.

We went to Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins (Think Ace Venture. Snowflake the stolen dolphin) to watch them play the Baltimore Ravens. The atmosphere was electric, there was a real buzz in the stadium. There was so much going on. I had and still have no idea behind the concept of American football but it was definitely worth a look. They had cheerleaders in every corner, the ground was filled during the half time show. There were people who would run back and forth with giant flags when the Dolphins scored. Something that happened once the entire game. We were told by a local fan that he hadn’t witnessed such a poor game for a while. Nevertheless, we both enjoyed the experience and it’s something we can check off the list now.

Helpful Tips

• Miami is 5 hours behind GMT
• 7% local tax is added to every purchase
• The Uber app will be your best friend
• Carry a credit/Monzo card, not everywhere accepts cash

The second visit was definitely more successful than the first. That said I’m not too sure I’d rush back. It is a beautiful place that is worth a visit but I personally prefer the west coast. It has a more laid back vibe than Miami.

Have you visited Florida before? Would you like to?

You might also enjoy my Florida travel diaries post from last years trip, you can find it here.