General Southern Florida





by Female Abroad



Point form information to help plan the basic's of your trip.



Airports



Miami International Airport (MIA)

- is the main airport in Florida


Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL)

- usually offers cheaper flights

- Downtown Miami to FLL is twice the distance as Downtown Miami is to MIA


Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

- is in Sarasota Southwest Florida International Airport is in Fort Myers


Palm Beach International Airport

- is in Palm Beach


While not near Miami, because a lot of families go to Florida for the theme parks, I thought I would include Orlando because you do not want to fly into Miami and then head to Disney as it is not an easy trip (well, once the Brightline Rail connection comes in, it will be a lot easier).

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

- Also known as Much Closer to Orlando

- this is where you want to fly in for Disneyworld and Universal Studios



Getting Around



Metrobus runs every 30 minutes from 6am - 11pm from Miami International Airport to Miami Beach.


Most people rent cars but traffic is always an issue. Rental cars come with the Sun Pass transponder which let you get through the region's tolled rolls.


There is a free trolley bus that travels from South Beach up to 69th street


If you want to go to the Keys coach tours are available from Miami (roughly 4-5 hours)


Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is in Sarasota check out route maps here.



Costs (downtown Miami)



These are 2019 averages for Downtown, South Beach is going to be a lot more.


Hostels: $30-90

Cheap food: $20-40

Bike rental: $15-30

Hotel room: $100-150

Mid-meal: $20-30

Drinks at a bar: $25-60

Cover at a nightclub: $20+

Upscale restaurant: $50

Room service: $20-100

Sales tax is 6-7.5%

Hotels may charge a "Tourist development tax"



Seasons



Busy / High season (Jan - Mar)

dry and sunny

book well in advance - things fill up quick due to festivals and winter weather up North


Mid / Shoulder season (April - May and Oct - Nov)

Spring is similar to winter without the snow

May is humid

October is hurricane season

Festival season starts up in the late fall


Low seasons (Jun - Sep)

very hot with cooling breezes

mosquitoes are at the worst especially at dawn and dusk



Climates



Miami Beach

tropical with wet and dry seasons

visit January to April


Miami

tropical with wet and dry seasons

visit October to December


The Everglades

mild to hot summers, cold winters

visit January to April


The Keys

warm to hot summers, mild winters

visit January to April


Key West

warm to hot summers, mild winters

visit October to December


Inland

tropical climate, rain year round



Health & Safety



After getting a bad rap a few years ago when several tourists were robber and murdered, the city has slowly started to clean itself up. While there is still a high crime rate as long as you exercise common sense you will be fine. Some basic points to this are:


stay out of dangerous neighborhoods after dark

not sure where you are? stay in the tourist / busy areas

lock your valuables in your trunk if you have to leave them in your car

don't leave money / valuables in your hotel room outside of the safe


Insects are another item to be worried about. Make sure to wear DEET or lemon eucalyptus essential oil to keep the hordes of mosquitoes at bay especially during the summer. If you are allergic to them like me then pack some antihistamines as well! Other insects to watch for are gnats, no-see-um, chigger (red bug), tick (mostly in wooded areas), and red ants.


When it comes to the water, watch out for jellyfish. Blue Man O' war's are known to show up, steer clear as their sting is extremely painful (even if they are dead on the beach). If you do get stung seek medical attention and use white vinegar to dull the pain.



Things to Do



Airboat rides: shallow boats that skim over the water with hearing protection that are usually used in Florida's back-country (think Everglades)


Mangroves


Florida Trust: various historic sites can be accessed with the Historic Passport Program


Go Miami Card: wanting to see lots of sites? This card will give you bang for your buck. Choose your number of days and the attractions you want. While the card may seem pricy, it does save you money in the long run.


Hunting: gun season is from October to February throughout the states (check dates before going) in wildlife management areas


Lobstering: August 6 to March 31 is lobster season. Limits are 6 per day (24 per boat) and only in specific locations. Call 1-800-ASK-FISH for more information.



For More Information



Check out Visit Florida's tourism bureau.