Book a city trip to Miami
Miami, the city where the sun always shines. You can enjoy tropical climates all year round. Even during their hurricane season, it remains pleasantly warm. Miami is a destination where you can do and see a lot.
It is a beautiful beach destination, but you can also engage in countless activities. From visiting a museum to a trip to the Bahamas.
Miami is also a great city for cycling. Enjoy cycling along the coast or take a trip to Downtown Miami. It’s all possible. If you’re looking for an American destination for your next trip and want to enjoy warm weather, then Miami is the place for you.
There are many different Miami attractions that make the destination worth visiting. We have studied these Miami attractions and compiled a special list for you.
Of course, there are many other reasons why you should visit Miami. In this article, we will explain why Miami is the ultimate American vacation destination.
Flights to Miami
When you want to book a city trip to Miami from the Netherlands, it is very simple. There are many different flights available daily.
Flights to Miami from Amsterdam
A direct flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport takes 10 hours and 25 minutes. The average price of a direct flight to Miami depends on two factors. How far in advance you book the trip and in which season you travel to Miami?
A direct flight in the high season will cost you approximately € 1050. A direct flight outside the high season will cost you an average of € 670. Both prices are for a return ticket to this tropical American destination. If you book more than three months in advance, you can expect a significant discount. A return flight outside the high season can be booked from € 370.
From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, you can fly directly to Miami with KLM, Delta Airlines, or American Airlines. If you don’t mind a stopover, especially if it saves you hundreds of euros, also consider Scandinavia Airlines, Aer Lingus, and Lufthansa.
Flights to Miami from Brussels
If you live near the border or don’t mind driving a bit, take the flight to Miami from Brussels. You can fly to Miami much cheaper from Brussels.
At the time of writing, they have stopped direct flights from TUI fly, but many flights with a stopover are still offered. The stopover lasts between two and ten hours. However, you get a significant discount in return. An average flight in both the high and low seasons costs between € 400 and € 580.
To and from Miami airport
Once you arrive in Miami, you naturally want to get to your accommodation as quickly as possible. Here are a few options.
- The Miami Beach Bus: If you’re staying in Miami Beach, this is the cheapest option. You pay only USD 2.25 for a single ride.
- Metrorail: The Metrorail offers a connection between Miami airport and Miami North and Miami South. If you’re staying on Miami South Beach, you cannot take the Metrorail. The price is also USD 2.25 for a single ride.
- Rent a car: If you want to rent a car and explore Miami with it, you can arrange this in advance or upon arrival at the airport. The price depends heavily on your travel period and how long you want to rent the car. The average daily price is around € 70. The longer you book, the cheaper it will naturally be.
- Taxi via the taxi stand: Like every airport, Miami airport has a taxi stand. Here you can take an official taxi to your accommodation. Many taxi services are also offered that are not part of the official taxi services. Don’t be misled by this and walk to the official taxi stand. The price depends on where you’re going, but the taxi always runs on the meter.
- Taxi services like Uber and Lyft: Uber and Lyft are taxi services that are much cheaper than regular taxis. If a ride via the regular taxi costs 25 dollars, it will be around 15 dollars with Uber or Lyft. A significant difference. You order an Uber or Lyft via their own app. Therefore, make sure you have downloaded the app and created an account before you travel.
Cost overview Miami
When you think of American destinations to travel to, it quickly sounds very expensive. But how true is this?
- Is traveling to America really that much more expensive than a trip within Europe?
- How exactly does it work with flights, transportation, accommodation, and activities on site?
- Is food and drink really that much more expensive than in the Netherlands?
We are happy to go through the costs with you because it can all be quite manageable. You just need to know what you’re doing, and we’re happy to help with that.
A city trip to Miami is suitable for any budget. Even if you have a smaller budget, you can have a great time here.
Miami is much more accessible than you think. Also, the attractions in Miami and the surrounding area are usually very affordable. Prices average around € 20. You don’t need to undertake very expensive activities to have the time of your life here.
Flight to Miami
As mentioned above, you have many different options to book a flight to Miami. Try to book the flight three months in advance, and if you have the opportunity to travel via Brussels, be sure to look at the options via Brussels Airport. Compare the prices between flights from Brussels Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. If you book more than three months in advance, we dare to guarantee that you can find a return flight for around € 500.
Transportation in Miami
You can broadly divide Miami into three parts. You have Downtown (the mainland), North Beach, and the very popular South Beach. Crossing from Downtown to North Beach or South Beach takes 15 minutes by car and a little half an hour by bike.
Costs Uber, Lyft, and Taxi Miami
You can take the ride by taxi. If you travel by taxi, try to book a ride via Uber or Lyft. You will be much cheaper. Both the Uber and Lyft apps offer a ‘rideshare’ option. This allows you to travel together with possibly another booking to the chosen destinations.
Suppose you want to go to the beach, and there is someone else who also wants to go to the beach; the driver can choose to accept both bookings. After you are picked up, someone else is picked up, and you are both taken to your destination. A rideshare can even halve the ride price.
You are on the road for a maximum of 15 minutes longer. Per half hour, you pay between € 25 and € 30 with the regular taxi.
Via Uber or Lyft, that amount will be between € 15 and € 18. If you choose a rideshare, you can halve the last two mentioned amounts. It makes a big difference in your wallet.
Public transport costs in Miami
In Downtown Miami, you can use the Metrorail and the bus. You can buy a day pass or a week pass or pay per single ride. The price per single ride is 2.25 dollars. What we call the OV-chipkaart is called the ‘Easy Card’ there. Travel on balance or buy a subscription.
On North Beach and South Beach, you can take the bus. The above-mentioned rates also apply here.
Rent a bike in Miami
You can rent a bike to explore Miami. However, it is not recommended to do this immediately. Especially if you have never been to Miami and don’t know the way, it is wise to first get to know the city.
Through Baja Bikes, you can book a tour with a guide where you will explore the city in about one and a half hours. You travel along all kinds of beautiful hotspots and attractions and will get a good impression of the city.
A Miami bike tour can be booked from 2 people and currently costs about € 50. We will come back to this activity in detail later.
Citi Bikes Miami
After doing the tour, you will notice that it feels better to rent a bike and go out on your own. You now have a good impression of the city and know roughly where you need to be. It is certainly recommended to download the Citi Bike app so you can further explore the city by bike.
You see the Citi Bikes truly everywhere in Miami. Whether it’s in Miami Beach or Downtown, you come across the blue bikes everywhere. You pay per 30 minutes. However, it is wise to immediately take out a monthly subscription. This subscription does not renew itself, and you will undoubtedly be much cheaper with it, even if your stay is shorter than a month.
With the 30 Day Deluxe Membership card, you pay only 35 dollars. This allows you to make unlimited rides of an hour for up to a month.
Note that you can ride for a maximum of an hour per ride. If your ride takes longer, park your Citi bike in one of the many stalls and immediately take another one. This is a small trick to avoid extra costs.
If you continue on the same bike, you pay an extra 4.60 dollars per 30 minutes. You can avoid this by switching bikes within the hour. Incidentally, a day pass costs 24 dollars. If you plan to ride the bike more often and not limit it to one day, it is a shame not to take out the monthly membership.
Accommodation Miami
The nice thing about a city trip to Miami is that everyone can find accommodation that fits their budget. There are various accommodation options you can use. The neighborhood where you stay also plays a significant role. The most expensive area is South Beach. This is the most popular neighborhood in Miami among tourists, and therefore the hotels are also the most expensive.
Hostels Miami
Miami is not necessarily a backpacker city, but you do have many hostels in Miami. Both in Downtown Miami and on the beach. Miami is indeed a party destination, so it also attracts many local American students. You can already book a bed in a hostel from € 30 per person per night. This is the cheapest option.
Hotels in Miami
You can book hotels in Miami for different budgets. An average price for a good hotel is just under € 200 per night. You then stay in a hotel in a prime location with your own en suite bathroom. These are also hotels that have many positive reviews on booking platforms like agoda.com or booking.com.
Prices can go up significantly. For example, there are also hotels on the beach where you pay a rate between € 2500 and € 3500 per night. You are then extremely luxurious and will lack nothing. We understand that this is not feasible for everyone, but at least you have an idea of your options.
Rent an apartment in Miami
If you prefer a bit more freedom and space, booking an apartment is a smart idea. Even within the United States, the Airbnb platform is the easiest and most reliable option to book an apartment.
In Miami, you have a choice of hundreds of apartments. The apartments are located both in Miami Beach and in Miami Downtown. The price depends on the location and the type of space you book. With Airbnb, you have two options: A completely private home or a room in a home. If you book a room, you share the other facilities with the owner of the home or other travelers.
An average price for a shared room via Airbnb in Miami Downtown costs € 70 per night, and a full home in Miami Downtown costs an average of € 120 per night. An average price for a shared room via Airbnb in Miami costs € 100 per night, and a full home in Miami Beach costs an average of € 170 per night.
Food and drink in Miami
Food and drink in Miami are comparable to the prices for food and drink in the Netherlands. The prices of the restaurants in Miami correspond to the prices of the restaurants in the Netherlands. However, you have more variety in different cuisines in Miami than in the average Dutch city. You can also eat for different budgets. You can have lunch for € 15 but also for € 100.
The Caribbean cuisine in Miami
Miami has a very large Caribbean community. There are especially many Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican people living there. As a result, you can also find many delicious Caribbean restaurants. Local restaurants and food trucks where they serve Caribbean food are generally cheaper than other restaurants in Miami.
Supermarkets Miami
Another option is to pick up food from one of the many supermarkets in Miami. Popular supermarkets like Trader Joe’s, Publix Super Market, and Whole Foods are popular with both tourists and local Miami residents.
What is a very popular concept in American supermarkets are the ready-made meals that are prepared and offered there at that moment. For example, you often have a ‘sandwich bar’, a ‘sushi corner’, or a pizzeria in supermarkets. You also often have large bins with freshly prepared food that you can scoop yourself. You then pay per weight. You can grab some vegetables, pasta, or potatoes and possibly fish, meat, or chicken. A well-filled container costs about € 10 per person.
What many people do is pick up some food, buy a bottle of water, and enjoy their meal on the beach while watching the sunset. It doesn’t have to be that expensive!
How many days do you need for Miami
You can perfectly discover Miami during a city trip. We advise you to set aside at least five full days for this.
The days you fly are not included here. The longer you can stay, the better, of course. You will not be bored for a moment in Miami. This bustling coastal city offers so many activities and attractions.
Also, sunbathing on the beach is, of course, no punishment. The cool thing about Miami is that you can combine a very lively beach location with a very dynamic city. It is a city where art, parties, and relaxation come together well. You can also enjoy sports matches here and shop well. Miami is the city where everyone can have fun.