HTML SitemapExplore

Miami 6-Day Ultimate Guide: Pure Practical Advice

This guide cuts through the fluff and gives you the real, practical advice you need for a smooth Miami trip, especially if you're planning to drive. 🚗 Part 1: Car Rental (The Real Deal) We arrived on a late flight (10 PM). After getting our luggage, we took the Mover​ (automated people mover) to the Rental Car Center​ on the 3rd floor of Miami Airport (MIA). All rental car counters are located there. Our Booking:​ We pre-booked an SUV through the Ctrip app. Cost & Fees:​ 6 days for $700. This was expensive because: Under 25 Fee:​ We were charged a "young driver" surcharge. Mandatory Full Insurance:​ The rental company forced us to buy their full coverage insurance. Despite the cost, having a car was incredibly convenient and necessary, as public transport in the U.S. is not well-developed outside major city centers. 💡 Crucial Tips: SunPass (Florida's ETC):​ 🛣️ Buy a SunPass transponder yourself​ at a pharmacy or supermarket beforeyou pick up the car. Activate it and stick it on your windshield. This is much cheaper​ than the rental company's daily toll pass fee. Many Florida Turnpike exits have no cash booths—only electronic tolling. Avoid "Too Good to Be True" Offers:​ If a rental agent offers to have someone take you to an off-site lot for a "much cheaper deal," REFUSE. It's a common scam. Safety first! Parking Strategy:​ In Miami, park in parking garages (park building)​ or parking lots. It's usually cheaper and safer than trying to find and pay for street parking. Bring a Phone Mount:​ 📱 Bring your own car phone holder. It will make navigating with Google Maps/Waze infinitely easier and safer. 🏨 Part 2: Accommodation Recommended:​ Tryp Apartment Hotel​ (located in the port area north of South Beach). We stayed in a two-bedroom suite. It was new, clean, and offered great value for money. Highly recommended! Not Recommended:​ The other hotels we stayed in later were not great. Avoid Hilton​ in the U.S. if you have high standards—the quality is similar to a 3-star hotel in China, despite the nice photos online. 📅 Part 3: Day-by-Day Itinerary Day 1: Arrival Late arrival, picked up the rental car, grabbed a mediocre late-night Chinese dinner (not worth recommending), and checked into the Tryp Hotel to rest. Day 2: Rainy Day Shopping at Sawgrass Mills Due to rain, we headed to Sawgrass Mills, a massive outlet mall with 350 brands. Pro-Tip:​ Focus on the outdoor "walking street" section—the better luxury brands (like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Sandro) are located there. Shopping Finds: Gucci:​ Bags weren't great, but classic scarves had good discounts. Saint Laurent (SLP):​ Huge discounts! A classic logo sweater was only $300. Limited styles but great prices on classic bags. Sandro:​ Very new styles. Bigger discounts if you buy multiple items. Stuart Weitzman (SW):​ Great selection of stylish shoes. The staff even had WeChat and offered worldwide shipping! Indoor Mall:​ Perfect for sunglasses—new styles at 30% off, old styles up to 80% off. Day 3: Road Trip to Orlando Drive:​ ~3.5 hours to Orlando. Note:​ Florida's highway rest stops are often on the left side​ of the road. Hotel:​ Stayed at a Hilton in Orlando. It was terrible (as warned above). Day 4: Universal Studios Orlando Tickets:​ ~$180 for a 1-day, 2-park ticket. Express Pass:​ Highly recommended!​ ($130). It lets you skip the regular lines on most rides. Highlight:​ The Wizarding World of Harry Potter​ was absolutely amazing and the main reason for our visit. ✨ Evening:​ Drove back to Miami and stayed in a hotel in Downtown. Day 5: Miami South Beach The Beach:​ Extremely beautiful!​ 🏖️ Water sports were limited, so we rented an umbrella and lounge chairs for $40 for the whole day—perfect for relaxing. Evening:​ Explored Lincoln Road Mall, a pedestrian-only street great for dining and shopping. Day 6: Key West Road Trip The Drive:​ Took the iconic U.S. Route 1​ all the way to the southernmost point of the continental U.S.A. The scenery along the single-lane highway is stunning. You can enjoy the views while driving, but do not stop on the road—it's illegal and dangerous. Key West:​ Visited Hemingway's Home​ and enjoyed the sunset on the beach. It's the perfect spot for it! 🌅 Water Sports:​ There are many more water activity options along the way to Key West compared to South Beach. Day 7: Aventura Mall Visited Aventura Mall, the largest shopping mall in Miami, which has everything from affordable brands to high-end luxury stores. 🍽️ Part 4: Restaurant Recommendations Poseidon Greek Restaurant & Outdoor Lounge​ (South Beach) Price:​ ~$70 per person. Order:​ The Seafood Risotto​ is fantastic. Their grilled fish is also very tender. Joe’s Stone Crab​ (South Beach) Specialty:​ World-famous for its stone crab claws. 🦀 Catch:​ Only available from October to May. Tip:​ Be prepared to wait in line; it's very popular. #US #Florida #Miami

Related posts
Miami Magic: A Dreamy Escape Delicious Croissants in Miami! 🥐A City of Sun, Money, and Contrasts A Mediterranean Gem in Miami!Miami | Who’s Actually Recommending Versailles?🐬🌊 Miami Seaquarium
Riley Blake
Riley Blake
20 days ago
Riley Blake
Riley Blake
20 days ago
no-comment

No one has commented yet...

Miami 6-Day Ultimate Guide: Pure Practical Advice

This guide cuts through the fluff and gives you the real, practical advice you need for a smooth Miami trip, especially if you're planning to drive. 🚗 Part 1: Car Rental (The Real Deal) We arrived on a late flight (10 PM). After getting our luggage, we took the Mover​ (automated people mover) to the Rental Car Center​ on the 3rd floor of Miami Airport (MIA). All rental car counters are located there. Our Booking:​ We pre-booked an SUV through the Ctrip app. Cost & Fees:​ 6 days for $700. This was expensive because: Under 25 Fee:​ We were charged a "young driver" surcharge. Mandatory Full Insurance:​ The rental company forced us to buy their full coverage insurance. Despite the cost, having a car was incredibly convenient and necessary, as public transport in the U.S. is not well-developed outside major city centers. 💡 Crucial Tips: SunPass (Florida's ETC):​ 🛣️ Buy a SunPass transponder yourself​ at a pharmacy or supermarket beforeyou pick up the car. Activate it and stick it on your windshield. This is much cheaper​ than the rental company's daily toll pass fee. Many Florida Turnpike exits have no cash booths—only electronic tolling. Avoid "Too Good to Be True" Offers:​ If a rental agent offers to have someone take you to an off-site lot for a "much cheaper deal," REFUSE. It's a common scam. Safety first! Parking Strategy:​ In Miami, park in parking garages (park building)​ or parking lots. It's usually cheaper and safer than trying to find and pay for street parking. Bring a Phone Mount:​ 📱 Bring your own car phone holder. It will make navigating with Google Maps/Waze infinitely easier and safer. 🏨 Part 2: Accommodation Recommended:​ Tryp Apartment Hotel​ (located in the port area north of South Beach). We stayed in a two-bedroom suite. It was new, clean, and offered great value for money. Highly recommended! Not Recommended:​ The other hotels we stayed in later were not great. Avoid Hilton​ in the U.S. if you have high standards—the quality is similar to a 3-star hotel in China, despite the nice photos online. 📅 Part 3: Day-by-Day Itinerary Day 1: Arrival Late arrival, picked up the rental car, grabbed a mediocre late-night Chinese dinner (not worth recommending), and checked into the Tryp Hotel to rest. Day 2: Rainy Day Shopping at Sawgrass Mills Due to rain, we headed to Sawgrass Mills, a massive outlet mall with 350 brands. Pro-Tip:​ Focus on the outdoor "walking street" section—the better luxury brands (like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Sandro) are located there. Shopping Finds: Gucci:​ Bags weren't great, but classic scarves had good discounts. Saint Laurent (SLP):​ Huge discounts! A classic logo sweater was only $300. Limited styles but great prices on classic bags. Sandro:​ Very new styles. Bigger discounts if you buy multiple items. Stuart Weitzman (SW):​ Great selection of stylish shoes. The staff even had WeChat and offered worldwide shipping! Indoor Mall:​ Perfect for sunglasses—new styles at 30% off, old styles up to 80% off. Day 3: Road Trip to Orlando Drive:​ ~3.5 hours to Orlando. Note:​ Florida's highway rest stops are often on the left side​ of the road. Hotel:​ Stayed at a Hilton in Orlando. It was terrible (as warned above). Day 4: Universal Studios Orlando Tickets:​ ~$180 for a 1-day, 2-park ticket. Express Pass:​ Highly recommended!​ ($130). It lets you skip the regular lines on most rides. Highlight:​ The Wizarding World of Harry Potter​ was absolutely amazing and the main reason for our visit. ✨ Evening:​ Drove back to Miami and stayed in a hotel in Downtown. Day 5: Miami South Beach The Beach:​ Extremely beautiful!​ 🏖️ Water sports were limited, so we rented an umbrella and lounge chairs for $40 for the whole day—perfect for relaxing. Evening:​ Explored Lincoln Road Mall, a pedestrian-only street great for dining and shopping. Day 6: Key West Road Trip The Drive:​ Took the iconic U.S. Route 1​ all the way to the southernmost point of the continental U.S.A. The scenery along the single-lane highway is stunning. You can enjoy the views while driving, but do not stop on the road—it's illegal and dangerous. Key West:​ Visited Hemingway's Home​ and enjoyed the sunset on the beach. It's the perfect spot for it! 🌅 Water Sports:​ There are many more water activity options along the way to Key West compared to South Beach. Day 7: Aventura Mall Visited Aventura Mall, the largest shopping mall in Miami, which has everything from affordable brands to high-end luxury stores. 🍽️ Part 4: Restaurant Recommendations Poseidon Greek Restaurant & Outdoor Lounge​ (South Beach) Price:​ ~$70 per person. Order:​ The Seafood Risotto​ is fantastic. Their grilled fish is also very tender. Joe’s Stone Crab​ (South Beach) Specialty:​ World-famous for its stone crab claws. 🦀 Catch:​ Only available from October to May. Tip:​ Be prepared to wait in line; it's very popular. #US #Florida #Miami

Miami
Fisher Island Club La Trattoria Restaurant
Fisher Island Club La Trattoria RestaurantFisher Island Club La Trattoria Restaurant