Advice on Miami Airport pls

[Ju]

Hi there,

We're flying into Miami next month and was wondering if anyone knew what the airport situation is like. I know the last time when we flew to Orlando (2000) the arrival was quite daunting - with the double baggage handling and customs etc., but at Sanford (2003) it was "normal" and quite fast.

Also, is the Alamo car rental on site or do you have to catch a bus (like Orlando used to be - but now I believe it's on site there!).

Any info regarding this would be great, we're staying there for a few days and then driving up to Orlando - one helpful DIS user said to expect about a 5 hr drive from Miami upto Orlando - so we must ensure to have extra things for the children to do!!

Cheers

Ju
(I posted this earlier on the US site thinking more people there would know MIA - but I haven't had any "takers"!!!)
__________________

 

[Hilary]

We flew in/out of Miami a couple of years ago.

To be honest, I don't really remember much about the arrivals inside the airport as the whole experience was overshadowed by the debacle of getting the shuttle bus out to the Dollar car rental depot! It did take the edge off the start to the holiday and, if we arrived in Miami again, I would be very tempted to get a taxi to the depot instead. Having said that, we may have hit it at a bad time, and the Alamo arrangement may be completely different

Depating from Miami was, on the other hand, fine - although we had been warned that it wasn't easy to spot the tiny signs for the Dollar depot to return the car, and were glad we knew what to expect! The Virgin directions were spot on.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

If you are taking the turnpike up to Orlando then make sure to have plenty of cash for tolls. I think the tolls add up to around 14.00 dollars one way. It will probably take you just 4 hours of actual driving time to get there.

 

[patdavies]

MIA is a bl**dy awful airport!

It is out of date, huge and horrendously busy. Immigration/Customs can take absolutely ages because of this and the fact that MIA is a main entry point for South America/Carribean and therfore a prime drugs and illegal immigrant route. If you thought MCO was horrendous - you ain't seen nothing yet!!

Car hire, as I recall, was via shuttle buses out to the depots. MIA is at least a 4 hour drive from Orlando/Kissimee.

The last time I travelled through MIA was in UC with Virgin. Even having a limo to the airport (from Naples), priority check-in and lounge I wouldn't want to go that way again.

Sorry if this is not want you want to hear and sets you up for a lousy start to the holiday - but this is just my take on MIA.

 

[FizzyPop]

I flew out of MIA in 2003 and to be honest found it to be fine. The airport is very big, but we found it quite easy to find our way around. Security was very good to us, our son had just had open heart surgery and where very careful with him ( as they wanted to check him) The only problem we had was with the doctor flying back with us had needles and all sorts of stuff. The airport security phoned Miami Childrens Hospital to check that are story was true I know with dollar car hire we had to use the shuttle bus, but again we didn't find that a problem. I would fly in and out of Miami again
Oh and if you need a nice hotel in Miami we stayed at the Marriott hotel near the airport for 6 weeks and it was great

 

[dc1964]

We used Miami airport in April 2005 and it was as busy as you would expect a large international airport to be, especially as it is a gateway to the US from South America and the caribbean. It is quite an exciting place and had a real buzz about it. All the car hire desks are near the exit and a shuttle takes you to the depot. I think it took 10 minutes to get there. On our return to miami we sat outside on the seats provided over the road from the terminal building, we had a last few tins of Budweiser prior to the flight, very pleasant in the sunshine
As regards the Journey to Orlando it will take 3 to 4 hours I 95 or Turnpike. On the Turnpike you pick up one ticket at the start and pay when you go through the toll near to the turn for 192 and Kissimmee so you dont have to keep getting change out. I think it was about $13.00 for the journey up there.

 

[WDWfan uk]

We have flown into Miami several times and not had any problems! Immigration takes longer at all of the airports with the photo and fingerprint, but I find they are efficient.

I would warn you though, that picking up the shuttle to take you to the Alamo rental is confusing as there are no clear signs, and if there are a lot of people waiting it is a bit if a bunfight.

Unless they have recently made this easier, I would look for where Alamo shuttles are stopping, get on the line and check with the people in the line - it is more accurate than asking airport staff we've found!

Do NOT allow Alamo to add on anything if you have already got inclusive cover, and inspect the vehicle before you leave (check your A/C is working and there are no bumps on the vehicle, if there are be sure to report it before you leave). It is difficult to get back once you've got out of the lot.

The Turnpike is usually pretty clear, although rather boring (!!) - BTW, the ticket you receive at the toll is timed so when you present it when you exit the turnpike, if you've been speeding, they'll know from the time you've taken to arrive!

 

[disneyholic family]

if you have lots of time in one of the directions, you can take the scenic route (i can't remember the number - maybe highway 1A? - i'm not sure)....it goes up the atlantic coast...

then you'll have to drive across to get to orlando.....it's longer this way (driving the legs of the triangle instead of the hypotenuse)....

 

[FizzyPop]

The Turnpike is usually pretty clear, although rather boring (!!) - BTW, the ticket you receive at the toll is timed so when you present it when you exit the turnpike, if you've been speeding, they'll know from the time you've taken to arrive!

When we drove down there in 2003 we definately didn't keep to the speed limits (we had our reasons) It was 2am in the morning i think it took us just under 3 hours, we never heard anything about us speeding though. But at the time it didn't cross my mind. I guess we was just lucky.

 

[Ju]

Thanks everyone - mixed responses about MIA so I'm quite glad we're just flying INTO Miami and then out of Orlando!

I was hoping we didn't have to catch a shuttle bus to Alamo as we did in 2000 at Olrando and it took over 2 hours!!!! with all of us especially 18mth old DD at the time, who was tired and very stressed which made me stressed!
But nevermind, we'll get there ok and at least are travelling Virgin PE so "should" be stress free on arrival.

Also, thanks for comments on travel up the turnpike, particularly the speeding one - hadn't picked that up anywhere at all - will have to tell my DH that one I'd wuite like to go the scenic route but depends on what time we're going to leave/how tired we are etc! But I guess it shouldn't add more than 1 hour onto the drive should it?!

Cheers again

Ju

 

[disneyholic family]

Also, thanks for comments on travel up the turnpike, particularly the speeding one - hadn't picked that up anywhere at all - will have to tell my DH that one I'd wuite like to go the scenic route but depends on what time we're going to leave/how tired we are etc! But I guess it shouldn't add more than 1 hour onto the drive should it?!

Cheers again

Ju

actually taking the scenic route up the coast would add a lot of time......several hours....and i would only take it if you arrive in miami in the morning....so that all of your driving is in daylight....
on second thought, forget the scenic route suggestion.....too tiring after a long flight....

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We are driving to Miami from Orlando on our August trip, we heve driven partly down the A1A (scenic route) many years ago, but as Beth says it would add probably a couple of hours to your journey.

We may join it further south on our drive, not sure yet.

 

[Ju]

Thanks again, but Disneyholicfamily we are not driving upto Orlando straight from our flight (must be made if you'd do that!). We're going down to Key Largo for a few days - to wade (6 yr old) and swim (rest of us) with the dolphins down there, and then back up to Miami for ??? day/s and THEN drive up to Orlando.

Having seen comments, I expect we will drive up the Turnpike as 4 hrs is not too long and it looks very straightforward. The tolls don't bother us, it usually means there's no local traffic anyway.

Cheers

Ju

 

[prue]

havent been on the boards for a while and still havent written my trip report from October 2004 but have been dying to vent about MIA (the international bit is laughable!!...)

We arrived on a virgin flight (standard economy), had a great flight and was in the front section of economy so a fairly quick exit.... we then entered what felt like a third world airport, very banana republic, LONG queues and because you are in Miami, very,very spanish as all signs and all tannoy announcements in spanish and pigeon english. The only reason we knew we were in the states were the little american flags on each immigration officers desk. The air con wasnt working very well so there were fans on and i remember thinking it was a joke, we had arrived in the 'richest' country in the world and it was as far removed from terminal 1 at heathrow as you could get!!!! It was extraordinary.....

We were out within 50 minutes, 5 minutes per family we thought was about right. Because of this our cases were sitting on the side with the rest of our flights' cses so no waiting around if that is any consolation!!

We organised a driver as we didnt need a car for the first couple of days and parking costs about £20 a day at alot of miami hotels so two days later we took a cab to the alamo depot. All very stressfree and so easy.

The turnpike is a breeze, we did it in about 3.5 hours, cruising very comfortably along and stopped a couple of times. You have to stop and pay tolls, cash or credit card. Straightforward and easy. The service stations are in the centre of the road so both sides of the turnpike share!! so you are in the fast lane to get off!!!! We also did the return journey just after the october hurricane that was still fine although queues for the service station grew to a mile long both ways as we got nearer Miami!!

I wish we had returned via Orlando, very sensible. That is my only comment on departures at MIA or I might just get started on that too!!!

This is not meant to upset any of our american friends but if possible choose another airport!!!!

We stayed on key biscayne and loved it. Cant wait to return but will do what you are doing, fly into MIA and return by Orlando.

Cant wait to hear all about your holiday. Sorry to have ranted a bit but it was an extraordinary airport!!!!
Prue

 

[Ju]

Thanks for infor Prue - like I said before it's best to be forewarned isn't it?!
The consolation is we're off next month so won't be too hot (hotter than here I know but not baking). We have been to some awful airports in our travel years, but as you say you don't expect it from Northern US!

Cheers
Ju

 

[prue]

A thought, Ju, you do have to take the shuttle bus to the alamo depot, (down a gravel road!!!) my brother in law arrived at MIA and shuttled over and found a largish queue because of the international flights arrive at approx the same time.... he said it took ages.... well as i mentioned we were staying at key biscayne so arrived to a meet and greet sign and our driver who dropped us airconditioned nicely at our hotel, all painless and then we took a cab two days later back to the alamo depot (just outside the airport) where we arrived at 11am with nobody there - just us. It ran like clockwork and it was stressfree. It may just be worth thinking about if you are staying in Miami for the night, it means you dont have that ghastly moment of getting through immigration and then another hour or so getting the car and then getting lost!!!! we always seem to have arguements on arrival trying to map read where we are going.... if you want a car to meet you i will dig out the phone number of the brilliant company we used.

I would avoid any car rental if i could the day i arrive after an international flight....Just me ranting again!!! take care, prue

 

[Ju]

Thanks Prue, unfortunately in this imstance, we're heading to the Keys (1½hr drive) for that night - already booked and paid for. I guess if I had thought of that it wouldv'e been a great idea to spend night in hotel by airport and then get car next morning. Hey ho, can't get everything right! We're off next Thursday and I have STILL got loads to do - get money/t cheques/order tickets (to be sent to Orlando hotel for pick up)/bits of shopping and oh yes lose 2 stone!!!

Ju