Miami what to do

[skelfbsfb]

Now that we have made our minds up to fly into Miami, the kids would like to stay there for a few days. Can anyone recommend what there is for them and a decent hotel.

Thanks.

 

[mossyflossy]

Duck tour,Parrot Jungle, art deco buildings, mall, alligator alley boat ride, cinema, beach, watching cruise ships, or drive up to Fort lauderdale and cruise the waterways with a daily pass.

I would avoid the beach hotels as the resort fees and parking charges are horrendous...have a look at the 2 bed villa at Marriott's Villas at Doral, about £100pn, or we like to stay at Crowne Plaza at sawgrass mills for the outlet mall and restaurants (wait for the rates to drop to $100 a night first).

This year in August we got an amazing rate to stay at the fairmont turnberrry isle which was exquisite and has a lazy river which the kids loved but valet only and resort fee adds £50 a night to the $99 rate.

 

[Giddy Kipper]

Im glad you asked that question...i wonder how many have been tempted and booked flights. Its somewhere we have wanted to go to for a long time...might be picking your brains for further tips and ideas as the planning starts if you dont mind

 

[crim1978]

Hi Skelf

We stayed a week in Miami on our first trip to Florda a few years ago, stayed at the Marriott and the Intercontinental - both very nice but can't really remember prices, may have been a little pricey.

We took a bus and boat tour which took us through the different areas of Miami by bus and then a tour of the celeb homes by boat - which was excellent and didn't cost much at all.

The outdoor shopping mall, which I think is called Biscayne Bay (?) was excellent and well worth a visit or two if you want to shop. Bubba Gumps Shrimp Restaurant (Forrest Gump themed) was a cool night and the Hard Rock good for a drink and a look at the memorabilia.

South beach is worth a trip, but was a bit disappointing in my opinion - nice to sit at one of the beach front bars and have a cocktail, watching a photo shoot and dreaming of the lifestyle but the beach itself I didn't think was much to shout about.

On the whole I think Miami is well worth a visit - we watched movie being filmed from our hotel balcony (Transporter two) and walked down and had a chat with the camera man. We saw the house where Brad and Ange lived at the time and watched Cruise ships coming and going dreaming of a celeb life style. It was a break on unique experiences that we still talk about regularly. If you do decide to go for it I am sure you will enjoy!

Hope hat helps, any questions please feel free and I will try and remember details.

 

[dixonsontour]

We've been to Miami several times but not with kids

There is a place called venetian pool at coral gables. It is a natural swimming pool created in the 1920's when they quarried to get the stone to build coral gables. We really liked it there and it would be great for kids.

We did a boat tour of stars houses from bayside market place.

If you are there on a sunday then the sunday brunches are great - we've been a couple of times to one called sundays on the bay on key biscayne - you sit overlooking the Miami skyline.

Have a drive around - Miami has that city feel you don't get in Orlando - huge skyscrapers including the one on miami vice with the hole and palm tree in the middle.

We never felt unsafe but were careful not to stray and usual precautions.

 

[skelfbsfb]

Thanks all for their suggestions and recommendations.