Miami International Airport serves as the gateway for many destinations in the Caribbean and Central and South America. As a major cruise ship port, the city of Miami also hosts many cruising visitors. The airport isn’t too far away from the South Beach area of Miami Beach and I took the opportunity to spend some time there while on a layover.
It was my good luck that there’s a new bus that whisks passengers from MIA right to South Beach, the Airport Flyer (Route 150). The fare is an amazingly low $2.35 and the service takes about 30 minutes. The Airport Flyer buses are big and comfortable, with luggage racks.
I took a Carnival cruise a few weeks ago that left from Miami, so I flew in from Los Angeles and had a few hours both on arrival before my ship departed and before my return flight, after the ship returned to port. In each case I had about four hours of free time and decided to explore Miami Beach while I waited.
About Miami Beach
Miami Beach is a small island, about 20 minutes from downtown Miami, separated from the mainland by water. Once more of a retirement destination, the city has blossomed into one of America’s hottest resort towns. I find it an odd mix, like a combination of Vegas flash, European style and attitudes, along with a dose of New York attitude. The city also boasts a beautiful collection of art deco oceanfront hotels and buildings, so the South Beach area retains a vintage charm. The vintage area is surrounded by breath-taking modern concrete and glass condominiums and apartments, making for a unique contrast.
Where to go
For brief visits, the South Beach area is perfect for walking, shopping and dining. The area is all within a 15 block area, from 15th street, to South Pointe Drive and from Washington to the ocean. The main streets are Washington Drive, Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive, which runs along the beachfront. The Airport Flyer bus stops along Washington Avenue.
What I did
MIA offers baggage storage service in Terminal E on the second level. Charges are from $8 – $12 per bag, depending on the size. The system seems safe and the people running it were very efficient and friendly. I arrived early in the morning and paid to store my bags. I hopped on the Airport Flyer bus and within 40 minutes, I was walking down Ocean Drive. I stopped for some breakfast and a mimosa, then walked out to the beach and relaxed in the warm sand for an hour or so. Then I took a stroll down Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue to check out the scene and rented a bike for an hour. I returned to my bus stop and caught the Airport Flyer back to the airport. I picked up my luggage and then got a cab to the cruise ship terminal to catch my cruise.
Decobike
The Decobike program is a European-style bicycle sharing program. There are stations throughout the city, each with bikes and credit card reader. You swipe your credit card and the machine allows you to remove a bike. You can then return the bike to any station, not only the one you picked the bike up from. Rates are from $4 for 30 minutes to $24 for 24 hours. It’s a great way to explore the city.
Freddy Sherman is a world traveler and editor of the travel blog travel4people.com. You can follow him on twitter, @thefredsherman
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