| Area & Population
Greater Miami and the Beaches is spread over 2,000 square miles at the
southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula. The Intracoastal Waterway
separates the Miami mainland and Miami Beach, located on the Atlantic
Ocean. More than 2 million people reside here, bringing a rich cultural
Weather
Greater Miami, hugging the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay near the
southeastern tip of Florida, has a hugely diverse population of 2 million
people split among 26 municipalities. Some of the most popular spots
for lovers of swaying palm trees and gently breaking waves are downtown
Miami itself, with its distinctive skyline and waterfront parks; glamorous
Miami Beach, a short drive from downtown east over the causeway; and
quirky Coconut Grove, south of downtown.
If you fly in, Miami International Airport is conveniently located 7
miles from downtown, with easy access to all points in this international
metropolis.
Arriving by car, you’ll probably drive on I-95, the major north-south
expressway on the East Coast, running just west of downtown Miami all
the way to Maine. Just south of downtown I-95 ends and merges with US1,
zipping southwest along Biscayne Bay through Greater Miami’s suburbs
of Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and others. Another major highway, I-75,
runs from Florida's West Coast to Miami.
Public transportation in Miami, as in the rest of the state, leaves
a lot to be desired. But at least the city is trying and has several
options not offered in other large metropolitan areas in Florida. The
Metrobus and Metrorail operate within Greater Miami. Tri-Rail transports
passengers around within three counties. In downtown Miami, the Metromover
is the best and most fun way to get around.
If you need tourist information when you arrive, check out the kiosk
in front of Bayside Marketplace on Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami.
Miami Airport
If you’re traveling by plane into Miami, you’ll most likely
fly into Miami International Airport (MIA), the only airport in Greater
Miami that provides scheduled service. The other options are air-charter
services or the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, a smaller
facility about 30 minutes north of downtown Miami.
Centrally located seven miles from downtown Miami, MIA has more airlines
flying into it (140) than any other airport in the country. This gateway
to the Americas handles 34 million passengers a year. Averaging more than
15,000 departures and landings per day, MIA makes non-stop or 1-stop connections
to 200 cities on five continents. Whew! With numbers like that, you’re
sure to be able to get a flight into this bustling international hotspot.
Also, at the airport you’ll hear a cacophony (or symphony, depending
on your view) of tongues.
Although it’s definitely huge, MIA is a relatively easy airport to
navigate. Just follow the signs from your gate to the baggage area on
the lower level. Outside the door of baggage claim you will find taxis,
rental cars, buses, SuperShuttle service, and passenger car pickup. If
you need assistance, a 24-hour Tourist Information Center is located at
Level 2, Concourse E. Other information centers are scattered throughout
the horseshoe-shaped terminal. You can rent luggage carts for $2 (they’re
free inside customs areas).
Driving
& Traffic Regulation
U.S. law stipulates driving on the right-hand side of the road and
passing on the left. Right turns are permitted at red lights, after a
full stop, unless otherwise indicated by a sign at the intersection. Always
proceed with caution and carefully note posted speed limits: 15 miles
per hour (mph) in school zones, 30 mph in business or residential areas
and 55 mph on most expressways, unless road conditions warrant lower speeds.
Florida's Turnpike and certain major expressways are toll roads. All persons
riding in an automobile are required to wear seat belts. Children under
three years of age must be fasted securely in government-approved child
car seats.
Eletrical Current
All personal appliances run on 110/115 volt, 60-cycle current. International
visitors may need to use adapters or converters.
Telephone Numbers
Emergency: Dial 911 to get help quickly in an emergency situation. An
operator will connect you to the police, fire department or ambulance
service.
Telephone/Communication
ocal calls at pay telephones are 35 cents. Telegrams can be sent to
any destination by telephone and billed either to your hotel room or to
a credit card. Currency can be wired only from telegraph offices.
GRATUITIES
Customarily, gratuities are paid to hospitality industry personnel who
render personal services. As a general rule of thumb, 15 percent of the
total cost for services is usually appropriate. Occasionally, you may
find a restaurant has already added the gratuity to the final bill. If
you are given assistance with your baggage, 50 cents to $1 per bag is
expected. Taxi drivers are usually tipped 15 percent of the fare. When
a doorman or valet calls for a taxi, a $1 tip is generally appropriate.
This is also true for the attendant who retrieves your car from valet
parking. When tipping for maid service, $3 - $5 per week is a good guideline.
Should you engage a concierge's services, tip according to the type of
service provided.
MIA is undergoing a $4 billion expansion (as if it weren’t big enough
already!) that is expected to be completed in 2007. Mean while, the aviation
department has made parking easier for passengers. The new 6-level Dolphin
and Flamingo parking garages have easy-to-follow color designations. Telephones
are located outside each elevator.
The SuperShuttle (305-871-2000) service provides door-to-door transportation
between MIA and Greater Miami. It costs $9 per person to get to Miami
and $11 to ride to South Beach and the Art Deco District. A cab ride from
the airport to Downtown Miami will cost you about $17.
Buses
Although 19 Metrobus routes serve Greater Miami and the beaches every
day, it’s not easy to figure out the system if you’re just visiting
for a short time.
Bus stops are marked with green and blue signs with a bus logo and route
information. Most of the lines start in downtown Miami and run between
4:30am and 2:30am during the week. The frequency of service varies from
route to route, especially on the weekend. It’s best to call Metrobus
at (305) 770-3131 ahead of time for specific schedules. The buses will
take you to the Miami Seaquarium, the Orange Bowl Stadium, the Cultural
Center, the Metrozoo, and most other popular attractions. The one-way
fare is $1.25; students and seniors over 65 pay 60 cents. When boarding,
you pay exact fare. The fare box accepts tokens, dollar bills, quarters,
dimes, and nickels.
To ride more than one bus or to take the rail to get to your destination,
you need to buy a transfer ticket for 25 cents (10 cents for students
and seniors) when you first board. Deposit the fare and transfer fee and
ask the bus operator for a transfer. When you get on the second bus, give
the transfer to the driver. If you purchase a bus-to-rail transfer, insert
the transfer into the slot at the front of the rail fare gate.
Trains
The fastest way to get around is by using the 21-mile above-ground
rail system known as Metrorail. Reportedly the longest elevated rapid
transit system in the nation, Metrorail serves downtown Miami and extends
west to Hialeah and south to Kendall, a suburb southwest of the city.
With the creation of the downtown Metromover, Miami-Dade County became
the world’s first community to have a people mover connected to a
rail system. Metromover consists of individual motorized cars that run
on top of the elevated track. Besides connecting to Metromover, the trains
also connect to Metrobus and Tri-Rail.
Stops are approximately every mile along the route. Fares are $1.25 each
way, exact change only. Seniors, students, and riders with disabilities
pay 60 cents with a rail permit. Metrorail fare gates accept tokens, dollar
coins, quarters, dimes, nickels, bus-to-rail transfers, and monthly passes.
Riders can transfer to Metromover for free at the Government Center and
Brickell Avenue stations.
Locals call it MetroSnail because the trains run only every 20 minutes.
During peak hours it runs every five minutes. Metrorail operates 6am to
midnight. A big drawback is that it doesn’t go to Miami Beach or
the airport, two popular destinations.
For airport service you can take Tri-Rail, a commuter rail service with
19 stations throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Stops
include the Miami Airport Train Station. Fares, priced by zone, range
from $3.50 to $9.25 for a round-trip ticket.
Taxis
Hailing a cab on the streets of Miami isn’t easy. Most people
drive their own cars or rent one. There are plenty of taxis queued up
at the airport. To get a cab anywhere else, it’s best to call ahead.
At the airport, cabs are lined up outside the baggage claim area. Taxis
cost $1.50 for the first ¼ mile and $1.75 for each mile after that,
plus $1 surcharge for trips that start at the airport. The 8-mile trip
from Miami International Airport to Downtown Miami takes 20 minutes and
costs about $18.
Flat-rate fares are in effect for 5 zones bound on the east by the Atlantic
Ocean and on the west by the mainland. The flat- fare bands include Miami
Beach, Bal Harbour, Golden Beach, and the Village of Key Biscayne. Miami
Beach is in Zone 4. The 14-mile trip from the airport to Miami Beach takes
25 minutes and costs approximately $24. The fare is per trip, not per
individual. A ride from the airport to Golden Beach in Zone 1 would set
you back $41 (that is, if you’re riding alone; the price is for each
cab load).
If you encounter any problems with taxi service, you can call
(305) 375-2460 to complain.
To call a cab, here are some numbers of popular companies:
Metro Taxi Company - (305) 888-8888
Yellow Cab - (305) 444-4444
Super Yellow - (305) 885-111
Tropical - (305) 945-1025
Getting Around
Greater Miami, hugging the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay near the
southeastern tip of Florida, has a hugely diverse population of 2 million,
split among 26 municipalities. Some of the most popular spots for lovers
of swaying palm trees and gently breaking waves are downtown Miami itself,
with its distinctive skyline and waterfront parks; glamorous Miami Beach,
a short drive from downtown east over the causeway; and quirky Coconut
Grove, south of downtown.
If you fly in, Miami International Airport is conveniently located 7 miles
from downtown, with easy access to all points in this international metropolis.
If you arrive by car, you’ll probably drive on I-95, the major north-south
expressway on the East Coast, running just west of downtown Miami all
the way to Maine. Just south of downtown I-95 ends and merges with US1,
zipping southwest along Biscayne Bay through Greater Miami’s suburbs
of Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and others. Another major highway, I-75,
runs from the West Coast of Florida to Miami.
Public transportation in Miami, as in the rest of the state, leaves a
lot to be desired. But at least the city is trying and has several options
not offered in other large metropolitan areas in Florida. The Metrobus
and Metrorail operate within Greater Miami. Tri-Rail transports passengers
around within 3 counties. In downtown Miami, the Metromover is the best
and most fun way to get around.If you need tourist information when you
arrive, check out the kiosk in front of Bayside Marketplace on Biscayne
Boulevard in downtown Miami. |