Miami Transportation Tips by grandmaR Top 5 Page for this destination

Standing In Lines Miami International Airport/Airplane Review

The traffic to get to the airport is terrible. Last time, there was a traffic accident on the other side of the highway which had us in a long creeping backup of rubberneckers, but we got to the airport by 3:45, which is 25 minutes longer than it would take if the traffic was running smoothly.

If you do curbside check-in it costs $2.00 a bag. Last time, my daughter dropped me at the airport to curb check my luggage, she asked the skycap to get me a wheelchair, which he did. Be sure you have change to tip if you want to do this - I gave him $5.00 and he was going to keep it all. He took me to a kind of corral for wheelchair people and eventually a lady came to push me to security. Then they had a hard time finding a golf cart to take us to the gate (D45).

The airport is often a zoo which is why my husband won't fly anymore. In March 2008, we ended up in a six snake line (after asking several of the airline herders). By a six snake line, I meant that the line snaked back and forth six times the depth of the airport at that point. There was another bigger snake on the other side that was wrapped around ours.

In the line with us were MANY people of course, but also people with MANY MANY bags. The sign in line said "One bag under 50 lbs free" and that the maximum per person was two checked items and that bags over 50 lbs would be $50. Since then there has been an additional charge added for checking more than one bag. So all those people with multiple big heavy bags were holding up the line writing checks. There is also a severe restriction on what you can carry on with you.

The baggage carts are free in Europe, but here you pay for them. Be prepared to either pay or move your own luggage. We were in line for over an hour. From before 3:45 until almost 5 o'clock. Someone tried to jump the line saying that he had 7 minutes to make his flight, but his flight only left 20 minutes before ours, so that wasn't true. Eventually we got to the counter and our bags weighed 44 lbs and 34 lbs.

Then we had to take the bags to the processing line, where they scan the bags before they load them. The security line was out of the airport as well.

Coming back, we went through immigration fairly rapidly, and handed in the customs form, and claimed the bags. We were one of the first ones down to the baggage carousel and I was sitting and he was standing next to it. People kept trying to get their bags off of it, and not being able to lift them and being carried around towards us and crashing into him as they tried to get their bags.

Mode: TO

Phone: (305)876-7000 MIA hotline

Type: Airplane

Airport to Port Cruises/Boating Review

The cheapest way to get from the airport to the port is to come in a day in advance and rent a car from Dollar. They have a free shuttle to the rental place which is not on the airport property. Then the next day, turn the car in, and they have a free shuttle to the port.

Of course you would have to pay for the hotel and car and meals, but the getting to the port is free.

Otherwise, I'm afraid it is a taxi or a transfer arranged by the cruise ship.

Mode: AROUND

Phone: (305)379-5119

Type: Car/Motor Home

Metro-rail Metro Rail Review

I used the metro to get to the hospital - my daughter or SIL took me to a station and there was one right at the hospital.

The metro website says:
Miami-Dade County's 22-mile, elevated rapid transit system runs from Kendall through South Miami, Coral Gables, and downtown Miami; to the Civic Center/Jackson Memorial Hospital area; and to Brownsville, Liberty City, Hialeah, and Medley in northwest Miami-Dade, with connections to Broward and Palm Beach counties at the Tri-Rail/Metrorail transfer station.

The 22 accessible Metrorail stations are about one-mile apart, providing easy access for bus riders, pedestrians, and passengers being dropped off and picked up. Parking is available at 19 Metrorail stations, including the new Palmetto Station.

Transit Fares

Service Full Fare Reduced Fare
Metrobus & Metrorail $1.25 $.60

Mode: AROUND

Phone: 305-770-3131

Type: Subway/Metro

PurrSeaverance to Key West Ferry Boat Review

There is a new ferry service from Miami to Key West. which should take 3-3.5 hours to make the trip. This is faster than you can usually drive the distance, but slower than the plane trip if you only include the actual time from take-off to landing.

I have not used this ferry and the photo is of a marina in Miami, and not of the ferry terminal.

Thursday through Sunday Departures:
Downtown Miami---------7:30 a.m. (Sealine Marina)
Downtown Key West----------5:30 p.m. (The Bight)

VIP CLASS (21 AND OVER) (most expensive rates)
PASSENGER PRICE
SAME DAY = $138 R/T
ONE WAY = $98
DIFFERENT DAY = $158 R/T
Children under 5 are free with the purchase of an adult ticket.

Parking in Miami is provided by Paradise Parking Systems. Valet service is located at the lobby entrance of the Doubletree Grand Hotel located at 1717 N. Bayshore Drive, Miami Fl. 33132. A Fast Cats patron will receive a $5.00 per day discounted rate. Gratuity not included.

Mode: TO

Other Contact: (305) 296-3838. Key West Bight

Phone: 305-400-6446

Type: Ship/Boat

Website: http://www.fastcats.org/aboutus.htm

Shuttle buses Buses Review

Miami does have a public transportation system. In addition to the metrorail. There is an extensive bus system. The picture is of the shuttle buses out to the NASDAQ tennis tournament. Of course cars are the normal mode of transportation.

Mode: AROUND

Phone: 305-770-3131

Type: Bus

Website: http://www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/transit/routes.asp