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Miami Vice
July 13, 2009 by Fractional & Shared Ownership Property News & Reviews · 2 Comments
By Claire Ryan
It has long been the subject of glamorisation, and shows like Miami Vice and CSI: Miami have made it a top destination for adventurous travellers. But Miami is more than just a slick city; it offers a variety of attractions for even the most discerning of visitors.
Upon landing in Miami International Airport, the humidity is the first thing you notice, no matter the time of day or night. The second is the sheer size of the city; take the time to notice how vast it is on the taxi ride to your hotel – which costs around $50 to the centre of Miami Beach. You may have a hard time choosing which are to stay in, but anywhere along the Miami Beach, South Beach or Sunny Isles areas are central enough to use as a base for exploring the city.
The Trump Sonesta Beach Resort is one of the most luxurious hotels in Miami. Complete with its own private beach for residents, there’s never a scramble for a patch of sand, and hotel workers will set up your deck chair and umbrella for you, and bring smoothies, ice-lollies and fresh fruit to keep you cool, all as part of the service. Being a little further away from the main hub of the city, in the Sunny Isles area, means less crowding but also that you are dependent on the hotel’s free shuttle bus service, or taxis, to get to and from the action. With that in mind, hiring a rental car might be the best option if you plan to stay this far out, although there are also plenty of quality hotels to be found in the city centre as well.
Miami is packed with a host of tourist attractions, no matter your interests. South Beach is a tourist attraction in its own right. The pastel coloured art deco buildings that line the beachfront became a symbol for the city, making it instantly recognisable. One building that stands out from the rest is the Casa Casuarina – partially hidden behind large black gates. This is the former home of murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace, and now an invitation-only members’ club. The black gates are always surrounded by tourists snapping photos of the iconic building.
The beach itself is a haven for beautiful people. Nowhere in the world can you see more bronzed gods and goddesses than here, although the beach isn’t exclusively for them. Families with children, couples as well as senior citizens can be seen enjoying the paradise that’s right on their doorsteps. The beach tends to get a little crowded in the afternoon however, so heading north to Miami Beach or Sunny Isles might give a little more space and privacy.
Due to its proximity to Cuba, Miami became a haven for people fleeing Castro’s regime in the 1960’s. Their influence can clearly be seen in the city – most shops and restaurants are dual language and quite a few only operate in Spanish, so it’s helpful to have learned a few key phrases before you go.
A visit to Little Havana – Miami’s Cuban Quarter – is one of the highlights of the city. Here you get a real taste of the Cuban lifestyle. Old men play chess and smoke cigars in a purpose-built square, whose walls are painted with murals of famous Cuban faces. The Calle Ocho, a replica of Cuba’s best-known street, is lined with Hollywood-style stars on the Walk of Fame, and is surrounded by little shops selling traditional Cuban coffee, cigars and handicrafts. Boat tours are a must in this city, and thanks to the abundance of celebrities in Miami, a tour of the wealthy islands off the mainland is packed with recognisable names and buildings. The tours take in Star Island, where Oprah, Tom Cruise and P Diddy own properties, as well as
Miami’s most popular personality, singer Gloria Estefan. The tour is a who’s who of Hollywood; each house is grander than the last and you even get to catch a glimpse of the imposing white mansion where Scarface was filmed.
The tour finishes with a trip under some of Miami’s longest bridges, where dolphins swim alongside the boat, jumping out of the water to the delight of everyone on board.
Miami is as famed for its lively nightlife as it is for its beaches. The sun goes down promptly at 8pm on summer nights, and from then on, South Beach comes alive in a riot of colour and crowds. Rows of restaurants line the beachfront, with displays of food on show to attract customers.
With so many restaurants in competition with each other, prices are generally reasonable, and most will have happy hours with two-for-one cocktails and other special offers. As with any tourist city, there will be some unscrupulous vendors – make sure you see the prices before ordering.
For those who want to keep the party going all night, Miami’s nightclubs stay open until 5am. The city is full of exclusive celebrity haunts, but dress the part and you won’t have any trouble getting in. Queues are long for the average punter, while VIP’s are ushered up a red carpet to a separate entrance. For a fee, you can order table service for the night at most hotspots – it means no queuing at crowded bars, but with prices starting at around $200 for a bottle of champagne, this service isn’t for everybody. Mere mortals can pay an average of $20 on the door, with drinks at the bar costing an average of $10. The clubs play a mix of hiphop, latino and chart hits until the wee hours, in true Miami style.
Miami is fast becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in America, and rightly so. With activities for everyone and enough culture and heritage to rival any European city, it’s well worth a visit. Bienvenidos a Miami!
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