Miami & the Keys

[Rhi]

Has anybody done a daytrip/weekend trip to Miami and/or the Keys without booking it with your agent before you went? We've already booked for 2 weeks in Orlando with Virgin but would also like to visit Miami and the Keys. Is is possible just to drive down and stay the night in a hotel for a v.short break?

[blue]

Miami is certainly possible but depending where abouts on keys you want to see it's a long trip. We travelled from Orlando to Key Largo in Sept and it's a good 6 hours with a stop for a bite to eat.

IMHO Miami would be worth it but I was a bit disappointed with the Keys in general. Not sure what I expected but I didn't think there was an awful lot there. However having said that Key West was great and I would go there again but definitely to far to travel for a 2 day trip.

As I say just my opinion and it does depend what you like/want etc.

Paul

[JDG]

It's a very long drive from Orlando to the Keys - we did it one year!

[mickchick]

You can fly from Kissimmee to Key West, in 90 minutes, saving yourself an uninteresting road journey of eight or nine hours, but it's not worth the expense or the effort. Key West is a bit of a dump, and you can see all round it in two hours.
Miami is far more interesting - fours hours by the Florida Turnpike, but very exciting and vibrant. Don't try to stay at trendy places like South Beach, because you'll be ripped off. Instead, stay 15 miles further north at Sunny Isles - you're still only half an hour from central Miami.
We recommend the Monaco, Sunny Isles. It's built literally on the fantastic beach, as well as having a great pool, and depending on the time of year a large room with two double beds costs from $65-$90 a night. Been going there for 25 years and nedver been disappointed. Also, it's near the best shopping mall, Aventura, and dozens of family restaurants.

[AEllis]

A few years ago we stayed in Miami for a week and I really didn't enjoy it at all - maybe should have done a bit more research first. We drove down the Keys one day with no real idea of what to expect and I loved it. I thought Key West was amazing and we thought it was fabulous. We just approached one of the booths selling tickets and got a beautiful apartment just off Duval Street - you really need to be around this area. The night life was fantastic (bars and restaurants) and it's the one place I would love to go back to. I will say though it's not really suitable for children.

It’s a long long way from Orlando but I thought it was the most amazing experience and I would very highly recommend a visit if you can.

Alison

[nick.allport]

Personally I wouldn't drive down. It's thoroughly boring driving in Florida and it eats in to your holiday time.

I would take an internal flight from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale (much easier than Miami) and hire a car overnight. It's only 20 miles to Miami center then - all on one easy road. If you want to stay in Fort Lauderdale I would highly recommend Sheraton Yankee Trader having stayed there last month.

Next September it would cost about £60 return per adult. Flights are an hour long. You could probably hire an economy class car for about £25 a day.

It's a beautiful coastline and Fort Lauderdale itself is very nice for a short trip. Very cosmopolitan.

[Pino_Spetzberg]

Originally posted by Rhi
Has anybody done a daytrip/weekend trip to Miami and/or the Keys without booking it with your agent before you went?

We enjoy the drive down to the keys, particularly in a convertible, with the top down on a sunny day with your favourite CDs the long sections of 45mph speed limits won't bother you - take your time.
It is possible to stay in South Beach Miami without being ripped off, the Holiday Inn has free parking and costs less than others because it is at the far end of the beach, but still within walking distance.

I wouldn't advise going to the keys for a week-end trip by car but Miami would be fine, but I would definitely book a hotel before you leave. Having said that we have visited without booking and always been lucky.
Except for one year - when we drove from Naples to Key West, arrived at 6pm with no room booked and found that because of a Gay Pride Festival the whole island was fully taken. We ended up driving back the whole length of the keys to Florida City on the mainland before we found a Hampton Inn with a room at 2.00am ! We drove back the following day and really enjoyed Key West in particular. If you do visit Key West try and stay at Eden House - it's lovely.

My plan would be a few days in Orlando followed by a drive down to Miami for a stopover, visit the keys then have a few days at the end of your holiday in Orlando to finish. :D

[BONZO]

In the early days before kids, we drove down to Miami and the keys.

Miami was ok but it was a real "cityscape" with lots of big corporate buildings.

I had my birthday in Key largo but the original "African Queen" had been shipped to California for a John Huston film.

Couldn't face driving to Key West though.

[blue]

Here's a pic of the original African Queen, well the end of it anyway. Must say I was a bit disappointed with it as it was a bit run down.

Paul