Transport

 
Miami


If you arrive at Miami Airport and are heading for the beaches, but are not renting a car (please always pre-book car rental in the UK or Europe as it is cheaper than renting in locally), your best bet is to take a taxi which costs about $25. There is also minibus service, called the Super Shuttle, which will take you to any destination in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas at a slightly lower price. However, it is very likely that it'll make several stops before it reaches your destination. As the price is only a few dollars cheaper than a taxi, it is probably not worth it unless you are heading to North Miami Beach or Hallandale/Hollywood Beach to where a taxi would cost a lot more.

As we have stayed in Hollywood Beach in recent years and have not always rented a car, we have found the Tri-Rail service extremely useful. There are 15/16 trains a day from the airport (peak time: every hour; off-peak: every two hours) which will take you up to Palm Beach. Such a journey is only a few dollars and is safe. As the Miami Airport Tri-Rail station is about half a mile from the airport, go to the bus station which is outside the terminals and in the centre of the airport area. There is free shuttle bus which takes passengers to the Tri-Rail station about 25 minutes before the train departs.

The mainstay of Miami public transport are buses. The Metrobus bus network is large and it may take some time getting used to it. A one-way bus fare to any destination (no matter how long the journey) is only $1.25. If you have to change for another bus, ask for a transfer when buying your ticket on the first bus which costs an additional 25¢. In the city of Miami, there is also a train service called the Metrorail as well as the spectacularly hi-tech Metromover. Somehow the tourists use neither, which is a great pity, as from the Metromover you have a fantastic view of the whole of downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay (it is an elevated monorail in a four and a half mile loop and is similar to the ones you find at Walt Disney World). It is free - what an absolute bargain! Don't miss the Metromover, even if you have a car! Park your car at the parking at Bayside and board this wonder. The Metrorail is a 21-mile long elevated train system which connects North and South Miami, with stations at one mile intervals. It costs $1.25. Transfers to the Metromover are free.

In Broward, you have a very extensive bus service. It is worth getting a weekly bus pass for unlimited travel, which only costs $9. Weekly passes, as well as maps and info for this service, are available at the main bus terminal in downtown Ft. Lauderdale.

Miami International Airport is the second busiest in the US and has very good connections to Miami and Miami Beach by shuttle and bus. It is also located very near the major car rental offices and thus many visitors simply take a rental car minibus when leaving the airport.

Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport Smaller airport, about 30 miles away from Miami.