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| 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. |
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