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Getting There

Nearly a hundred airlines serve Miami International Airport (MIA), including almost every major US carrier; there's also good service from Europe and of course excellent airlift to/from Latin America and the Caribbean. It's a little bit farther away, but the better-managed Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport (FLL) offers generally cheaper flights and less congestion; in addition to also hosting all major airlines, it has made something of a specialty of attracting lowfare carriers such as JetBlue, ATA, Southwest, and Spirit. Flight times to South Florida run about two-three hours from the Northeast; three-to-four hours from the Midwest; and five-to-six hours from the West Coast. To find the best air deal to Miami or Fort Lauderdale, use QuickSearch.

Incidentally, Amtrak or Greyhound, and via Interstate 95 in your own car are, of course, very viable alternate ways down to Miami, but its location near the bottom of the big, long peninsula that is Florida means long travel times by ground (it takes six to seven hours just to make it up to the Georgia border from down here).

GETTING INTO AND AROUND MIAMI
In ideal traffic (these days meaning mostly after evening rush hour), it can take as little as 20-25 minutes to drive from MIA to South Beach, about 15 to downtown and Coral Gables; taxis to downtown should run up to $21, to South Beach $32. You can also order up a Super Shuttle (800/258-3826) to South Beach for about $14–$16 or downtown for $10– $12.

All the major car-rental firms have depots at MIA, as well; but if you're absolutely sure you will be going to South Beach and not ever leaving it during your entire visit, don't bother – gas prices in SoBe are much higher than elsewhere in Miami, parking is a major pain, and you can pretty much walk everywhere anyway. If you're staying anywhere else, or planning to roam far and wide, on the other hand, wheels are critical. Check our featured car providers for deals.

From FLL, a 45-minute to hour-long drive, expect cab fares to be higher, in the $60–$70 range, while shuttle service to South Beach via Airport Express from FLL (954.359.1200) should run you just about $17). There's also a South Florida commuter rail service called Tri-Rail (888/874-7245) with a stop near FLL and a one-way fare of $3, but you have to first take an FLL shuttle to Tri-Rail's Dania Beach stop, and on the other end it leaves you at MIA, from which you'd have to transfer onward.

See Miami Travel Guide