Florida - What to do in MIA with 5 hr lay over?

I have been so intend on trying to MFU, that I have not thought of contingency....

what is there to do at MIA with a 5 hour lay over?

Arrive saturday afternoon on BA207, leave 5 hours later on AA.

At present MFU looks unlikely, only possibility of op up as WT/WTP are sold out....

thanks

Don't try going to the beach on a Saturday afternoon, you could easily get stuck in traffic.

There are some fairly nice lounges at MIA. Likely your best bet is to bring along an interesting book and enjoy some iced tea. It's a southern US specialty.

without MFU, won't get lounge access, much to do at the airport?

any nice restaurants?

You could relax and take a dip in the rooftop pool at the mia hotel's health club in concourse E - you'll need to pay to use it but I did it a few years ago when connecting on the way back from EYW and it killed a few hours. I think there may have been a bar too ^

Given the relatively short time you have, if you want to get out of the airport you might look at the Coconut Grove area - it's a shorter cab ride and there are more alternative routes if the traffic backs up for any reason.

without MFU, won't get lounge access, much to do at the airport?

any nice restaurants?
You can usually buy your way into the Admiral's Club. A one day pass is U$50 (for me it's worth it for 5 hours). If I were in your shoes I wouldn't leave the airport.

You can usually buy your way into the Admiral's Club. A one day pass is U$50 (for me it's worth it for 5 hours). If I were in your shoes I wouldn't leave the airport.

don't plan on leaving airport. there are 2 of us travelling,

how would we arrange payment into AAdmirals club?

http://www.aa.com/i18nForward.do?p=/travelInformation/airportAmenities/AdmiralsOneDayPass.jsp&v_locale=en_US&v_mobileUAFlag=AA

Or buy it at the front desk when you arrive.

You can usually buy your way into the Admiral's Club. A one day pass is U$50 (for me it's worth it for 5 hours). If I were in your shoes I wouldn't leave the airport.+1

I personally don't think that 5 hours is long enough to make an out-of-airport journey worth the bother (remembering that the five-hour number shrinks when you weigh the security line time and needing to be back early to board).

I think that the lounge pass is reasonably priced: non-alcoholic drinks are available at no charge, as well as self-service cappuccino/espresso machines that make a decently drinkable cup. No-charge PCs are also available; in addition, a day pass purchase gains a one-day code for wi-fi usage (don't forget to ask for the code when you enter the club).

Just outside the Concourse "D" club entrance (airside), the locally-owned Cuban restaurant company La Carreta has a location. The food is good - not haute cuisine, but authentic:

http://www.lacarreta.com/index2.html

thanks for the info guys, will maybe opt for the Day Pass - unless the BAEC fairies release seats for MFU tomorrow

You definitely should hit La Carreta at MIA, an outpost of a restaurant in Little Havana that has very good and authentic Cuban specialties. Miami has some of the best places to eat and drink in its airport, not the usual cookie-cutter places you get elswhere int he US.

I admire your optimism that 5 hours gap between wheels down and wheels up = 5 hours layover.
Might take you 2 hours to get through immigration and collect luggage, and another hour to get back through security to go airside again and get to your gate.
That leaves you just 2 hours.

I admire your optimism that 5 hours gap between wheels down and wheels up = 5 hours layover.
Might take you 2 hours to get through immigration and collect luggage, and another hour to get back through security to go airside again and get to your gate.
That leaves you just 2 hours.
Even with only two hours you can have a shower and relax away from the hordes. Still worth the lounge price IMHO

+1

I personally don't think that 5 hours is long enough to make an out-of-airport journey worth the bother (remembering that the five-hour number shrinks when you weigh the security line time and needing to be back early to board).

I think that the lounge pass is reasonably priced: non-alcoholic drinks are available at no charge, as well as self-service cappuccino/espresso machines that make a decently drinkable cup. No-charge PCs are also available; in addition, a day pass purchase gains a one-day code for wi-fi usage (don't forget to ask for the code when you enter the club).

Just outside the Concourse "D" club entrance (airside), the locally-owned Cuban restaurant company La Carretaj has a location. The food is good - not haute cuisine, but authentic:

http://www.lacarreta.com/index2.html
There is also (acceptable) food for purchase inside the club if you have less time:

http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/amora.jsp

Amex Platinum will also get you (and spouse/children or two companions) into Admiral's club (and Continental Airlines Presidents Club plus Delta Sky Club). If you are considering paying for access, paying for Amex Platinum may be a better option (depending on the number of trips you do and whether the other benefits are worthwhile).

Given the relatively short time you have, if you want to get out of the airport you might look at the Coconut Grove area - it's a shorter cab ride and there are more alternative routes if the traffic backs up for any reason....or Coral Gables. How about lunch at the icon of style, the Biltmore Hotel (http://www.biltmorehotel.com/)? It would be $20 max each way by taxicab.
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13F

I admire your optimism that 5 hours gap between wheels down and wheels up = 5 hours layover.
Might take you 2 hours to get through immigration and collect luggage, and another hour to get back through security to go airside again and get to your gate.
That leaves you just 2 hours.MIA Immigration can be slow, but never have I seen it take 2hrs (in over 30 transits in the past four years). And I don't think I'm just lucky.
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13F

You could relax and take a dip in the rooftop pool at the mia hotel's health club in concourse E - you'll need to pay to use it but I did it a few years ago when connecting on the way back from EYW and it killed a few hours. I think there may have been a bar too ^

+1

Great spot to chill out.

MIA Immigration can be slow, but never have I seen it take 2hrs (in over 30 transits in the past four years). And I don't think I'm just lucky.


But maybe you are flying club? The OP is flying WT, IME that can add an hour to the immigration q

flying WTP, which usually means i'll be off right after F and before CW

You could relax and take a dip in the rooftop pool at the mia hotel's health club in concourse E - you'll need to pay to use it but I did it a few years ago when connecting on the way back from EYW and it killed a few hours. I think there may have been a bar too ^

+2. This is a no-brainer ... avoids any anxiety about trying to get back to the airport through traffic, and a swim in the openair beats a shower in the club any day. And it's cheaper.

In a great city like Miami, great weather it would be a waste of time to spend it cooped
up in a club. All the other options mentioned are great things to do.

flying WTP, which usually means i'll be off right after F and before CW

That gets you an hour back then. Gives you 3.

But maybe you are flying club? The OP is flying WT, IME that can add an hour to the immigration q

The issue with MIA is its very viable, last time I went through I was 5 minutes from bag drop to being airside. That was about 6 weeks ago and on the late flight (8:30 I think), however it's also taken over an hour to do the same journey....

I think if you assume it can take upto 1.5 hour you should be comfortable.

Pray that items from your lugguge do not go missing. Miami is one of the worst airports in the US when it comes to baggage handlers stealing from lugguge.

Even with only two hours you can have a shower and relax away from the hordes. Still worth the lounge price IMHO

Possibly but leaving the airport seems a risk with little upside - rooftop swimming pool sounds like a nice idea just remember to take your swimmers in your hand luggage !

Possibly but leaving the airport seems a risk with little upside - rooftop swimming pool sounds like a nice idea just remember to take your swimmers in your hand luggage !
I was referring to the showers in the Admiral's Club.

I use Club America which they have both landside (J) and airside (F) http://www.miami-airport.com/club_america_j.asp

You can get in with any number of cards including Dinersclub and Priority Pass, payment is also possible.

Bear in mind with the Admiral's Club, is that they don't offer you free food, you're lucky to get much more than biscuits and pretzels. You have to pay for it, at their bar. But MIA will have a nice selection of eateries. However, if you're BA Gold/AA Exec Plat, you will be able to access the AA Flagship Lounge, where they offer you free food, and maybe free alcohol. In a lot of American-airport lounges, you have to pay for alcohol.

If I were you, I would probably just use the swimming pool for a few hours, or ask for day rate at the hotel, relax, nap, swim, fly. Sitting around in the lounge for 5 hours is bad enough (I've done that a few times because my flight has been delayed), but sitting at just an airport for 5 hours, pretty boring.

Get a cab to South Beach, US$ 32 each way, have some food, look at the art deco and watch beautiful people.

Dont leave your camera in the back of the cab like I did on Thursday...

You could relax and take a dip in the rooftop pool at the mia hotel's health club in concourse E - you'll need to pay to use it but I did it a few years ago when connecting on the way back from EYW and it killed a few hours. I think there may have been a bar too ^

I used to use the MIA hotel health club regularly, drop the car early and get rid of bags then head for the roof top pool for a couple of hours. I haven't been to MIA for a few years and cannot comment on the cost or how good the facilities are now.

It was a VS crew member who told me about it many years ago.

..and now over to the Florida forum

Swanhunter
Moderator BAEC

..and now over to the Florida forum

Swanhunter
Moderator BAEC

Where it quietly died a death;) - 31 replies in 4 days on the BA forum and none since.


With an international flight arriving at 17.45 (BA) on a weekday and an onward domestic at 22.55 (AA -bags checked through) would it be feasable to take a taxi to South Beach returning to be back at the airport 90mins before the onward flight? Just to walk along for an hour, grab a takeaway burger or similar to eat on the beach. It seems a shame to spend the time in the airport after the long flight.

Where would be the best place to be dropped at the beach?

Where it quietly died a death;) - 31 replies in 4 days on the BA forum and none since.


With an international flight arriving at 17.45 (BA) on a weekday and an onward domestic at 22.55 (AA -bags checked through) would it be feasable to take a taxi to South Beach returning to be back at the airport 90mins before the onward flight? Just to walk along for an hour, grab a takeaway burger or similar to eat on the beach. It seems a shame to spend the time in the airport after the long flight.

Where would be the best place to be dropped at the beach?

Here is a better idea. Rent a car using Priceline or Hotwire. It would be cheaper than a cab ($70 round trip plus tip) even with parking and replacing a couple gallons of gas. You would also have a place to keep your stuff.

The garage on 13th between Collins and Ocean is the nearest to the beach and the cheapest but tends to fill up. Google Parking Garages in Miami Beach and you will get a listing of garages in South Beach.

You will need to take a shuttle bus/to from the airport to the central car rental facility.

Here is a better idea. Rent a car using Priceline or Hotwire.



Thanks for the tip - unfortunately neither my son nor his girlfriend who are the travellers drive!

So long as they don't get delayed at immigration/customs they should be able to pull off a quick visit to South Beach

If they just want to get a quick feel for Miami, have them take a cab to South Beach and drop them off at the corner of Lincoln Road / Alton Road. Lincoln Rd is a pedestrian street lined with restaurants, shops, coffee shops, bars, etc. Great for people watching and a good place to kill an hour. They can walk the full length of the street eastward and end up on the beach if they'd like.

If they would rather be mostly near the water, have the taxi drop them off at South Pointe Park. This is a nice new park at the southern tip of South Beach, right on the channel leading into the harbor, and is connected to the beach itself. There is a steak house with an outside bar in the park (Smith and Wollensky's) if they just want have an overpriced burger and enjoy the views.

Cab fare to South Beach from MIA is fixed at $32 plus tip. The return is metered and will likely be a little more $$. Cab ride is about 30 mins.

So long as they don't get delayed at immigration/customs they should be able to pull off a quick visit to South Beach



Thanks - this just the type of info I was after. I'll tell them to play it by ear - if they get through customs in say less than an hour I'll tell them to jump in a cab.