rustum76

Hi,
Planning to travel to Everglades and Miami Area for a week. Planning to make use of AA and Hilton miles. Please suggest place to stay and places to visit.

Thanks

pbiflyer

Will you have a car? What other interests beside the Everglades?

I like the Brickell area. Restaurants, shops, free transport to the rest of downtown Miami.

I like Cooper Town for Everglades tours.

Vizcaya mansion in Coconut Grove is cool. Day trip to the Keys. Shopping/eating/drinking along Lincoln Road Mall in South Beach.

Perez Art museum, new science museum are right next to each other, a stroll away from Bayside, which is touristy, but a nice place for lunch. Lots of boat tours there if you want to see the mansions from the water.

Drink Cuban Coffee, eat a Cuban sandwich.

rustum76

Thanks for the feedback. We are planning for a week trip. Would like to use AA miles (Flying from TX) and Hilton miles. Going to rent a car. We do not have any specific details to see in everglades or Miami. Want to cover important areas in Everglades and Miami (those surroundings). Would like to book hotel using hilton miles and drive around to these places. What is the good place fly to and stay to start planning.

pbiflyer

Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports are only 30 miles apart, so I would pick whichever one is less points.
For the Everglades, I think the further south and west, the better. Out Hwy 41 (Tamiami Trail) is a host of places.
Miccosukee Indian Village gives a bit of an idea of the history. https://village.miccosukee.com/
If you are going to do an airboat tour, I would spring for a private/semi private. More real experience and not as cattle boat like.
There are a lot to choose from:
Everglades Safari Park - https://www.evergladessafaripark.com/
The aforementioned Coopertown - Coopertown Airboats
Gatorpark - https://www.gatorpark.com/
Everglades Nature Tours - https://www.evergladesnaturetours.com (They also have a walking tour which may be interesting)

And in Fort Lauderdale the park of Gator Boys fame - https://www.evergladesholidaypark.com/

Clyde Butchers Swamp Tours - https://clydebutcher.com/big-cypress/swamp-walks/ Walking tour started by a renown Everglades photographer.

Will post Miami stuff later.

pbiflyer

Forgot. Shark Valley in the Everglades has a nice observation tower. You can bike or take the tram - https://www.sharkvalleytramtours.com...bicycle-tours/

BamaVol

I love Shark Valley. Nothing like stopping your bike to let a 10' gator cross the road in front of you.

You might consider Ft Lauderdale, which is a little more laid back than Miami and may have better deals for one of the properties right on the beach.

rustum76

Thanks for the help. Is it fine to stay in any hotel close to Miami airport and drive around visiting places without any issues. Do you suggest any close by specific city to search for hotels. We would like to cover Miami, Everglades and if possible drive to Key west for a day.

rustum76

We can stay in one hotel for all our duration of day and drive around different visiting places right? We want to cover few places in Miami city, Everglades and Key west (for a day if possible). I am planning to book flight tickets using AA and Hotel using Hilton points. I will rent a car at airport. Flight tickets are very expensive but there is no option other than adjusting travel dates little bit.

rustum76

deleted.

rustum76

Duplicate post.

rustum76

Is it best idea to book hotel for 3-4 days to stay around Miami and 2 days in Key west. If we just book at one hotel for all 6 days (around Miami), can we just drive back and forth to Keywest for 2 days.

SJWarrior

During the holidays, it will be a pain to drive back and forth to KW two days.

rustum76

Thanks for the feedback. We are also planning to stay for Dec 31st. What is the best place to observe new year celebrations (fire works etc.,). We are also planning to book hotel little far out from beach. There is no free car parking for hotels close to beach and very expensive with points. We want to rent a car to drive around to all places. How difficult is to drive (park) to south beach during regular days and on Dec 31st.

pbiflyer

You are staying at the absolute peak travel time. Hotels anywhere in South Florida are expensive.
Everywhere in South Florida is drive-able, so where you stay is not that important. There is more to do in Miami than Ft Lauderdale.
There is almost always traffic into South Beach. Ocean drive is always a slow roll.
As far as Key West, if you don't really need to get all the way down there, but just want to see the keys, Islamorada and Key Largo are fine destinations.

rustum76

Thanks for the feedback. We are flying to MIA on 12/25 morning and leaving back to Texas on 01/01 morning. We have 6 full days and another half a day (12/25). My hotel options are limited as I am trying to book using Hilton points (Diamond status) with free breakfast and car parking. We are limited with few Hampton inns and homewood suites. Booked with homewood suites near MIA airport. Everything is very expensive (500k points near Brickell). Is it good idea to keep looking for something close to south/North beach (Hampton Inn Hallandale Beach / Brickell ). We are also planning to rent a car. Not sure how to manage without renting a car. If i book hotel close to beach, there is no free parking.

These are the places we are planning to visit,
1. South Beach/North Beach/Lincoln Road Mall
2. Wynwood Walls
3. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
4. Bayfront Park / Bayside market place
5. Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
6. Everglades on hwy 41 (SharkValley, Cooper town for airboat tour)
7. Everglades on hwy 9336 (Anhinga Trail)
8. Key Biscayne / Crandon Park
9. Key Largo / Key West

Are there any kids activities (9 year and 13 year old) we can go to.

Thanks