Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you visit Miami. While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to do in Miami Florida, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do on your Miami vacation.
Don’t Forget to Review Your Restaurant Bill
Every South Beach restaurant we visited was adding a 20% service charge automatically to the bill. Even though they are adding gratuity to your bill, they will still have a place to add a tip on the receipt. If you’re not paying attention, you could end up tipping twice. While that may not be the worst thing in the world for the server, it’s not cheap to eat out in Miami, so make sure you are paying attention to the bill.
Don’t Expect Great Service
We didn’t get the best service on our Miami trip. Of course, there are some places with good service, but overall it’s not as friendly or attentive as you might expect in the South. Maybe they know they’re already getting 20% so they make less effort, or maybe poor service led to poor tipping which forced the restaurants to add the tip automatically. Have patience and go in expecting mediocre service; you may get a nice surprise.
Don’t Opt for Bottle Service or Drink Specials
When you go out for the night in Miami, there are some tricks they use to get you to spend more money. Bottle service is way more expensive than just ordering the drinks as you go. Likewise, they may offer you a “two-for-one” on drinks and hope you don’t realize the one large drink you’re upgrading to is way more than two of the mediums you were about to order. Pay attention to the prices!
Official Miami Tourism Website: CLICK HERE
Don’t Expect to Buy Liquor After 8 PM
A Miami vacation is expensive, especially in South Beach, so you might try to save money before going out by buying drinks at the grocery store. But that doesn’t always work out. After 8:00, the only place you can buy liquor is in the bars and restaurants. At a much higher price, of course. So, if you want to pre-party to save some money on your Miami trip, make sure you plan ahead.
Don’t Confuse Miami and South Beach
South Beach is actually in Miami Beach, not Miami. You have to take a causeway to get there. It’s all part of the Miami metropolitan area, but South Beach is totally separate. Additionally, there’s way more to Miami than South Beach. There are tons of cool Miami neighborhoods to explore. Beyond the neighborhoods of Miami, there are also some great day trips to the Keys and the Everglades.
Don’t Expect 24/7 Parties in Miami
While Miami nightlife is pretty legendary, there are places and times when it’s not one big party. Even South Beach gets a little quiet in the mornings and weekdays. If you want a chill, relaxing vacation, you can definitely find relaxing areas in Miami. You’ll see this, especially if you explore outside of South Beach.
Don’t Visit Miami in July or August
The heat and humidity of summer in Miami are no joke. It’s literally built in a swamp and the worst time you could possibly visit is in July and August. After that comes hurricane season, so you can expect lots of rain and possibly hurricanes in the autumn months. December through May is probably the best time to visit Miami.
Eight Ways to Beat Peak Season Travel Prices
Don’t Drive in Miami
If you don’t have to, don’t drive in Miami. It’s not fun. Traffic is crazy and parking is expensive. Uber and Lyft are easy to grab in Miami, so it makes sense to let someone else do the driving. Preferably a local who knows their way around.
Don’t Forget About Public Transportation
Miami actually has a pretty useful public transportation system. There are elevated trains, trolleys, and buses to get you to all kinds of places in Miami. It’s often free to use, as well.
Don’t Forget Your Travel Smarts
Miami is just like any other big city, with petty crimes and scams to watch out for. Just because you’re in the “sunshine state” doesn’t mean you can leave valuables lying around in your car for everyone to see. Don’t leave your valuables on a beach towel while you go swimming. Don’t walk through areas you aren’t familiar with late at night.
Six Safety Tips for USA Travelers
Don’t Forget Sun Protection
The sun in Miami is strong. Sunblock isn’t just a must for the beach. You can get a pretty good sunburn just walking around Miami neighborhoods. Make sure you apply and reapply often, regardless of what you’re doing that day.
Don’t Miss the Cuban Culture
Miami has over 1 million Cuban immigrants living there, and they’ve brought the best of their culture to areas like Little Havana. You can have amazing Cuban food in Miami, from fancy restaurants to street food. You can get Cuban food in South Beach, but you’ll pay three times as much. Plan a ½ day to spend walking around Little Havana and soaking up the culture. Besides the food, there is great art, shopping, and some history, like the Bay of Pigs Memorial. They also have cigar factories, which are fun to visit even if you don’t smoke cigars.
Besides the Cubans in Miami, there’s a ton of other cultures blending in. They have Haitians, Puerto Ricans, and lots of other Latin immigrants and people from all over the world. Plenty of New Yorkers have emigrated to Miami, too!
Don’t Worry About Fitting In
Miami has a certain reputation that can be intimidating if you’re thinking about planning a trip to Miami. Yes, there are beautiful people everywhere in Miami. But it’s truly a city for everyone. There are all kinds of travelers in Miami, so don’t worry about fitting in or sticking out. They’ve seen it all here.
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Don’t let these “don’ts” keep you from planning a trip to Miami. If you want a fun, relaxing beach vacation, then Miami is a perfect choice. With so many fun places to visit in Miami, you’ll have a great time! Want more travel tips for traveling in Florida? Check out some of our other blog posts: