subject: Miami Vacation Planning 101 [print this page] Think palm trees, summer, shopping, food, bikinis, and a long stretch of beach sand" that"s Miami. A much smaller city compared to New York and Vegas, Miami is home to the famous NBA basketball team, Miami Heat. It is where Americans travel to enjoy the summer. Bagged as one of the top tourist destinations in the US, Miami beaches are packed almost every season. Aside from the remarkable beach scenes, there are over a hundred reasons why you should go and visit Miami with your friends.
Plan your trip
No one should ever go on a vacation without a plan. Planning should be done weeks (even months) ahead. Although spur-of-the-moment decisions are also fun, nothing beats having a worry-free vacation and you can only pull this off when you plan everything.
Create a To-do-list
Go online and search for attractions that you think you and your group will enjoy. Children want to go see the sights, visit the zoo, and eat, eat, and eat some more. College students want to hit the beach, go shopping, take photos, and buy souvenirs. The Art Deco District has colorful artistry that is awe-inspiring. You and your friends can ride a bike, roller-skate, or simply walk down the strip with your cameras in tow. Downtown Miami is filled with shopping centers, and outdoor cafes where you can shop like crazy, then relax and unwind. You need to get those on your list.
Buy a ticket
This is the hardest part of all. Buying a ticket online is not as easy as it may seem. You may have found a cheap flight, go look for options in other sites, and then come back to that first website, only to find out that the price has gone up. Here"s a tip: Buy your tickets months in advance. You may get roundtrip flights for as low as $80 if you book it months in advance. Once you and your group have decided on a date, go book the tickets right away.
You see, here is how the airline ticketing system works; the lesser passengers there are on a particular flight, the cheaper the tickets are. They need to attract people to book a ticket to that particular flight so they have to lower down the price. If you haven"t noticed yet, when you"re buying a ticket, the nearer the flight dates are, the higher the cost of your ticket, right? That"s how the airlines get their income. So, I say book your tickets months in advance, that way you have more money for shopping.
Things to remember at the airport
Do you have your e-ticket printouts with you? Did you pack your bikinis? Again with the list, make a list of all the essentials you need to bring with you. Don"t bring a lot though, you can always stuff your luggage bags with clothes you"ll be crazy shopping in Miami later on.
While waiting for your flight, call people you know in Miami letting them know you"re on your way so they can pick you up at the airport. Or, you can rent a van for the days you are in Miami. Shuttle services can be found at the Miami airport but I suggest you call one ahead so you get your van reserved.
Don"t be late for your flight. Be at the airport at least an hour from departure time. Remember, airport security checks take time and airport security will not care if you miss your flight. Below is a list of guidelines that may help you prepare for your trip.
-Gels and liquids must be in 3 ounce containers or less
-Use a zip-lock bag to hold these items together
-One bag like this is permitted per passenger and must be removed from your carry-on bag and placed in a bin to go through screening.
-You can bring bottled water as long as you purchase it in the secure boarding area.
-Some food items are considered liquids, like jams, salsa, sauces, syrups, and dips. These will not be allowed inside the plane unless they are in 3-ounce containers or less and in a one-quart zip-top bag.
The exceptions to the rule are formula, breast milk and baby food. They are allowed in quantities greater than three ounces, and do not need to be packed in zip-locked bags.
To do this you must:
-Be traveling with a baby or toddler.
-Take only the amounts needed for the plane trip.
-Declare these items for inspection at the security checkpoint.
Sharp objects like knives and box cutters are also not permitted. Check this site for a complete list of items that are not allowed as carry-on.
So to summarize everything, all you need to do before your Miami vacation is to plan ahead, buy your tickets months before the trip, be at the airport on time, plan your Miami transportation, and enjoy the vacation!
