Orientation
Miami
Miami, Florida's most populated city, sits at the southeastern tip of the most southeastern state of the United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the neighbouring states of Alabama and Georgia to the north.
Most visitors aren't here for Miami itself, but rather to visit Miami Beach, an entirely separate municipality. Miami is on the mainland, while the city of Miami Beach is on a thin barrier island about 6km (4mi) to its east, across Biscayne Bay - locals call it the Billion Dollar Sandbar. On the mainland, the street numbering system is based on north-south and east-west dividers. With the exception of Coral Gables, southwest of Miami, (whose founders should be arrested for making their street systems so stupid) getting around the area is a snap, despite the intimidating look of the map.
Visas Overview
Canadians need proof of Canadian citizenship or a passport to enter the USA. All other visitors must have a valid passport, which should be valid for at least six months longer than their intended stay in the USA.
Travellers from countries such as Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom can enter the USA for up to 90 days under a visa-waiver program if they have a round-trip ticket that is nonrefundable in the US, and have a passport valid for at least six months past their scheduled departure date. All other travellers will need a visitor's visa. Visas can be obtained at most US consulate offices overseas; however, it is generally easier to obtain a visa from an office in one's home country.
The USA is regularly adjusting entry requirements in an effort to reduce the threat of terrorism. It is imperative that travellers double- and triple-check current regulations before coming to the USA, as changes will occur for several years. A procedure introduced in 2004 requires most visitors travelling on visas to the United States to have two fingerprints scanned by an inkless device and a digital photograph taken by immigration officials upon entry at US air and seaports.
Under new regulations to be phased in toward the end of 2005, travellers from VWP-eligible countries will need to present a biometric passport or US visa to enter the country. You don't need a visa if:
your passport was issued before October 26,
2005, but is 'machine readable';
if it was issued on or after October 26,
2005, and includes a digital photo as well as
being machine readable; or if it was issued
on or after October 26, 2006, and contains
a digital photo and 'biometric data,' such as
digital iris scans and fingerprints. Further details and information on the changes to the visa system can be found at www.travel.state.gov/visa.
Customs Overview
All incoming travellers must fill out customs declarations. Travellers must specifically disclose all agricultural products and all cash and cash equivalents worth 10000 USD or more.
Duty Free
Overseas visitors may bring in up to 100 USD in goods or gifts duty free, together with 100 cigars, 200 cigarettes and a litre of alcoholic beverages. As of this writing, Cuban tobacco products are still prohibited in the USA.
Getting There and Away
Miami has two airports, Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL). MIA is closer to town and has more connections; it's one of the busiest airports in the US. If you're coming in by land, you'll find plenty of Amtrak and Greyhound options, or you could drive there (preferably through the awesome Florida panhandle).
Getting to Miami and Away by Plane
Miami is served by two main airports: Miami International Airport (MIA), about 19km (12mi) west of downtown, and the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL), about 48km (30mi) north of the city. MIA is one the USA's busiest in terms of aircraft and number of passengers. Miami is the main US/Latin American gateway, and the airport is served by everyone and his brother's (including Brothers to the Rescue) airlines. Most major European airlines have services to Miami, though there's no direct service from Australia or New Zealand; if you're coming from that region of the world, you'll have to change planes in Los Angeles. The best deals to Miami within the US are from New York area airports, but the New York-Miami route is also the most crowded.
Miami International Airport is served by public bus, but private shuttle vans, taxis and limos are a far more convenient (if more expensive) alternative. Many deeply discounted tickets to Miami plop you down in the shimmering new terminal at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. It's a great airport and there are plenty of rental car agencies, shuttle buses and taxis ready to whisk you into Miami. The trip to Miami Beach by bus takes about two hours. There's a shuttle bus to the airport's Tri-Rail station, with trains going to the edge of downtown Miami about once an hour at rush hours, once every two hours during midday.
Getting to Miami and Away by Bus
Greyhound Bus has three main terminals in Miami, which send off and welcome buses to and from Orlando, New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington DC, and New York City. If you're arriving by Greyhound, the station is just north of downtown Miami, on the waterfront.
Getting to Miami and Away by Train
Amtrak trains connect Miami with cities all over continental US and Canada. Prices change often and are generally a bit more than Greyhound at its cheapest, and a lot more than flying.
Getting to Miami and Away by Car
Miami is at or near the terminus of several major roads, making it easy to arrive or depart by car. One particularly rewarding way to get there from west of Florida is to take I-10, which passes through the gorgeous beaches of Pensacola and across the Florida Panhandle, connecting with I-95, Florida's Turnpike, down the coast to Miami. I-75 and the Tamiami Trail (Hwy 41) also pass through.
Getting Around
Miami's double-decker trains are marvellously clean and quite cheap; the metrorail line through downtown Miami connects with the commuter system Tr-Rail, which runs to Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Metro-Dade Transit's buses cover a healthy amount of the city: the Omni Metromover and Government Center terminals in downtown Miami are the main bus depots.
Getting Around Miami by Car
If you're over 25 and have a major credit card, the easiest way to get to Miami Beach, Coral Gables or Miami is to rent a car. Some of the rental agencies offer an hourly rate with no minimum charges. All the big car rental operators can be found in Miami and many have branches at the airports. Beware also the high taxes on rental cars in Florida.
Getting Around Miami by Train
Metrorail is a heavy rail system with one line, running through downtown Miami and then south, connecting with Tri-Rail, Metromover and Metrobus at Government Center. Tri-Rail is a commuter rail system that runs between three counties: Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. The double-decker trains are a marvel of cleanliness and, at least for the time being, they're very cheap. For longer trips however, it takes about four times longer to take Tri-Rail than to drive.
