33 Hours in South Beach, Miami
For under $250?
(including hotel, food, and SPA day)
Would a diminutive budget of $250 restrict me from a sojourn to Miami Beach during March, one of Miami’s busiest times of the year? Spring break, Ultra-Music Electronic Festival, and Miami Music Festival–which attract hordes of people from around the world–would be in full swing.
Transportation costs could have squashed my plans. But, fortunately, I had enough air miles accumulated to get a couple of free seats. Because I could travel mid week, which is the best time to get seats for miles, (mileage seats are made available on a daily basis, so I kept checking), I was successful. ($25 for one checked bag on the return flight).
TUESDAY
12 p.m.
NAKED FLESH AND FREE TOES
GO-Airport Shuttle, http://www.GO-AirportShuttle.com, 1-800-244-8252.
Three days after deciding to take the trip, I was standing curbside at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport, feeling the warmth of an 820 breeze on my naked arms, legs, and flip flop wearing feet, while waiting for GO-Airport Shuttle–a shared ride shuttle service which provides transportation from Fort Lauderdale to the Miami area.
Because I discovered the GO-Shuttle when I arrived to the airport, I made my reservation impromptu with the GO-Shuttle agent at the reservation booth located curbside. I waited only 20 minutes for the shuttle to arrive, and it took 45 minutes to get to South Beach (a few stops along the way to drop off passengers at Miami hotels). ($25 incl. tip)
1 p.m.
Jo AND DOUGH
Brothers Café and Market, 2603 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140, 305-535-6388, hours 7 a.m. – Midnight, Wi-Fi available.
Once at South Beach, I needed sustenance, and when I saw puppies tied to chairs outside of Brothers Café, I knew I had found something special—the locals always source out the best places—so I joined the pouches and their owners, and ordered a cup of Cuban Jo, a distinctive molasses-sweet espresso with espumita (foamy sweet, caramel-coated froth). I complimented my Jo with a freshly baked bagel and cream cheese ($4.82). I was not disappointed. The coffee went down smoothly, and the bagel was delicious. Being a coffee aficionado, I knew I had to return to Brothers.
3 p.m.
BUDGET BED
Haddon Hall Hotel, 1500 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139, 305-531-1251, http://www.haddonhallhotel.com, check-in 3:00 p.m., Twin room from $77, Wi-Fi available for a fee.
Seventy seven dollars for a private room one block from the ocean? In the heart of South Beach? With a private bathroom? And during one of Miami’s busiest weeks? Sounds too good to be true?
It’s true, but it was mediocre, at best. But hey, you get what you pay for, and at $77, I really couldn’t complain. There wasn’t anything particularly wrong with the Haddon Hall, except that its carpets were that wretched color of brownish yellow. The bedspread was just as wretched as the carpet and made me suspect that it was hiding years of stains, so I removed it. Luckily, underneath, I found fresh crisp white sheets and pillows with spotlessly clean covers. The bathroom was well-maintained. The black and white tiles gave it character. I especially liked the deep tub, which allowed me to soak after a long day on the go. And, I liked that they supplied bubble bath and soap. The kitchenette, while I didn’t use it, would have been handy had I been staying longer than one night and needed to cook meals. I’ll add that the room wasn’t very soundproof because it was located just above the main hotel entrance, where young party revelers sat on benches and chatted until the early hours of the morning. However, I enjoyed eavesdropping, so that wasn’t a problem for me, but you might want to request a room at the rear of the building.
Overall, the Haddon was relatively clean and seemingly safe. Mostly, the guests were a hodgepodge of tourists from Europe and South America, of varying ages from young adults to retirees. And, when I put into perspective that across the street the St. James Royal Palm Hotel was charging $735 for the same night, I realized that I had gotten a bargain and was pleased with my simple and cheap accommodation, even if mediocre.
7 p.m.
CUBAN FOOD– Palomilla anyone?
Tropical Beach Café, 2891 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33149, 305-538-0359, Closes at 8:00 p.m.
Of course, South Beach has numerous eateries specializing in Cuban food, and I was hoping to sample at least one, so when I came upon the Tropical Beach Café, and noticed that it was packed with patrons, I stepped inside to get a seat. And, oh, I was so glad that I did. Bistec de Palomilla, a specialty, was recommended by the waiter. The top sirloin steak was thinly cut, marinated in garlic, lime juice, salt, pepper, and pan fried. It was served sprinkled with onion and a sliced lime and was complimented with arroz amarillo and frijoles negro ($8.18).
While unassuming, the Tropical Beach Café serves up excellent Cuban cuisine and is a culinary delight. I can’t wait to return to this gem.
WEDNESDAY
10 a.m.
QUINTESSENTIAL BREAKFAST
I had to pay Brothers another visit before leaving South Beach, so I returned for breakfast. And, to my delight, I found that a breakfast combo special of egg, ham, cheese, on a croissant with coffee included was only $4.50. The sandwich was filling. It kept me sated ‘til dinner.
10.30 a.m.
A SALUBRIOUS WALK
After breakfast it was time to get some exercise. South Beach is 17 blocks long and 12 blocks wide, so it’s a perfect place for a long walk. I set off in search of a famous address: 1116 Ocean Drive. The mansion at 1116 was built in 1930 by architect Alden Freeman and was designed after one of the oldest houses in the Western Hemisphere, the “Alcázar de Colon,” in the Dominican Republic. In 1992, the mansion was purchased for nearly $10 million by the late Italian fashion designer, Gianni Versace, who renamed it “Casa Casuarina,” and then invested another $33 million restoring it. After Versace’s death (he was shot to death on the steps of the mansion by serial killer Andrew Cunanan), the 19,000-square-foot property was sold and, today, it is known as the Villa by Barton G Hotel (Find Sanctuary | The Villa by Barton G). The grand Villa was easily found because of the many tourists snapping photos outside. Tall hedges, walls, and ornate iron gates provide privacy so it’s not entirely easy to get a good photo, but it is definitely worth a visit, regardless.
Having viewed the wonderfully restored mansion, I continued my walk to the pedestrian-only Lincoln Road, which is a prime shopping area with many one-of-a-kind boutiques, and also big name brands such as H&M, American Apparel, and Sketchers (Lincoln Road Mall – Stores | Shopping | Restaurants – Miami Beach. Being on a tight budget, I exercised restraint and window shopped past temptation, making my way to the bohemian and historic European style village of Espanola Way (Welcome to Española Way!)
Espanola Way was abuzz with charming outdoor cafes, such as A La Folie, where patrons sat at tables, chatted and ate crepes (A La Folie Cafe – Miami). Food was not the only offering at Espanola, art galleries abounded, such as the Espanola Way Art Center and Marcel Gallery (Miami Beach Art Galleries). And, exercise enthusiasts passed me with mats in hand, I suspect, en route to a class at The Synergy Yoga Center (http://www.synergyyoga.org/) .
As I continued my walk along Espanola Way, I stopped in to the Miami Beach Cinematheque and Gallery and was informed that the Gallery shows movies in addition to bringing film festivals to the area http://mbcinema.com/. And, speaking of movies, I had to see the perfectly preserved and famed art deco Clay Hotel, where Don Johnson, Elton John, and Sylvester Stallone, filmed scenes for their respective films http://www.clayhotel.com/.
After a quick visit into the Clay, (where I was informed that it was also the site where Desi Arnaz started his rumba craze, and where Mafia Don, Al Capone, ran a gambling operation), I left the relaxed atmosphere of Espanola and set off in search of the extensive South Beach Boardwalk, which runs alongside the ocean and extends for approximately 77 blocks.
Once on the boardwalk, I ambled along, and competed with bicyclists, joggers, skateboarders, baby strollers, and other walkers, for a piece of the hugely popular boardwalk. After several blocks, tired from having been on foot for a couple of hours, I ended my walk at Lummus Park and Public Beach, which is an expansive white-sandy beach paralleling Ocean Drive (Miami Beach Boardwalk – South Beach and Miami Beach Information).
12 p.m.
A TASTE OF HEAVEN
Elle Spa at the Eden Roc Hotel, 4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33140, 305 531 33140, (Spa Services Miami Beach Spa Resort Hotel Elle Spa Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach)
After my morning of sightseeing, a visit to the Elle Spa was a very welcome respite. The Spa had a “Spend the Day” special offer, which included a Sea Salt Pedicure, access to all the spa facilities and outdoor pools and lounge chairs for $72 (included gratuity). So, I took full advantage of this fabulously inexpensive way to gain access to the prestigious Eden Roc Hotel and spent my remaining six hours in South Beach in luxury (Miami Beach Luxury Hotels | Miami Beach Luxury Resorts).
My first hour was spent at the private rooftop cabanas, where I caught some rays. I then went for a swim in the lap pool. Next, I relaxed for several hours in a lounge chair by the pool overlooking the ocean, but I could not resist the inviting waters of the Atlantic Ocean, so I dove in for yet another swim. In the afternoon, I retreated to the Elle Spa and rejuvenated inside the rain shower, followed by a soak in the sensory hot tub, a dip in the chilled cold tub, and then a steam shower. My last hour at the spa was spent being pampered by an esthetician who performed a sea salt pedicure, including an exfoliation, leg and foot massage, and pedicure, while I sipped complimentary green tea. (Check out Miami Spa Deals – Find Miami Spa Deals and Save. for upcoming spa specials in South Beach).
6.30 p.m.
TRAVELLING LIKE A LOCAL
MetroBus Route 150, Miami Beach Airport Flyer, 305-468-5900, http://www.miamidade.gov/transit
In the early evening I jumped on The Miami Airport Flyer bus (Metrobus No. 150), an easy and inexpensive way to travel from South Beach to the Miami International Airport ($2.35– cash only accepted on the bus). The trip took approximately 45 minutes (allow extra travel time if travelling at rush hour). The Airport Flyer runs every 30 minutes from 5:45 a.m. to 11:40 p.m., seven days a week. Buses are equipped with luggage racks. And, keep in mind that the Flyer is hugely popular with locals and tourists, so getting on at one of the earlier stops is advisable. It fills up quickly.
7.30 p.m.
CUBAN STYLE SUPPER
La Carreta Cafeteria, Miami International Airport, Gate D37
I didn’t expect to find good Cuban food at the airport, and was thrilled with the La Carreta cafeteria style offerings of Cuban food. I chose the roasted chicken with Cuban gravy, yuca, and black bean dinner, complimented with a glass of Merlot wine ($14.95).
9 p.m.
FLIGHT HOME
My perfect adventure in South Beach proved possible. The total cost of my sojourn was $233.80 (Wellbeing value = priceless)
vagabond kate 