Coral Gables is an upscale community that's about a $20 cab ride to the airport and to the port. If you stay in "the Gables" you'll be able to walk to shops and restaurants. Will you have a car? I don't think I want 3 - 4 days there without. Maybe spend the 1 night there and then spend the other nights on the beach.

No, won't have a car. I'm having real trouble finding a hotel on the beach that isn't either $200+ per night, or getting poor reviews.

They Hyatt Regency Coral Gables seems to come up pretty regular on priceline for $56 upwards - I'm thinking that's a great deal, plus restaurants and bars nearby. Could always take the bus over to the beach during the day, and stay back a while for dinner etc, and the take a taxi back - and given the price of the hotel it might still be economical? Anyone know how much it is for a taxi from Miami Beach to Coral Gables?

We're hoping to do our pre cruise night at either the Hyatt at the port or the Hilton in same area.

I have now booked the flights and cruise, so only need to sort the hotels now.

Sorry, should have said, won't have a car. We're not really keen on beaches, so we'd be happy sitting in the sun at the pool, then maybe a bit of shopping (macys etc) then dinner and some drinks. Not into clubs at all.

Does the metromover or other transport pass through coral gables?

Coral Gables is very nice but it's not near the port. You'll want a car and I'd bet a cab to the port from the Gables is more than $20.

No reason you need to stay on the beach. Look downtown on Biscayne Bay (Hyatt, DoubleTree and Marriott). Those cab rides are $7 and you can see the cruise ships from your hotel room.

There's also a Hyatt and Courtyard right downtown. Those, as well as the ones above, should be under $200 a night.

For the record, November is nice. One of the very best things about Miami is the ability to eat outside in the winter. You have to visit Coconut Grove, South Miami and Coral Gables (if you don't stay there) for the shops and outdoor dining.

I wish I could tell you otherwise, but if you're spending more than a day in Miami, you'll need a car. Or plenty of cab money.

Cheers!

I thought it looked like public transport was quite good?

Here's my updated thoughts:-

1 night pre-cruise - Courtyard by Marriott downtown (free on husband's loyalty points)

then

4 nights after cruise either:-

Courtyard Marriot downtown (free again, but not sure if want to do that area for 4 nights)???

Hyatt Regency Coral Gables - if I can get it on priceline cheap. (ie under $100 - have bid $58 so far and never got it)- I also don't see availablility on any other website - so maybe I won't get it at all!

Holiday Inn Miami Beach - $126 per night.

Any opinions on this?

Les,

You'll like the Courtyard downtown. It's a real, downtown urban feel - in a good way.

The Holiday Inn Miami Beach, is not the best. Altough it is right on the beach and that means it's well used. If you're looking for a place to sleep and be on the beach, it's as good as anything else. But if you're going to spending time in your hotel or looking for quiet, the beach is not the best option.

I wish the public transit in Miami was better. But if you're staying several nights, you'll be thankful you have a car.

Thanks. Do you have any other suggestions for the 4 nights? Would it be worth considering doing downtown again (free with points)? We'd be shopping, eating, and going to bars. Would be nice to sunbathe a bit during the day, and also wander around the other areas.

Would the downtown option maybe suit as transport will go all directions from there? I'm scared I'll 'miss out' if we don't go to the beach, but then we're not beach bums anyway!

Downtown is central to most things so it's a good option. But you won't find public transportation (aside from buses) from there to anywhere you want to go.

Honestly, your best bet is to rent a car for the four days after the cruise. Then, you can stay anywhere.

Best bar scenes are: Miami Beach (high-end and trendy clubs) open to about 5am. The SoBe club scene is legendary but can be overwhelming and costly. If you dive in, take a cab to Washington Ave. on the beach.

There's a steady, younger and urban club scene growing downtown. All within a few blocks of Club Space www.clubspace.com. The Pawn Shop is also a great option. www.thepawnshoplounge.com More locals here and half the price of SoBe. Taxi from your downtown hotel is under $10.

Other club scenes include Coconut Grove - more adult scene but that doesn't mean relaxed. It's high energy but upper end.

For traditional bars, you can't miss anywhere on Miami Beach - walk Lincoln Rd. (17 St.) - a pedestrian mall with plenty of cafes and bars.

The bars downtown aren't great.

There are also some great bar options in Coral Gables on Miracle Mile (Coral Way, 22nd St.). An expensive cab ride from downtown but about 20 minutes by car if you have a rental. My personal fav is called The Bar. www.gablesthebar.com Amazing martinis.

The Gables also has two of my favorite restaurants: John Martins (Irish pub with great food) and Randozzo's Little Italy (Chicago style Italian). It's amazing. www.johnmartins.com and yelp.com/biz/randazzos-little-italy-coral-ga…

As for the beach, you should check it out. At least drive Ocean Drive's art deco district which has plenty of club-type and tourist focused bars. But the ocean is, literally, across the street.

What part of town you stay in depends on what you're looking for. You'll find decent to top-quality hotels in many areas. If you're looking for the beach, young, tourist energy - but generally lower quailty eats and hotels, South Beach is fine. Downtown is more business-class, nice urban and central. Coconut Grove, Coral Gables and other spots (Key Biscayne or Aventura/Sunny Isles) are great but not for everyone - more low key and older guests.

For my money, I'd look into the DoubleTree Grand on Biscayne Bay, the Biscayne Bay Marriott (adjoining buildings) or the Hyatt on Biscayne Blvd. They are just north of downtown by a few blocks and overlook Biscayne Bay - blocks from Downtown and just a mile from South Beach with views of the cruise port. This trio of hotels also has in-house bars and restaurants. Here's a link to the DoubleTree Grand. http://miami.hotelguide.net/data/h100671.htm

Let me know if you have any specific questions or need anything. Enjoy your trip!

For the record, the best beach in Miami is on Key Biscayne - Crandon Park. It's a toll ($1.50 I think) to get to Key Biscayne which keeps people - even locals from going. So it's quiet and as close to perfect as you're going to find. Palm trees, white sand and Miami skyline. It's hard to beat.

Thanks for taking the time to give me all that information.

For downtown, our option is Marriot Courtyard, because we can get it free with points. That's really my main reason for considering downtown, other than it looks like we could use metromover, get train to Coral Gables or Dade shopping mall, bus over to Miami Beach etc. Seems quite central. What I wonder though is ANYTHING open here in the evening? La Loggia seems to be. We're also going to be doing some shopping, being from the UK it will be good value for us. Not tons of shopping though, as we're in Vegas in September so will have already shopped a fair bit there.

We're not going to hire a car. In the UK we drive on the left and this makes it a bit more difficult for us. Also you have slightly different road rules, and although I can cope with this in Vegas, it is only because I've been several times and know the area pretty well.

The other thing is - we're not interested in clubs or the pre-club type of bars. I quite like a cocktail, but wine will do - and a more relaxed setting suits us. Of course we are willing to go over to Lincoln Road area to check it out (take bus over, and if we come back after 11pm we'll take a taxi back). We could easily justify a couple of $25 taxis given that the room would be free with points.

So, my question is - based on this - would I be making the right decision just settling for downtown?

Les,

Staying downtown is not a problem - especially on reward points. And I understand about the driving issue as I'm going to Ireland in Nov and will be required to drive on the "wrong" side myself.

As far as I know, there's no train to Coral Gables. It's bus or taxi and I really don't suggest the bus. Having said that, the bar places there are nice - The Bar especially. It's not a club. And even though it's a chain, Tarpon Bend in the Gables has one of the city's best Mojitos.

From your downtown hotel you can take the Metromover (free elevated tram system) on the Brickell Loop across the Miami River for nice views. The second or third stop after crossing (around 11th or 12th St.) puts you at Mary Brickell village which has several nice bars. I suggest Blue Martini or Oceanaire. Around the corner from Oceanaire is Red Bar which is more local and small with some great art.

If you do hop a cab to the beach, and I suggest it, take stroll Ocean Drive - plenty of trendy (touristy) bars in classic Art Deco buildings. For something more genuine on the beach, drop by The Raleigh hotel www.raleighhotel.com

any evening for a great bar scene.

Also on Miami Beach, I strongly suggest hitting the bar (and restaurant?) at Wish www.wishrestaurant.com

a few block south of the Raleigh. But call ahead to make sure the roof bar is open. It's not always and it's the reason to go. You'll thank me for this one.

You should also, another evening, take a cab to CocoWalk in Coconut Grove. CocoWalk is very touristy (movies, chain restaurants, etc.) but it's in the center of blocks of really great bars and local restaurants. There's a great French place http://lebouchondugrove.com/ a block down from CocoWalk and one of my favorite places another block down - Green Streets - a real Miami tradition that's textbook Miami with red velvet couches on the sidewalk and great drinks. Even more options on the same block (Commodore) is Mo's: American BBQ Sports Bar with pool tables and darts, Cristobal's Quarter: New Orleans style and food (I have not been but the place looks amazing), and SandBar: beach food with college atmosphere. Plus plenty of other great bar options.

My final suggestion, a $10 cab ride from your hotel (if that) is Tobacco Road http://www.tobacco-road.com/ - Miam's oldest bar. It's real deal. Live outdoor music on weekends, bar food (pub grub) and atmosphere to spare.