Flights to Miami Information
Sky rise buildings, an urban culture and a fast-paced lifestyle are some of the things that the 467,963 people living in Miami have grown very well accustomed to, especially for the past two decades. The city, which is the financial, economic, and cultural capital of the South Florida region, has a record as the seventh-largest metropolitan population in the United States, with 6.1 million people.
Miami is spread across an area of 56 square miles and boasts of the third tallest skyline in the US (with over 300 high rises, many of which exceed 490 feet). Due to its finance, culture, and international trade prospects, the city was accredited as an Alpha Level City by the GaWC.
It is, as of now, the third richest city in the United States, which means the cost of tourism is generally high here. So, you need to save wherever you can – in the form of low airfare to Miami, or through low intercity transportation.
You’ll find that a majority of Miami’s population is Cuban-American – so much so that the city is dubbed the Capital of Latin America. The central part of the city, known as Greater Downtown Miami, is popular for being the business hub of the state, and home to banks, hospitals, clinics, and medical and biotechnology research industries.
Unless you research well and time your booking properly, finding cheap flights to Miami will not be easy. It is, after all, a major tourist destination, ranking as the second most visited city in the United States of America, after New York City.
Speaking of flights, if you’re planning to book flights to Miami, you’re likely to be confused about which airport you must land at. Depending on your trip, you have a choice between three airports.
Miami Airports
- Miami International Airport
Marked with the location identifier MIA by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), this is the city’s primary airport. Situated 8 miles (13 km) away from Downtown Miami, the airport is majorly used for international travel to and from the city, and as the hub for the American Southeast region.
Going by the international passenger traffic, it stands to be the 3rd busiest airport in the entire country. The Miami International Airport serves as the primary hub in the state for traveling to Latin America. A huge number of major airlines serving Miami flights choose this airport due to its multiple terminals and runways, and high passenger-holding capacity.
- Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport
Marked with the location identifier FLL by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), this airport is bounded on three sides by three cities – Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach. While the Miami International Airport primarily serves Downtown Miami, the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport serves the Miami metropolitan area.
Cheap flights to Miami commonly land at this airport. Especially if you’ve got a hotel booking at Fort Lauderdale (cheaper than Miami), this airport would be the ideal choice for you, as it is only 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Downtown Fort Lauderdale. This airport is ranked as the 18th busiest airport in the country, with respect to passengers carried, and is one of the world’s top 50 busiest airports, too.
- Palm Beach International Airport
Marked with the location identifier PBI by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), this airport lies in the Palm Beach County of Florida, and is the least opted among the three when it comes to international travel.
The airport acts as a primary airport to the cities of Palm Beach, Wellington, and Delray Beach, but is quite far away from Downtown Miami (around 72 miles). The airport serves many major airlines, but not as many as FLL or MIA. It is comparatively not as busy as the other two and, due to this, is mainly preferred for helicopter operations.
Miami Attractions and Nightlife Activities
Miami is a swimmer’s paradise and a surfer’s bliss, so make sure the first things you pack are your swimming costume and surfboards. Head to South Beach on a weekday and enjoy the surfing experience – you’ll get surfboards on hire there, so don’t worry if you do not own one yourself. Not a surfboarding fan? That’s alright. The golden sands are perfect to relax in and get that suntan you’ve always wanted.
Curious adults can spend a couple of hours in the World Erotic Art Museum at South Beach. Tingle your taste buds with eateries around the museum, founded and maintained by celebrity-chefs. South Beach has much more to offer, for instance, on Ocean Drive you get to experience Miami’s art, décor and architecture.
Get your group together and chill at the Nikki Beach Club, or visit the Opium Garden club – a classy venue with mesmerizing and lavish decor, including Asian buddhas and sculptures.Crab Pie or dessert fans must visit Joe’s Stone Crab to try their signature lime pie.
Satiate the animal lover in you by watching alligator shows and snake shows at the Everglades Alligator Farm. Experience marine life at its best at the Miami Sea-aquarium where you’ll find dolphins and killer sharks as well as some of the most beautiful underwater flora and fauna.
Enjoy sea lion shows, touch stingrays, and mantes – some of which you’d never dare touch elsewhere lest you get poisoned. Animal and forest lovers can spend a day each at the Miami Zoo (ideal for kids) and the Safari Tour of Jungle Island (play with lemurs,hold snakes, and go for a free roam of the jungle here!).
For the part of you that wants an outside the box experience, you can head to Little Havana. The outskirts are where you’ll find the littleknown gem, EL Fresco – where you can see street art, stage shows, and food stalls – some of which even locals of Downtown Miami do not know of.
If you have time on your hands, you can shop at the Allapattah, or visit Marlins Park or Biscayne Bay through city day-tours for a complete experience. The nightlife is best experienced in 24-hour clubs and pubs- the jazz and the music will make you feel like you can just dance the night away.
Also, while you’re in Miami, it would be a shame if you do not try the authentic Latin American cuisine at least once.
Best Time to Visit Miami
The best time to visit Miami is during the spring season, that is, from February to May. The season is warm and great to visit beaches, the humidity is not extreme, and the hurricanes are yet to make their presence known around this time.
Flights to Miami are usually cheaper during late-April and May because January to mid-April are peak tourism months in the country.
Some Flight Pre-Booking Tips for Miami
- Choose a direct flight if you have kids or infants traveling with you. Also, research the number of layovers from your source to destination as well as the duration of these layovers so you can pick a flight that’s cheap and fast, both at the same time.
- Book your flights to Las Miami FL at least two to three weeks before your departure, because the closer your date of travel, the higher will be the prices of flights.
- At the same time, avoid landing late at night or during evening hours so that your day is not wasted. The ideal time your flights to Miami should land is between noon and late-afternoon.
- Keep in mind the arrival time. If you arrive very early in the morning, confirm with your hotel whether you can check-in or not. If not, ask them if they have a decent waiting room facility. If you don’t plan ahead, you’ll be stranded and might end up wasting your time in Miami.
Local Travel and Getting Around Miami
While taxis are a fast mode of transport, it is recommended to use shuttle services for airport and hotel transfers. Taxis can get expensive here, and you don’t want to waste all the money you saved trying to book cheap plane tickets to Miami on their fare.
Downtown Miami is best accessible by traveling through the Metrobus network – it’s fast, convenient, and cheap. The city center is also well connected through the metro rail, so if you’d like to experience the hustle and bustle of the locals, board a Metrorail during peak hours.
The city has an extensive Metro transport network – metro rails, buses, and metro movers are all reliant, well-connected, and reasonably priced.