I booked my trip via Flight Centre back in early fall. They found me a better deal than what I had access to on line. The return direct flight with American Airlines, plus five nights at the Harrison Hotel South Beach cost me approx. $1100 CA.
Day 1: Monday, December 23, 2013
I had a very early flight and was quite fortunate that the ice storm did not affect it. Although I was very irritated with American Airlines because they would not allow me to do a web check-in or seat selection prior to the flight like every other airline permits. They stated their reason to be for security measures, however, it was possible to purchase your seats in advance. Apparently, American Airlines has no fear of security breaches from those who can afford to pay for their seats. Everything is such a scam. In fact, I couldn't get my seat until the gate and it took me 2 hours to get through security and US Customs! Good job I arrived 3 hours in advance. Oh and they charge you $25 per checked bag.
Upon landing in Miami, I took a cab to my hotel which cost $32 (plus tip of course). The hotel was not quite what I had expected. It is advertised as a 3-star, but I'd give it a 1.5 to 2 stars. There aren't any amenities available (no restaurant, elevator, pool, gym, etc.), and the room was aged and not particularly clean. Since there's no carpeting, it sounded as though elephants were staying in the room above me. Anyway, I made the most of it.
Harrison Hotel South Beach
This is the entrance to the hotel. It appears jail-like, I know.
This chair thingy is in the middle of the hotel entrance, just inside the jail gate.
My room: broken dirty coffee maker, dusty cups, dirt encrusted A/C remote, squeaky uneven flooring, ripped and torn bath mat, dirt stuck on headboard, hair in shower, uneven toilet seat, and a broken safe that would sound an alarm every time you touched it.
The infamous bath mat that is garbage-ready.
Check out the strange art that decorated my wall. Questions: Is that thing in her hair chopsticks or a tuning fork? And, what's going on with her elastic arm and funky hand???
Art Deco building across the street from the Harrison Hotel - for lease
Miami South Beach
The beach was nice and the sun was warm. This is definitely the way to spend a winter holiday.
Let's call her "Sandy".
After my walk along the beach I decided to try lunch at QBANO Sandwich. It's a Cuban style sandwich restaurant. Let me tell you, it's no Subway. Two thumbs down for me.
This is supposed to be a healthy salad. It was pretty much a bucket of mayo with cheese, ham, and pineapple. I've realized that there's only one food group in Miami, carbs.
Day 2: Tuesday, December 24, 2013
All in One Day - Biscayne Boat, Everglades Airboat, & Miami Guided City Tour ($90 US)
I booked two tours from home weeks before my trip. This one included 3 tours in one day and began with an airboat ride at the Everglades Safari Park. I was taken about 45 min. outside of Miami to the Everglades. The admission to the park begins with a short airboat ride where you see a few fish, alligators, and plenty of marshy grass. The ride was interesting as it was a new experience, but I think they could make it better.
Everglades Airboat Ride
This is a baby. Isn't it cute?
After the ride there's supposed to be a show, but all I saw were three alligators sitting in a cage and some guy holding up a small alligator in his hands like a puppy.
For a $3 donation you can get your picture taken holding the alligator. Of course I had to do it.
After the so-called "show" you can check out the gift shop and restaurant where they offer some interesting eats. Making the most of the Everglades, I ordered the "Call of the Wild" which includes gator bites (yep, alligator meat), frog legs, catfish fillets, and steak fries. Although everything was pretty much battered and deep fried it wasn't overly tasty. It was mediocre.
"Call of the Wild"
After the Everglades you're taken back to Miami for the city tour. This tour was quite disappointing. It appears that there's really not much to see in Miami other than Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Little Havana, Biltmore Hotel, and the Venetian Pool. I took three photos in the entire 1.5 hour tour and as you can see below, they aren't overly appealing. Oh well; I'm glad I experienced it.
Miami City Tour
Biltmore Hotel
Perhaps they saved the best for last, because the final tour of the day was the Biscayne Boat Tour, or what they call Millionaire's Row. It's about a 1.5 hour boat ride around the Miami islands that showcase the mansions of the rich and famous. I thought I had seen mansions before, but nothing compared to these monstrosities. Some homes looked more like hotels than summer houses. It was really amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Biscayne Boat Tour - Millionaire's Row
After a full day of tours it was time to grab some dinner and check out the area around my hotel. I discovered that Ocean Drive, the street adjacent to the beach, is lined with hotels (much nicer than mine) and restaurants, and is a very happening place, especially on Christmas Eve night. One particular hotel caught my attention and drew me in for some drinks and fun. The Clevelander Hotel had transformed the outside of their hotel into a dance club with a DJ on stage. It was fun to sit back and relax with a few drinks, palm trees and fresh water pools, good music, and gawk at drunken fools and women with frightening cosmetic surgery. Isn't that what Christmas is all about?
Miami Beach on Christmas Eve - Ocean Drive
Day 3: Wednesday, December 25, 2013
I spent Christmas day at the beach. It wasn't hot, but nicely warm. I sat in the sand and watched the many different people around me. With my fingers running through the sand I accidentally picked up a cigarette butt. I was pretty grossed out too until I saw a half buried syringe only a half metre from me and thanked my lucky stars it was the butt I had picked up. Later on as I walked along the beach wading in the cool water, I spotted a tampon applicator washing up onto shore. It's very disgusting and dirty, but unfortunately most places around the world are polluted. This beach wasn't really that bad.
Miami Beach on Christmas
These coconuts were actually buried in the sand before we uncovered them. Treasure! They turned out to be great weights since the wind was wild.
Day 4: Thursday, December 26, 2013
This day was a very full and long one to Key West. The Key West Tour is a 12-14 hour day because it's an approx. 4 hour drive from Miami and then they allow you 6 hours in Key West for free time. I really enjoyed Key West. It's quaint and pretty with many things to see and do in such a small area. For lunch, I tried a restaurant called Cafe Tropical that was recommended by our tour guide. For an appetizer I tried Key West's famous conch fritters (tasted like deep fried rubber balls), and for the entrée fresh grouper with mango sauce. It too was mediocre. One thing they have in Key West that I think is a brilliant idea is the $5 stores. It's like our Dollarama but everything, and I mean everything is $5. In fact, you can't go 2 min. in the store without hearing an employee yelling, "Everything $5!" What a great way to pick up souvenirs and miscellaneous items. Loved it.
Key West Tour ($69 US)
Drive along the keys towards Key West
The many trolley tours offered in Key West
Cafe Tropical
Conch Fritters
Grouper with Mango Sauce
Apparently the beaches are no good in Key West and they boast about the water activities - snorkeling, fishing, boating, parasailing, etc. I thought I'd like the glass bottom boat tour because you get to see the coral reef, fish, sunbathe, and keep dry. Well, that idea went out the door when everyone started getting sea sick. I should have known something was up when I saw people getting off the boat before us who were literally running off the boat covering their mouths. I was one of the lucky ones who didn't loose their lunch over the starboard. The idea of a glass bottom boat sounds great, but I've done it twice now and both times were disappointing. You see a few fish and some coral, and the motion of the boat in conjunction with the angle of the glass starts to make you feel nauseated. That was perhaps my final glass bottom boat excursion.
Glass Bottom Boat Tour
One interesting fact about Key West is that you can find a monument marking the southernmost point of continental U.S.A. There, you are closer to Cuba (90 miles) than Miami.
Day 5: Friday, December 27, 2013
For my last day in Miami I had an opportunity to get away from South Beach and check out a wealthy suburb of Miami Beach. One such place was a mall called Bal Harbour Shops. We've all been to many malls, but this one is for the elite. This is where the rich shop. We're talking Jimmy Choo, Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Emporio Armani, Prada, Versace, not to mention jewellery stores that you must be buzzed in just to get access to the store!
Bal Harbour Shops
The mall has many large beautiful ponds with koi and turtles.
Outside Bal Harbour and the land of the filthy rich, I stopped for lunch at a Cuban restaurant called Sazon. I chose the Pechuga de Pollo a la Plancha (grilled chicken breast marinated in garlic and lemon topped with grilled onions), moros (black beans and rice), and fried sweet plantains. It was a nice meal and I enjoyed it.
Sazon Restaurant, Miami
Chicken
Beef
Pork
Day 6: Saturday, December 28, 2013
Before my flight home, I spent the morning back at the beach. It was a suitable conclusion to a holiday that began in the very same place. Don't worry, there were no cigarette butts or syringes - just me and the sea gulls. Until next time…
Miami Beach
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