Miami Beach, USA

Compiled by FatPassport's travel experts

Adult utopia with sun, shops, art and great food
Miami Beach, USA

Many Travelers? Huge Tourist Crowds
Likes: Beautiful people, pristine beaches, and great nightlife
Dislikes: Can be crowded and expensive in high season

The Miami area is one of the nation's best vacation areas. Offering fantastic beaches, great shopping, and epic nightlife, this is a great destination for a whole lot of reasons.

You'd be hard pressed to find many beaches in the continental US that are better than South Beach. This long, glorious strip of sand is what has been bringing people here for many years, and it should meet all your basic beach needs for sunbathing, relaxing, and people watching. "SoBe" is the superlative social scene with restaurants, raucous nightlife, shopping and an abundance of spas. It’s a place that’s full of “the beautiful people,” so bring your confidence as well as your cash.

While Miami Beach may be a party town, there are other aspects to enjoy while vacationing in the area. Shoppers have some good options, headlined by the high end Bal Harbor shops featuring upscale designers (think Prada, Jimmy Choo, Dior, Louis Vuitton, etc.) as well as Saks and Neiman Marcus. There are various other shopping centers and outlet malls for those watching pennies more closely

There are a plenty of golf courses, headlined by the wonderful Doral resort - home of the famed Blue Monster. Other options for active travelers are the 80 wrecks for scuba divers to explore, and walking tours for checking-out the abundant art-deco architecture. Also around is the beautiful villa of Vizcaya in nearby Coconut Grove; and if you need a gambling fix, then a half hour away is the Hard Rock Seminole casino in Hollywood.

There is still plenty to do here with the family, with the beach the big draw, though there are also options such as Zoo Miami and Jungle Island.

Miami Beach can be expensive, with high-end hotels well represented. However, even those on a tight budget can make do here.

There are some trade-offs to consider when planning when to come to Miami. Temperatures are very comfortable from December through April, though this is also when it’s most crowded. From June through September it can be hot, which is fine if you want to lay on the beach, but a little uncomfortable if you’re playing golf or doing something active. Hurricane season runs from June through November, with risk greatest from August through October. Weather is great in March and April, but at that time the town fills up with revelers on Spring Break, and while it's great if that's what you're there for, if you're not up for chugging beer and being surrounded by those who are, then you may want to come some other time.

Miami Beach itself is safe, though you need to use common sense and not leave your valuables unattended. There are some very dicey areas nearby, so whether in a car or on foot, stay on the beaten track, especially at night.

A visit of anywhere from a weekend or a week is about right, depending on your wallet, your work schedule, and how much sun or partying you can handle. In all, it's a great place!

---