June 2019 | Miami Taxi

Best Miami Attractions for Tourists Listed by Category

June 18, 2019 Rozanne Wilds Lifestyle, Miami Information No comments

As far is US cities go, Miami is one of the most fun. With sunny weather year-round, pleasant climates and beautiful beaches, it’s hard not to fall in love at first sight. If you’re planning a trip to Miami, chances are you won’t be disappointed. Just be sure to fill your itinerary with some of the best places to see in the city. You’ll need to visit the beaches for sure, but there are a few other places you won’t want to miss. Here are the best Miami attractions for both locals and tourists to visit.

Miami vs Miami Beach: What’s the Difference

For anyone who hasn’t ever visited Miami, Miami and Miami beach might seem like the same thing. However, the two are distinct cities that are each governed by their own municipality. Regardless, it’s a good idea to visit both Miami and Miami Beach to view all the attractions in the area.

Best Miami Beaches

What’s a trip to Miami if you don’t visit the beach? Miami has some of the most beautiful and enjoyable beaches – not only in the US, but worldwide. When it comes to beaches in Miami, there are a few you shouldn’t miss out on.

Lummus Park Beach

Lummus park beach is a great place to relax over the weekend. Some of the main activities of the beach include volleyball, sunbathing, swimming and more. The beach also sports trees for shade and some outdoor exercise equipment.

If you get hungry, you won’t need to go far, as Lummus Park Beach has some great restaurants to dine at.

South Pointe Park Pier

South Pointe Park Pier is a lovely, quiet beach away from the busy city life. Facilities as the beach include a play area for children, picnic areas and a fishing pier. For those who like to swim, the beach also has washing stations with showers to rinse away beach sand and water after a dip in the ocean.

Visitors could easily find themselves spending a few hours at South Pointe Park Pier, as there are a few restaurants located on the beach for when hunger starts to set in.

Surfside

Surfside is another Miami attraction that you shouldn’t miss. A popular attraction for both locals and tourists, Surfside is a great for swimming in summer, as lifeguards are on duty this time.

Furthermore, the beach often has live music and there are a few bars in the area to go and enjoy a drink. Another great thing about Surfside is the Surfside Community Centre, where one of the biggest waterparks in Miami are located.

Although there are many other beaches in Miami and surrounds, these three are certainly some of the most central. Other beaches to visit in the area include Houlover Beach. Sunny Isles Beach, Crandon Park and Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Miami Attractions for Nature Lovers

Miami has some great parks to enjoy. The great thing about going to a park is that it’s the perfect place to relax, go slow and breathe in some fresh air.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Any park can offer green trees, green grass and some time in nature, but John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is different. Instead of offering the normal nature experience, this park is dedicated to the coral reef, which means you can explore the sea life in the area.

When visiting the park, the best way to see the reef is through a snorkeling tour or by boat.

Oleta River State Recreation Area

This park is one of Florida’s finest. Oleta River State Recreation Area is a bit of a way out, but well worth the effort. The park offers kayaking, paddleboard, off road bike riding and accommodation in cozy cabins on premise.

Bill Sadowski Park

Ideal for bird watchers and amateur astrologists, the Bill Sadowski Park has beautiful scenic trails. A visit to the park in the evening could see you stargazing from the observatory in the park. Bird watching tours are also available.

Miami Night Time Attractions

After spending a sunny day at the beach or in nature, there’s still plenty more to do in the evenings when you’re in Miami.

Ice Bar

Although you’re visiting Miami for the warm weather, it’s good to mix things up a night to cool off. The Ice Bar offers tours, where you can enjoy drinks and view ice sculptures by Joel Rimer. If you didn’t pack warm clothes, you needn’t worry, as a fur coat, socks and some winter accessories will be part of your tour package.

The ice bar is the perfect place to experience something unique in Miami while enjoying drinks and some live music.

Miami Downtown

Miami Downtown is an area that’s teaming with life at night. With a variety of bars to choose from, it’s the perfect place to go if you want to enjoy a drink and listen to music. Bars are busier on weekends, making it the ideal place to go if you enjoy large crowds. Be sure to look for happy hour discounts at bars because many bars in the area offer happy hour all night long.

South Beach

South Beach is the place to be if you love parties. With a selection of top clubs, world class DJ’s and fun parties, there’s no place in Miami where nighttime is more alive than here.

South Beach has discos, bars, clubs and lounges. Anything you want for a great night out partying. It’s a great place to get social and meet both locals and tourists in the area.

Other Miami Attractions

Miami offers more than just beaches, nature and spectacular nightlife activities. The city also offers historical attractions and unique shopping locations.

Bayside Marketplace

Bayside marketplace is a great place to go if you need a little retail therapy. With more than 150 specialty shops, cafes and restaurants, Bayside Marketplace is a great place to unwind, buy some souvenirs and enjoy a cup of coffee or a meal.

Open from 10am to 10- or 11pm every day of the week except Sunday, it can also be a great place to go for a relaxed evening out.

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a beautiful place to visit. The museum boasts a garden and interior designed with Renaissance in mind. It’s this European style will make you feel as if you’ve been transported to a different country altogether.

Miami Science Museum

Miami Science Museum offers an impressive range of interactive exhibits. Some of the main themes covered are physics, chemistry and biology. The museum is the perfect place to go for a fun day out with the family. It’s a great opportunity to teach kids science while learning more about it yourself.

The museum was established in 1950 and has grown significantly since that time.

Exhibits are changed regularly, so even after the first visit, there’s always more to go back for.

Transport Options for Miami Tourists

When it comes to getting around in Miami, visitors have a couple of options to choose from. For those who want a car, renting is an option, but it’s usually more expensive than alternatives.

Public Transport

Miami has a bus system that runs to many of the popular locations in the city. While bus fair is cheap, taking the bust means planning your daily itinerary around when the next bus will be available to pick you up. You’ll also need to ensure you have change on you, as only exact change will be accepted for bus fares/

Another option is the trolleys. The trolleys operate in Miami, Miami Beach and are free of charge, but limited destinations are available. One of the main benefits of the trolleys is that they connect the bus system, which can make if easier to catch a bus if you don’t want to wait at your current location.

Miami Yellow Taxis

Yellow taxis are the ideal transportation if you want to explore Miami on your own time. Rates are generally affordable and the cost per mile decreases the further you go. When traveling a bit further out where public transport isn’t available, taxis are one of the cheapest options for transport in Miami.

Why Taking a Miami Taxi is Best for Business Travelers?

June 6, 2019 Rozanne Wilds Miami Information, Uncategorized No comments

The sunshine state is always teaming with tourists and holiday-goers. From beautiful beaches to ideal weather conditions, Miami has it all! But not all visitors to Miami are here for recreational purposes. Miami was recently named the top city for small businesses in America, making it a booming business hub with lots of growth. As businesses in Miami grow, the city can expect to see more business travelers. Here’s why taking a Miami taxi is one of the best ways to get around the city.

Miami As a Business City

Miami has a modest population compared to cities like New York and Los Angeles. Still Miami managed to rank first in a recent report by Biz2Credit as the best city to start a business in America.

Business growth and profit margins compared to debts were two important ranking factors. To compile the list of 25 top cities for small business in America, small businesses with less than 250 with an annual revenue of less than $10 million were examined.

There are a couple of businesses in Miami that particularly stand out. Miami’s booming tourism industry has long been a source of income for the city. Seeing as weather in Miami is always pleasant, the tourism industry is busy year-round.

Miami is also a central point for importing and exporting. The city has one of the busiest ports in America and Miami International Airport is receives the most cargo flights from South America and the Caribbean compared to any other U.S city.

To further Miami’s business thriving business activities, it’s also a media center for the Spanish language. Many of the biggest Spanish media outlets are either based in, or have key branches in Miami.

Miami Taxis Remain Popular

Despite the ride-sharing becoming the craze in recent years, taxis in Miami are far from going extinct. In April 2015, 10 months after ride-sharing provider Uber launched in the city, taxis were still far more popular option for business travelers to get around.

Although the rise of ride-sharing has impacted the taxi industry worldwide, taxis in Miami remain very popular, even in 2019. There’s a simple reason for this – Miami taxis are among the best in the world!

There are several reasons why business travelers in Miami prefer to take a taxi rather than reaching for their smart phones.

Taxi Transport to Miami International Airport

Business travelers can enjoy the convenience of taking a taxi to or from Miami International Airport. Most Miami taxi companies charge an affordable flat rate for airport trips. Most business travelers arrive in Miami at the airport, so transport to and from Miami Airport will be an important part of the trip.

Ride-share providers were banned in from operation at Miami Airport at some stage, but this is no longer in effect, which means travelers have a choice between taking a taxi or an Uber.

There’s a good reason why Uber wasn’t allowed at Miami Airport. Ride-sharing providers were banned in Miami-Dade county till 2016. This didn’t stop them from operating in the area though, as Uber was illegally operating in the county since the summer of 2014.

Regardless, Uber and other ride-sharing providers are now legally operating in Miami-Dade county and the airport is no exception. There might still be misinformation regarding the legality of ride-share providers in Miami, especially for visitors who heard of the ban, but aren’t sure if it’s in effect anymore.

What should be noted, is that taking a taxi from the airport rather than a ride-sharing car, still offers many advantages. More about this later on.

Taking a Taxi to Work in Miami

Business travelers differ from tourists and holiday-goers in one simple way – they need to work. A lot of business travelers need to go into work on a daily basis and return to their accommodation in the evenings.

The problem with catching a ride-sharing car is that rates differ depending on current demand. In peak hour traffic, everyone is trying to get around. Rates for a ride-share car will be far more expensive because of this.

Taxis, on the other hand, charge the same rate per mile any time of the day, so they’re definitely a better choice for daily commute to work and back.

Ask a local Miami taxi service if they can collect you every morning at a certain time for the duration of your stay in the city. This is much more convenient than even going on an app to get your ride every day. Just don’t let your driver wait for you, as this will inflate the costs. If you’re unsure what time you’ll finish work each day, rather tell the taxi service to arrange for a time every day.

To set up an arrangement for a taxi to collect you from your accommodation every day, call Yellow Taxi Miami and speak to get assistance from our friendly staff.

Taking Taxis for Recreational Purposes

Want to go to Miami beach in your spare time? No problem. Taking a taxi is a great way to get there. The benefit of taking a taxi to Miami beach is that – same as with your daily commute to work – you won’t need to pay more during busy times. Over the weekend, a lot of people are traveling to the beach and back, which can significantly increase the demand for rides.

Disadvantages of Ride-Sharing

As mentioned earlier, there are a number of reasons why taking a taxi can be better than reaching for your smartphone. Here are some of the disadvantages of ride-share providers.

Driver Background Checks

The whole concept behind ride-sharing is that anyone with a car that qualifies can sign up as a driver. This makes it a lot more difficult to scan drivers for background checks.

Taxis are regulated by the government and so are the drivers. Taxi drivers usually have to undergo background checks. Criminal records, health aptitude tests and previous driving offenses, such as DUI charges.

Although many ride-share drivers are very professional, and some even have experience as cab drivers, ride-share providers simply don’t have the same capacity to screen all their drivers. The driver rating system on the app can help monitor drivers, but it isn’t as reliable as proper screening.

Various incidents have taken place where Uber drivers harmed passengers. In 2016 an Uber driver named James Dalton turned out to be a serial killer, after murdering six of his passengers in Kalamazoo. This is also just one of the most drastic incidents involving a ride-share driver – there are more.

Of course, even drivers without criminal records can harm passengers. The benefit of taxi cabs compared to ride-share is just that there’s more accountability. Under its terms and conditions, Uber accepts no harm to passengers in these circumstances. Whether a driver robs a passenger at gunpoint, or kills them, Uber won’t be held liable for such incidents.

Ride-share Risks for Drivers

Ride-sharing not only poses more risk for passengers, but also drivers. Seeing as ride-share providers aren’t employees, they receive no health benefits – not even in cases where they get injured on the job.

There have been incidents where passengers have assaulted Uber drivers. To some extent, the assaults should come as no surprise, as a lot of Uber passengers use the service to avoid driving while under the influence. This means that being an Uber driver on a typical Friday night can actually be risky.

Nevertheless, cab drivers will face the same risk when transporting drunk passengers. The main difference, however, is once again accountability. An employee at a cab company can expect to get some compensation for medical bills and paid leave during hospitalization in such an incident – ride-share providers, once again, won’t accept any liability in these cases.

Ride-share Lack of Social Responsibility

Working conditions for drivers who use ride-share providers are, in fact, quite poor. Earlier this year on 8 May 2019, ride-share drivers worldwide decided to go on a strike to protest for better working conditions.

One of the objections from drivers was that there’s little to no investigation into passenger complaints. If a driver receives too many complaints, he or she will simply be “deactivated” (which in this case means fired) at the press of a button. This makes for very volatile income security for drivers.

Of course, not all passenger complaints are necessarily reasonable. Many drivers complained of bad reviews as a result of racism or discrimination on behalf of their passengers. Furthermore, drivers could get bad reviews if a passenger is late for an important meeting after getting stuck in traffic. It goes without saying, drivers themselves would change traffic conditions if they could. Faster trips mean more trips. More trips mean more income. But it’s humanly impossible to make traffic congestion disappear.

Still there will always be passengers who are unreasonable “bad apples” and punish drivers for circumstances out of their control.

To conclude, taking a taxi is not only cheaper in peak hour traffic, it’s a responsible choice for your own safety and the well-being of your drivers.