Looking for ideas on an afternoon layover in December. What's close to the airport that is fun? No shopping, but outdoors or beach.

Don't eat Chinese!

Four hours? We go to La Carreta and load up on Cuban food and take our time. A walk along D terminal and back and its time to leave.

Cheers, RickG

get an Admiral's Club pass for $50, drinks are free, lounge chairs, fast internet, newspapers, and free munchee food

DRINK!

Go to the bathroom. Drink beer. Repeat until time to board.

With only 4 hours - just stay in the airport.

Assuming the layover is on the way to the Caribbean it will take at least an hour to deplane, exit the airport and get taxi to nearest "beach or fun area". Add another 30 to 45 minutes to clear Immigration & Customs if layover is on your return from the Caribbean. You'll need another 30 to 45 minutes to get back to the airport and yet another 15 to 30 minutes to clear TSA. Finally, your outbound flight will begin boarding about 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure. What this all means is if you leave the airport you'll only have about an hour or so of "free time". Not worth the effort.

Get an Admirals Club Pass, have a meal at one of the many airport restaurants, browse the airport shops, have a few drinks at one of the airport bars and any combination of the foregoing.

Go to the MIA website for a list of restaurants & Shops: www.miami-airport.com

Get the AA 30 day pass, it is $99 and allows you and a guest multiple entries within 30 days.

Ellen

30 day pass is good for three people <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

I suggested the one day pass as I didn't know if they were coming or going. We always buy the monthly pass, great deal. Look at it this way 4 Bloody Marys in the bars would be about $50, free in the Admirals Club.

I used my credit card at one of the restaurants - my cc # went viral within 24hr - made for an interesting trip

Rather than start a new thread I'll add on to this one - hope that's alright with the OP. We are going to have an overnight in Miami on the way back from our charter next July. Plane lands in Miami (from St. Martin) at 6:27 PM and we leave the next morning at 7:05. Have a hotel near the airport booked for the night. Are we going to have time to do anything fun in Miami? Any suggestions on where to head for dinner and a little Miami culture?

Also, I am hoping to check our luggage through to our final destination but how will that work with customs? I know in San Juan you grab your luggage, go through customs and then check it again. Same with Miami?

Thanks!

If you clear into the U.S. In San Juan, the you do not clear again in Miami as you are completely cleared in.

For night life, take a look at south beach for dinner, perhaps at a nice outdoor place on Lincoln.

smnhanson - I have been researching Miami/South Beach for our trip in February to the Miami Boat Show. I came across this interesting place to eat. It is not on the beach but it is on the water, think between the airport and beaches. Just a thought. Too far out from where we are staying as it is a quick 5 day trip with no rental car.

Yep, same with Miami. After you clear Customs, you exit the secured area, so you'll have to re-check everything the next morning.

There is a small outdoor restaurant MANDOLIN a great place for lunch or dinner. Every time I'm in town I have to stop there.

The restaurant on top of the hotel that is located in Terminal E of the Miami airport is not too bad a place to hang out for a while.

The airport itself is very close to the Little Havana area, so lots of good Cuban food available. Also, the Hereford Grill is fairly nearby, on Le Jeune Rd; it is a very good steak house.

I second the idea to go to La Carreta on 8th St. (Calle Ocho) for really good Cuban food. It is one of my favorite places. It's not that far from the airport and you can be back in time to check in.