Breakfast on the beach.

We had a slower start today and decided to try the cafe - mini market next door for breakfast. The hotel has a buffet breakfast that is good, but we only wanted coffee and toast. At the cafe we got coffee, toast and fresh orange juice to take out, and walked across the road to the beach. Circa 39 has it's own area of beach so we grabbed 2 loungers and had a wonderful lazy breakfast in the sun. We have a car to collect today so grabbed a bus up to the airport. If anyone is coming to Miami the bus service is very good, it cost us $2.65 and took about 35 minuets from Collins Avenue to the airport. We only had a short walk to the car hire and so far so good. We went straight down to the garage (that's what we did in Orlando when we last used Alamo fast track) but got told we had to go back up to the 4th floor and use the kiosk. Ok no problem with this, but the kiosk would not let us register, twice we went through the whole process, having to re input drivers license details and home address and contact number, and when we got to the end it stated it could not accept our contact number. After the 1st attempt we asked for assistance and she told us to go over the process again but leave the 1st zero off the mobile number but it rejected us again. So she told us to join the queue and go to the desk. 45 mins later we managed to register at the desk, Mr M was fit to burst at this point as when we last used this system in Orlando it was so simple, but this time it took forever. Anyway off to the garage and waiting for is was a lovely sparkly black Ford Explorer. Mr M does love his cars and this really cheered him up, it has lots of toys to keep him busy, I'll post photos when I get to Pam's villa with a computer. We drove back to Miami Beach and had to cruse down Ocean Drive. We came back to the Hotel for a pool side lunch, then off to the beach for a wander around. The beach is very busy,the sand and sea are beautiful but I prefer the quite of the gulf coast beaches. Back to hotel to update my trip report then off to Ocean drive for dinner at the Betsy.

Good start, love trip reports and yours are always good

thank you, appreciate your comments

Washed and scrubbed up we caught the "run away bus" back to Ocean drive. By night it is a completely different place, quite a few people has less clothing on than they had during the day on the beach, and you do see some sights. We stopped off for a drink and people watched, Mr M pointing out the Exotic cars cruising up and down, I was amazed by the beautiful people with their swagger and poise strutting up and down. We wandered up to the Betsy and found our table ready for us out side. This meal for us, was to celebrate Valentines day, Mr M was called away at the last Minute on Feb 14th, and had to go off shore, so we spent valentines alone but agreed we would celebrate in Miami. We started off with Mojito s whilst studying the menu. We both decided on the waguwagu steak, with no starter but possibly a pudding. We also ordered a bottle of wine with the main course. The waiters are. Very helpful and friendly and took time to go over the menu with us. We then got served with a delicious chicken liver pate with brown toast, followed by some enormous Yorkshire puddings made with Parmesan cheese - I can't remember the name of them- but they came served with butte land are delicious. Next was the steak, it was one of the best steaks I have every eaten, beautiful flavour and very tender. However the wind had begun to pick up and the food cooled down very quickly, but it still didn't disappoint. By now we were both stuffed and unable to manage a desert, we took time drinking the last of the wine people watching. We managed to waddle back to Collins Avenue and flag a taxi back to the hotel, there was no way we could face that bus ride back to the hotel. This is our last night in Miami, albeit a very brief visit We have both really loved it, the hotel is lovely and I would stay here again, loved the Art Deco district and the little we did see of down town Miami, we will be back to see more, but for now it's off to bed for tomorrow we drive up to the gulf coast and Siesta Key.

I am so pleased that The Betsy didn't disappoint, the popovers (yorkshire puds) are just awesome aren't they? We stayed at the hotel for four nights and whilst it did put a bit of a hole in the bank balance, it was worth it. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Thanks Diane - making notes for our next trip :) Hope you don't mind - but how much was the bill[msnembarrased]

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Originally Posted by carolmc

Thanks Diane - making notes for our next trip :) Hope you don't mind - but how much was the bill[msnembarrased]

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I've messaged you.

Thanks Diane :)

Hi Diane, I'd be really interested in the drive you have from Miami to Siesta Key. Will you be taking Hwy 41 through the Everglades or I75 through the North of the Glades? Tells us how long that takes if you don't mind and what the journey is like?
Mrs M and I are in Cape Haze for a couple of weeks after a week in the Orlando area and I thought a trip to Miami through the Glades National Park would be nice so a heads up on the journey would be a great help to us.
Great tips for Miami Thanks for taking the time to report back..

Loved the comment of less clothes than during the day on the beach, made me chuckle

Sounds like you're having a great time, Diane. I'm really enjoying your updates, please do keep it up. Brings back many happy memories. Miami is full of unusual people and we have remarked many times on the strange lack of clothing of many of them at night as well! 12 days to go for our next trip.

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Originally Posted by Macka

Hi Diane, I'd be really interested in the drive you have from Miami to Siesta Key. Will you be taking Hwy 41 through the Everglades or I75 through the North of the Glades? Tells us how long that takes if you don't mind and what the journey is like?
Mrs M and I are in Cape Haze for a couple of weeks after a week in the Orlando area and I thought a trip to Miami through the Glades National Park would be nice so a heads up on the journey would be a great help to us.
Great tips for Miami Thanks for taking the time to report back..

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Here lies another story. Before the trip we invested in a new sat nav, a lovely lady with a proper British accent. Our last one went all american on us when we down loaded the USA maps, I had to enter the freeway each time I drove down the M6 and had to use turning circles at every roundabout. Anyway I digress, we decided to use route 41, taking advice from this site. I researched the route, printed it all off and then lost it when we got to the states. But we had the map from the car hire depot and our lovely sat nav Lady Garmin. To avoid confusing her we asked not to use motorways, as we knew she would want us to use Highway 75, little did we know how devious she could be. So we set off from Miami Beach, got to down town OK and started to head south to the 41. We had turned lady G's volume off to save her voice. All went to plan until we hit a diversion the Saturday morning traffic was quite busy and we just couldn't find a way to go the way we wanted. Lady G was re routing and flashing instruction at us, so we gave in and gave her her voice back. Following her demands we ended up on highway 27. We really wanted to follow the 41 up the west coast, so re programmed her to take us to Naples, the devious little minx took us to the 75 and along alligator alley the preferred route for her all along! We didn't mind too much as we were at least heading in the right direction. As everyone already told us this is a very straight flat road. However we found a local radio station for alligator alley and had a natural history lesson during the journey, it was really interesting. There are many "refuge's" where you can pull off for a break. We had a picnic from the deli next to our hotel, so pulled off for lunch. We walked over the grass to look at a gator in the lake, I was wearing flip flops and ended up with black ants crawling all over and biting my feet. Swift trip back to the car and I refused to get out again. Once we got to Naples we picked up the 41 and drove north up to Siesta Key. It took us about 6 hours, but we did have a detor of Miami Dock yards, stopped for lunch and went shopping to publix, and it was Saturday traffic. We couldn't get into the accommodation until 4.30pm so didn't rush. We could probably shave a couple of hours off that easily if we wanted too. Lady G came into her own and delivered us to the door, with a slightly smug tone to her voice. I know others do this trip frequently , I'm sure Katie's Grandad could give you better advice than us. Which ever way you go I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Diane.

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Originally Posted by Tonish

Sounds like you're having a great time, Diane. I'm really enjoying your updates, please do keep it up. Brings back many happy memories. Miami is full of unusual people and we have remarked many times on the strange lack of clothing of many of them at night as well! 12 days to go for our next trip.

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Hi, things didn't quite go according to plan, we wanted to go to the News Cafe for breakfast but ended up there for dinner. As for Ocean drive I liked the start, from 1st to 5th street then from around 17th north. The bits in between are lovely, but too many restaurants trying to get your dollars. For anyone visiting for the first time be aware of menus showing no prices, you may end up with a bill for much more than you thought. We also liked the boardwalk, so many beautiful people showing off, and some jokers too. We didn't walk it at night just to be on the safe side. Mr M was wary of us wearing watches and jewellery but we saw far more bling than either of us had on! We are now on siesta key, not quite Sanibel but I will trip report later when I get use to this iPad!

Sounds like you are having an amazing time Diane, keep the trip reports coming, they are a really enjoyable read :D