HOW TO ENJOY YOUR TIME WHEN VISITING MIAMI

“One of my favourite vacation places is Miami, because of the people, the water and the beach – of course – and the architecture on Miami Beach is so wonderful.”

Oksana Baiul

There is an inner peace that comes with traveling. Each city tends to leave their own memories that can’t be captured.

Miami is different and from the airport, you can feel the hype of the city. The sun hits you hard and reflections from the shiny rooftops of moving vehicles can be seen. People on the street were not in a hurry, their attires relaxed colourful and vibrant. From my Uber ride, I had muttered my words loud ‘something about Miami is different’. Truly it was.

    My experience that started on the South side of Miami ended North, which made me see the city for the vibe that it is and it definitely isn’t over-hyped.
    Beautiful pastel painted flats, tanned walls that remind you of the pictures you have in your head about the city of Morocco, except this time there are lots of palm trees with flowers that I thought to myself if people in the city did work.
             
                        What to do in Miami    
I advise going to Miami is interesting with a group of friends or a lover. I am not one that likes to travel alone either, because experiences are beautiful when shared. So here are a few things to do when visiting Miami, the chacha city.

Your hotel is the first experience of how you love a city or experience it so I have three recommendations based on where I visited during my short stay.

YVE Hotel Miami: This hotel is less pricey than the other places we stayed but its location is central and that means easy access to other fun places you end up visiting. Their breakfast is commendable and affordable, $20- $30 for breakfast.

Four seasons surf side Miami: This surf side club as it is fondly called is pricey for an average earner. However, the ambience and service from their customer service deck are worth the hype. The hotel itself has a rich history and wasn’t open to the public for a long time. Covering over 6 acres of land, our room facing beautiful waves of the ocean, we went to bed amazed at the beauty of the sunset.

    It was fascinating also, knowing former leaders like Rosevelt, Winston Churchill and other famous celebrities have stayed at the surf club, think of any and there are possibilities they’ve been to the surf side. It also houses a bar, restaurant, antique and clothing stores, an amazing spa and facial treatment with a heating room that works well on your skin.

Lido Spa hotel: I didn’t stay there long enough, but the hotel location is very close to the water with a lot of spa treatments and a beautiful walk through ambience.

             
       Where to eat:
I love food, especially when it’s well prepared,  and these three places I visited did well.

Get Naked Miami: Maybe your body won’t get naked, but your stomach will. The food here was absolutely delicious and mouthwatering. Prepared and brought straight from the kitchen, their shrimp and tacos took me somewhere my heart has never been to in a while. I mean this, considering since I came to this country called America, their food isn’t something I celebrate. The price is moderate, not so moderate but better than the next spot I’m about to let you on.

Salt bae aka Nusr.Et: Y’all know salt bae or maybe not
(google is your friend). The infamous restaurant known for its lamb ribs
and that meat is the cost of a new iPhone 7 or 8 if you decide to get
got four people and that’s what we did. We went out to celebrate the
birthday of a friend I hadn’t seen in 7 to eight years, but it was worth
it.

Visit the Beach
In Miami, one does not have a choice about going to the beach. Here is what they say about Miami Beach.



                      “Miami Beach is a completely interesting hybrid because it is,
                        on the one hand, a resort and, on the other hand, a real city.
                        This condition of city and water on two sides I think is really amazing.
                        And in the heart of that city, it has put an enormous convention centre,
                        an enormous physical presence.”

Visit Espanola Way; On the street, a  line up of different restaurants serving continental dishes, some affordable others, account drenching but you’ll find what you want. It also gives the vibe of being in Venice, Italy when walking through, there are handsome men and beautiful women all over the place beckoning you to eat at their spot. It’s a stiff competition between restaurants and a hard choice at what place you end up in.

Go for a Soul Cycle class: I didn’t get to go for this but my friends who went came back feeling like they had an experience with God.

      One thing though Miami is pricey if you want to live ‘la Vida Loca’. It’s easy to squander three months or more savings in one week. It is worth a visit.
If you’re a vintage girl like me, so many spots will intrigue you, make you feel like you need a Marylin Monroe moment, get an open 1940 auto drive and feel on top of the world.

 What is your favourite city to be in and why?