The latest transatlantic route by Aer Lingus is to sunny Miami, and it’s already proving popular with Irish holidaymakers.
Flights began during September, and operate three times per week: on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Return fares begin at €417.80 for the ‘Saver’ option (10kg cabin bag allowed, meal served), and €497.80 for the ‘Smart’ option (including 10kg cabin bag, 23kg checked bag, meal, and advance seat selection).
Those fares compare favourably to other carriers that involve a stopover in hubs such as London or New York. Factor in the time saved by flying direct with Aer Lingus, and also by being able to clear US immigration at Dublin Airport before you even take off, and Aer Lingus definitely seems the wise choice if you want to visit Miami.
So, what to when you get there? Here’s our rundown of six of the best things to do and see in Miami:
1 – Miami Beach
This is what it’s all about. Miami Beach is on an island, connected to the mainland by a number of bridges. It’s known for its Art Deco district, and fashionable beachfront restaurants, shops, and hotels. A word of warning, though – nothing is cheap here!
2 – Ocean Drive
Ocean Drive is the best-known street of the Miami Beach area. It runs alongside the famous South Beach, and features some of the city’s most beautiful pastel-coloured Art Deco buildings from the 1920s and 30s. It’s great for cruising lazily by if you have a rental car, but it’s perfect too for a long leisurely stroll.
3 – Bayside Marketplace
If shopping is your thing, head for the Bayside Marketplace. It’s a large outdoor mall, with more than 150 specialty shops, bars and restaurants, and tourist shops. You’ll find quirky small boutiques as well as some of the biggest names in retail.
The Marketplace is located along the waterfront. There’s regular outdoor entertainment there too, as well as a wide choice of tour boats if you want to take to the water.
4 – Little Havana
Countless Cubans who have fled Castro’s regime since the 1950s have made Miami their home. Little Havana is not really geared towards tourists, but it still well worth a visit for its cultural air. Dine on authentic Caribbean food, enjoy the regular (and free!) open-air salsa music, and if you’re a smoker, sample a good cigar.
5 – Bayfront Park
Heading slightly inland, take in Bayfront Park for some peace and quiet in the city. Items worth seeing include the Pepper Fountain, and three important monuments: one that symbolises Miami’s relationship with Latin America, one that commemorates World War II, and one that commemorates the crew of the Challenger space shuttle, that exploded in 1986 after launching from Cape Canaveral, also in Florida.
6 – Everglades National Park
The Park is just a short drive from Miami, and makes a memorable day trip or half-day trip. Just don’t expect to see it all, because it covers a massive 1.5 million acres! What you can expect though, is to see alligators, snakes, and all kinds of birds. The main Visitor Centre is a must, and one of the most popular ways of seeing the area is on an ‘Airboat’ – as seen in the picture above. Trust us, you won’t have to look far to find an operator!
7 – Wynwood Walls
If you’re a fan of street art, the Wynwood Walls area is a must. Conceived in 2009 as a way to attract visitors to the warehouse district of Wynwood, over 50 graffiti and street artists representing 16 countries were invited to paint on over 80,000 square feet of walls. Take a break from the beach and visit this outdoor art gallery and new hipster area that’s developed around it.
If you happen to be planning a trip to Miami any time soon, make sure that you and your travelling companion(s) are carrying comprehensive travel insurance.
Travel insurance is particularly important for the USA because of the high cost of healthcare there, should you become ill or suffer an accident. Remember too that you’ll also be covered against all other mishaps that might befall you during your trip, such as lost luggage or cancelled/delayed flights.
Choose single trip travel insurance if your trip is likely to be your only travelling of the year, or go for annual multi-trip travel insurance if you’re likely to do more travelling during the year too.
Whatever policy you choose with Insure My Holiday, you are assured of a high standard of cover at a low price.
Key benefits of our Gold Plan travel insurance
- Medical Expenses Cover of €5 Million
- Personal Luggage Cover of €2,000
- Personal Money and Documents Cover of €1,600
- Delayed Departure Cover of €200
- Cancellation or Curtailment Cover of €4,000
- Abandonment Cover of €4,000
- Missed Departure Cover of €500
- Personal Accident Cover of €55,000
- Personal Liability Cover of €2,000,000
- Third Party Supplier Insolvency Cover of €2,000
- Schedule Airline Failure Cover of €1,000
- Legal Expenses Cover of €10,000
- Hijack Cover of €1,000
- Catastrophe Cover of €750
- Credit or Cash Card Fraud Cover of €300
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- Medical Expenses Cover of €10 Million
- Personal Luggage Cover of €3,000
- Personal Money and Documents Cover of €2,000
- Delayed Departure Cover of €400
- Cancellation or Curtailment Cover of €6,000
- Abandonment Cover of €6,000
- Missed Departure Cover of €600
- Personal Accident Cover of €95,000
- Personal Liability Cover of €2,000,000
- Third Party Supplier Insolvency Cover of €2,000
- Schedule Airline Failure Cover of €2,000
- Legal Expenses Cover of €20,000
- Hijack Cover of €2,000
- Catastrophe Cover of €1,000
- Credit or Cash Card Fraud Cover of €500
All are as generous or more generous as you will find with any other travel insurance provider, so it all adds up to even more great reasons to choose Insuremyholiday.ie for all your travel insurance needs.
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