Florida short trip
Author: Alex
published: February 4, 2025
Comments: 0
Florida for a week: sun, beach and adventure guaranteed.
Does an overseas trip for a week pay off at all? The answer is a resounding YES! Florida for a week is certainly sporty, but there is a lot to see and experience, so I can recommend it to everyone. You can read all the details and our recommendations in the following article.
Day 1: Arrival Miami Beach - flight - rental car - hotel
From Vienna, Zurich to MIA-Airport
We flew with Austrian Airlines (09:35 in the morning) and SWISS (Star Alliance) to Miami (Economy). The stopover in Zurich with a layover of 1h 50min was definitely good and not too long. In general, I would not recommend stopovers with shorter layovers, it only takes a little longer at the airport and the connecting flight is already in danger.
Arrival time at the airport in Miami was 17:25. We then took the airport train to Car Rental (Dollar), where we rented a car. Unfortunately, the signs at the airport are a little confusing, which is why we got a little lost.
SunPass & Rental car
Before our arrival, we found out about the "SunPass", which was apparently mandatory in order to avoid any highway traffic jams or long waits at the toll. We decided not to buy the SunPass in advance and simply asked the rental car company (Dollar). GOLD-RIGHT decision not to buy the PASS because:
- Not cheap at all, the good piece cost around $80 (you can then use all the roads). It was very confusing for us, as some of the signs said that you couldn't pay in cash or by credit card. Then how?
- We thought a classic "toll" was barrier > get in line with the car > pay > drive through. Wrong thinking, in Florida at least there are flash devices that photograph you and divide you into zones. The more zones you drive through, the higher the toll, which is charged later.
- In the end, we paid $6.86 in tolls + $19.98 in processing fees for around 700km. So the SunPass would not have paid off at all. The only advantage of the SunPass is that you can use the far left lane (fast track), which simply gets you to your destination faster.
In general, I am always slightly confused by cheaper car rental providers, but the car rental company was still okay. In the meantime, however, I prefer AVIS, as I have some advantages with the AMEX Platinum and the service is worlds better.
*Promo*, if you are also interested in the AMEX Platinum, you are welcome to register via my affiliate link, then we both get extra MR points that you can use flexibly. Link:
Ocean Five Hotel
We arrived at the Ocean Five Hotel at around 9pm, where we checked in and later went out for a meal. The location of the hotel is really great, right on Ocean Drive (corner of 5th St) and cheaper than other hotels, but that's about it for the advantages. The rooms are relatively old, it wasn't really quiet, you can hear the other guests sleeping and you couldn't really open the windows. Not a 1/5 star recommendation. I would rather look around Collins Ave. 80 - 100$ minimum per night, per person you have to calculate - unfortunately not a bargain.
Day 2: Explore Miami Beach & Miami
Breakfast at Ocean Enoteca e Forno
We had breakfast right next to our hotel at Ocean Enoteca e Forno. Really super friendly service, large portions and a cool atmosphere. You should share the portions ;).
Tour of Miami Beach
After breakfast, we really got going with the sightseeing program. We started at Ocean Drive, walked through the park towards "Lummus Park" and up to 17th Street. We kept turning off the promenade towards the beach and soaking up the Miami Beach flyer - really great! We then bought a 2-day pass from BigBus Tours on Washington Ave.
Wynwood Walls
We then took the HopOn HopOff bus to the Wynwood Walls. A real must-see spot that we could only visit after a rain break. In the meantime, we had a treat.
The entrance fee ($12) is really worth it, great graffiti and great artistic elements.
Little Havana
We then took the HOHO bus to the Cuban quarter. There are lots of restaurants and stores there and there is generally plenty of entertainment on offer. Live music, bars, good vibes and lots of photo spots - not to be missed.
South Pointe Park
Shortly after 4 pm we returned to Miami Beach, where we wanted to experience the last hours of sunshine on the beach. The walk towards South Pointe Park was certainly a highlight of the day. Beautiful weather, beach, people and simply switching off. Definitely do it.
Smith & Wollensky
Anyone who knows me knows that a "steak" in the USA is a MUST for connoisseurs. The quality of the meat is simply a dream. The food, the ambience and the service were perfect. Make sure you book 1 month in advance. Tell them you want a table facing the river and by the window. Enjoy!
Ocean Drive
But that wasn't all on the first day. We then had to see Ocean Drive at night, as this was our last night in Miami Beach. The street really comes into its own at night with all the neon lights. Simply a different world.
Day 3: BigBus Tour - Downtown - MIA Mover - Bayside Market
Downtown Miami
On the third day, there were also brief rain showers in the morning, which forced us to get back on the HOHO bus. We then went straight to the city center, where we got off 1-2 stops before Biscayne Bay. The reason for this was that I had somehow liked the Graffiti Tower the day before and wanted to ride the MIA Mover.
You can take the Metromover or MIA Mover (both the same) to the corner of Bayfront Park Station and take photos of the Graffiti Tower.
Bayside Market
We then continued on foot to Bayside Market:
- cool market
- many people
- Boutiques
- Restaurants
- Bars
We had burgers at Five Guys for lunch and then went on a boat tour. This tour was included in our BigBus Pass. I can only repeat myself again and again, the HOHO bus was not only our primary means of transportation, but also has other advantages to offer, which makes the whole thing really worthwhile. The price/performance ratio with BigBus Tours is simply unbeatable.
Boat tour
The boat tour was around 45 minutes long and was impressive, but afterwards it started to rain heavily and it got really cold and uncomfortable. Here are a few impressions:
Onward journey to Fort Lauderdale
After the boat tour (17:00), we returned to the hotel and made our way to Fort Lauderdale. Here we checked into the Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach and the hotel was really 10 classes better than the one in Miami. Direct view of the canals. Finally, we visited the restaurant The Drunken Taco. A solid 4 on Google, a little spoiler: we were there the next day and I really enjoyed it.
Day 4: Explore Fort Lauderdale
That day we had breakfast at the hotel and then walked (north) along the promenade. We then crossed the bridge at Sunrise Blvd and there was a water cab stop at the "Gallery One" hotel. Here we bought the ticket on board and then continued on the water cab. The ticket was valid for the whole day and you could get on and off whenever and wherever you wanted, just like the HOHO bus. We drove around Sunrise Bay a bit and later walked up Las Olas Blvd (East) into town. The walk took about 1 hour. Culinary pit stop was at Luigi's Coal Oven Pizza, where we got a BIG BIG pizza (sharing certainly wouldn't have been a mistake). The pizza was okay, but to be honest, that was about it. Afterwards, we walked further and further into the city center.
All pictures from Fort Lauderdale
Our next stop in the city was the sculpture near Riverfront. Here you can find the great stone sculpture. We then continued along the Riverwalk to the next boarding point for the water cab. We took the boat back to the beach, where we ended the day - at least that was the plan. Frozen margheritas(rock bar), music & cars pushed away the mouthiness and we got the extra air. Later in the evening, we recharged our batteries at The Drunkin Taco, where we continued on to the karaoke bar. You can listen to our vocal performance in the top 10 of the US charts 2024 ;). I'll spare you the details here.
Day 5: Everglades
After a slight delay (due to the day before), we first went to Nanou French Bakery & Café. Then we checked out of the hotel and drove to the Everglades. Before that, we booked a tour with: Captain Jack's Airboat Tour (a must). The trip took around 90 minutes and we arrived at around 12:30 pm. The boat tour was a real highlight, we "cruised" through the mangroves, got to see wild alligators and had a lot of fun. The "fun" lasted around 45 minutes, but that wasn't all. We continued with a "steppe ride". The end was at the alligator farm, where we were allowed to hold a mini alligator in our hands. Typical tourist stuff, but it was definitely quite nice. We were told that the alligators are examined here for medical purposes and are later released back into the wild (they come and go). I can't verify whether this is really the case. But Captain Jack's Airboat Tour is definitely a recommendation. We then continued by car to Marathon Key.
Marathon Key
Because we gave away valuable time in the morning (saufi-saufi), we still had a long way to go. Our next stop was our hotel: Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club in Marathon. We left the Everglades at around 5pm. The sun started to set at 6 p.m. and we drove mostly in the dark, which was certainly not ideal but not too tragic. TIP, it's better to leave the Everglades around 3 - 4 pm. We finished off with a small fillet steak with pepper sauce and potatoes at the hotel.
Day 6: The highlights of the Keys
Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club
The first thing to mention is that the hotel was certainly the "best" on our trip. Very modern, beautiful, wonderful private beach - see for yourself.
Unfortunately, our stay here was really only short (we were passing through), which was a shame - because 2 nights here would certainly have been perfect before we continued on to Key West.
Bahia Honda State Park
We continued by car to Bahia Honda State Park. We had only discovered the national park by chance on Maps and thought: "Hey, let's stop there for a moment". The entrance fee is a few dollars and the short 30-45 minute stop was really cool.
Our next stop was Key West - DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel. We checked in here and took the hotel shuttle (30 minutes) directly into the city.
Key West
Arrival in the center was around noon and the first attraction was probably the most famous bar on the Keys, Sloppy Joe's Bar. An absolute MUST. Beer, chicken tenders and live music created a great atmosphere.
We spent the rest of the sunny day in the city and walked up and down Duval Street. We had our evening meal at Hardrock Café and then went for a few drinks at the Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville Bar.
Day 7: Hardcore Key West
On the seventh day, you could already feel the exhausting days in your bones. Nevertheless, the fun and good mood factor was still high. Because the city still had a few attractions in store.
In the morning, we took the hotel shuttle to Southernmost Point. Once there, a small queue formed because everyone wanted to take a selfie, of course. You certainly have to allow enough time during rush hour, so we were lucky.
We then walked up Whitehead St. to Petronia Street. Petronia Street is a bit of an insider tip as there are lots of colorful little houses there that you don't see every day.
Fort Zachary Taylor Beach
After our walk, we visited the last "spot" of beach in the USA, Zachary Beach. If you have enough time, we highly recommend planning a half or full day here. Thanks to the small trees, you can always find a few shady spots.
In the early afternoon, we walked back up to the town. Beware, you should only walk "halfway" up Weech Way and then use Front St. as there is no connection between Weech Way and the Promenade. Man I was pissed when we couldn't go across and I didn't realize that on Google Maps :).
We then visited the Hemingway Museum and spent a few relaxing hours on Sunset Pier. I can't remember exactly where we went on our last evening, but it was probably Duval Street. There's also a cool bar nearby called "Whistle Bar", we didn't go there but I somehow liked the flier when we walked past. You could try it, has anyone been there?
Day 8: Journey home
It was crazy how quickly the whole trip came to an end. We saw a lot, did a lot - a fantastic time. But before we left for the airport, we still had a long way to go by car. On the way to Miami Airport, we stopped off at Robbie's of Islamorada. An absolute insider tip from our Uber driver and it really paid off.
Robbies offers
- Kayak tours
- Boat tours
- Culinary highlights
- Some attractions
Due to the time pressure, we only treated ourselves to a snack there and had a look at the Arial. Of course, if you know this in advance, you could plan a few fun activities.
When we arrived at the airport, we returned our rental car and then had to realize that it was now over.
9. conclusion
Florida definitely has it all. Due to the sporty timetable, we really got to see a lot, which might be overwhelming for some people. In general, we always pack in as much as we can without having to sacrifice "free" hours. We saw or did a lot of things on our trip spontaneously, simply because we were in the mood. With the knowledge here, you can save yourself a lot of time and get even more out of your Florida trip.
10. facts
Restaurants & Bars
- Ocean Enoteca e Forno (5/5)
- Smith & Wollensky (5/5)
- Five Guys (5/5)
- The Drunkin Taco (4/5)
- Nanou French Bakery & Café (5/5)
- Luigi's Coal Oven Pizza (3/5)
- Rock Bar (4/5)
- Sloppy Joe's Bar (5/5)
- Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville Bar (4/5)
- Robbie's of Islamorada (5/5)
Activities & Spots
- Wynwood Walls (5/5)
- Little Havana (5/5)
- Mia-Mover (5/5)
- Bayside Market /4/5)
- Water-Taxi (5/5)
- Sculpture Riverfront (5/5)
- Captain Jack's Airboat Tour (5/5)
- Bahia Honda State Park (5/5)
- Southernmost Point (5/5)
- Fort Zachary Taylor Beach (5/5)
- Hemingway Museum (3/5)
Hotels
- Ocean Five Hotel(1/5, no recommendation, at booking the pictures are not correct, therefore no link)
- Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach (5/5)
- Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club (5/5)
- DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel (3/5)