My last visit to Miami was my very first visit, and knowing that it was going to be an expensive trip we did loads of research to try to save every penny we could. Surprisingly we did super well and were able to save way more money than we ever thought we would.
Miami can be super costly and some expenses can really make your eyes bulge. Traveling is an expense as it is, and if your anything like me, you want to do it all. But doing it all can really take a toll on your bank account. Which means you have to find a way to do it all as cheap as possible, and though I am no couponer I do know how to save a few bucks here and there.
So here are my tips, for saving money in Miami.
1. Start by looking into discounts and coupons.
We used a pass called the GoCity pass, and it was awesome. We spent $200 for a 3 day pass in Miami. That pass allowed us to do as many activities listed that we could fit in within 2 days. We were able to get so much in.
Above are some photos of different things we were able to do while visiting Miami. And here is a list of everything we were able to do in just 3 days with our GoCity pass:
- Big bus Miami hop on – hop off classic tour
- Miami seaquarium
- Island queens millionaires row
- Bike and roll full day bike rental
- ARTECHOUSE Miami
- Big Bus Miami Everglades airboat tour
- Ft. Lauderdale glass bottom boat and snorkeling trip
So, heres how it works. GoCity has over 1,500 attactions available in 30 different cities. So, if you decide to travel to a bigger city, then check out the GoCity website and see if the city you want to visit is offered. Then you will choose one of two different passes, for most cities. Altough some cities only offer one pass. If the city your interested in offers two pass types, the first will be the all-inclusive pass which is the pass I always choose. The second is an explorer pass.
It looks like this….
The All-Inclusive Pass lets you choose a pass for a certain amount of days and you will do as many things as you can in those days. The Explorer Pass allows you to choose a certain amount of attractions and you have up to 60 days to do those attractions.
Every city has different pass types and different attractions, some cities may not be worth it, but some are and when I tell you Miami was totally worth it.
Above is a screenshot of some of the different offers as well as an image that shows how much money you can save by fitting in as much as you can. So if you look at the list and find things that your interested in I highly suggest signing up for this pass.
2. Spend most of your time away from Ocean Drive.
I want to start by saying I absolutely do recommend spending some time on Ocean Drive. Ocean Drive is one of the famous spots in Miami. So yes, make sure to check out the area. Walk down the street and enjoy the wild entertainment busting from each venue on a busy night. Enjoy all the lovely lights shining down the entire road. But, it is going to be one of the most expensive areas in Miami.
When planning your trip, plan to eat, drink and go out at night other places in Miami other than Ocean Drive. Even if you just do one night out in the iconic area, spend the rest somewhere else. Drinking on ocean drive can cost you upwards of $50 a drink or more and $20 for a bottle of beer. Meanwhile they sell beer by the case at the store 2 streets over for just a bit above market price. So trust me when I tell you its not worth it to drink on Ocean Drive.
3. Utilize Miami Transport Systems
Throughout all of Miami there are different forms of transportion so try to take advantage of each and every one to help save money on paying someone to run you everywhere. Miami actually has a few different free and very cheap systems that you can use. If you work the system correctly and do your research before you go then it is very possible to get through all of Miami without having to pay for transportation at all, or at least for a minimal price.
The Metromover
The Metromover is a FREE, yes I said FREE way to get around downtown Miami. It reminds you of the Monorail at Walt Disney World kinda, or an airport airbus. The Metromover runs above the city and offers transportation around Downtown Miami, and Brickell. It is a great way to get around downtown for free. The best thing about the metro mover other than the fact that it’s free is that you don’t have to worry about traffic. And the view is great too.
Miami Trolley Systems
The Miami Trolleys are super cute and run all through Miami Beach, Coral Gable, Miami Gardens, Doral and the City of Miami. The trolley system was a little harder to understand, so I highly suggest doing your research on where and when you can grab these fun rides. But again, they are also FREE.
The Metrorail
The Metrorail is something I don’t know too much about, especially since we didn’t use it on our trip. But after the fact I learned that you can actually take the metrorail to and from the airport for a small fee. Fares start at $2.65 and cap out at $5.65 per day, which is a huge way to save money compared to the $30 Uber fee we paid. You’ll definitely have to do some more research on this one though.
The Metrobus
This is another one we didn’t get the chance to utilize, so research as you may. But the metrobus is similar to the Metrorail in that the cost is about the same. The metrobus has many more routes. Definitely something to check out.
4. Enjoy the beach… its free or at least pretty cheap
Obviously the best free activity in Miami is the beach. Luckily Miami is literally full of beaches. You can find a beach that fits your needs in Miami.
South Beach
South Beach is the iconic beach that Miami is known for. Before I ever visited Miami South Beach was something I had heard about. I honestly don’t even remember where I heard it, maybe from friends, maybe from television somewhere, who knows. But South Beach is a beautiful beach that sits across Ocean Drive. Along this strip of beach you’ll find people working out in the sand at the beach gym, some of those beautiful colorful lifeguard towers, and lots of wanderers from the Ocean Drive and back hanging out for short periods. I would say that this beach is one of the busiest.
Virginia Key Beach
When visiting we didn’t have time to spend the day here, but on one of our walks we did walk past the area and it will be on the list for next time. This area is much quietier, your are more likely to find a more spacious spot to enjoy the beach here. Plus it gives you more of that outdoorsy less city feel, being that you are surrounded by lots of trees of the beach and no major businesses. This particular beach is currently free on weekdays and $8 per vehicle on weekends or holidays, so keep that in mind.
Bill Baggs Cape Coral Flordia State Park Beach
This is another beach area I wish we would have known about, but unfortunately didn’t realize it was there until we were looking for the lighthouse. This area has tons of trails for biking, you can fish, canoe, and kayak as well. There are also 2 restaurants located on site. And ofcourse this is the location of the lighthouse, that we wanted to see but didn’t know where it was haha.
5. Purchase food and drinks to keep in the room and save loads of money .
One of the best things you can do to save a few bucks in Miami is to stock your fridge for your trip. I always buy some coffee or tea, snacks, light breakfast stuff and some alcohol to keep in my room. Sometimes when getting up and rushing out the door its really nice to just heat up some oatmeal, drink a coffee and some Oj while getting ready and then head out. Ofcourse sometimes I enjoy going out for breakfast, but I don’t need to go out to breakfast everyday, once or twice is usually enough for me. Plus Id rather save the cash for something else fun, like a good dinner or fun activity.
I also recommend keeping some alcohol in your room, especially if you plan to drink on your trip. This way you can have a few drinks and catch your buzz in the room before you go out. Which sets you up to spend less while out and about. Sometimes its also nice to just be able to grab a drink on the go, and not have to buy one somewhere else for twice the price.
6. Always check your reciept!
This is something we luckily kept an eye out for. Miami is notorious for tacking an automatic 18% gratuity on your food bill. Which in my personal opinion is a huge joke, because many of the servers and bartenders in Miami are terrible (and that is coming from a prior server/bartender). I assume they are that way because they don’t care if you like them or if they are doing a great job or not, no matter what they are getting their tip. I got so fired up about this, but there is nothing you can do, so I advise making sure your receipt doesn’t already have a tip included before you tip your shitty servers on south beach and extra chunk of your money. This is another reason to venture off the beaten path for dining and drinking.
I should say that I am sure not all service sucks in Miami, because I have only been once. But… All of our service was terrible, during our trip. So don’t get your hopes up for great service, unless you’re spending a pretty penny. Miami is a city about money so if you don’t have it and aren’t spending it you aren’t that important. And remember to save your money and check your darn receipts!!
Hopefully you take advantage of some of these huge money saving tips on your trip to Miami! I know they helped me so much!!
If you want to know what all we did on our trip, and what are the best things to do while visiting then feel free to check out my other Miami blog post here.
