Miami Beach on a Budget

View from South Pointe Park Pier

The skeptics were out in droves telling me that Miami Beach isn't budget-friendly, causing me to have my own doubts. The million dollar question - can you travel to Miami Beach on a meager budget? The answer is a resounding yes!

I exclusively fly with Southwest Airlines in the U.S.; therefore, I had to fly into Ft. Lauderdale since they don't service Miami. While a bit of an inconvenience, it only cost me $6.00 to get to Miami from Ft. Lauderdale. 

Step One
Take a tri-rail complimentary shuttle from the ground transportation level at FLL to the Ft. Lauderdale train stop. There is more than one tri-rail bus, so be sure you are getting on the free shuttle that takes you to the train station.

Step Two
Take the tri-rail train from the Ft. Lauderdale station to the Miami airport. You can purchase your ticket at the train station for a mere $3.75 and the train offers free wi-fi.

Step Three
Once you arrive at the Miami airport, take the 150 airport express bus to your destination. Pay on board with correct change ($2.25) or buy a ticket at the airport.  In my case, the bus dropped me across the street from my hostel. 

Arrival travel time took approximately three hours since it was my first time; however, the departure trip took only about two hours.

Accommodations
Miami Beach International Hostel, located at 236 9th Street, just two blocks from South Beach. I stayed in a 6-bed female dorm room with en suite bath. 

Pros:
*Location, location, location!
*Friendly staff.
*3 meals/day included (I didn't participate).
*Decent size room & comfy bed.
*Rooms cleaned 4 times/day.
*Reasonably priced.

Cons:
*The lobby is used as a party lounge in the evening, full of people and extremely loud music, which makes it difficult to check-in.
*No on-site bathrooms other than the bathroom in your room.
*Extremely spotty wi-fi only in the lobby area.
*Since meals are included, there are no dishes or utensils available; however, they do have a fridge and microwave.

Food and Drink - all my meals and single drinks were under $11 with the exception of Naked Taco, which was my priciest meal and worth every penny (see individual post on Miami's culinary scene).

*Della's Test Kitchen 
*Lone Wolfe Food Truck
*11th Street Diner
*Naked Taco
*BurgerFi
*Aroma Espresso Bar
*Bar at Wynwood Yard
*RUST Wynwood 
*The Room
*Abbey Brewing Co.

Activities - all FREE to enter and explore
*Architecture in the Art Deco District (especially along Ocean Dr.)
*South Pointe Park
*Wynwood Yard and Wynwood Walls (see individual posts)
*South Beach
*Lincoln Road Mall (be sure to visit Cindy Vega's jewelry stand here)
*Ugo Rondinone's Miami Mountain, located on the grounds of the Bass Museum of Art 
*Soundscape Cinema Series at Soundscape Park

White looking so sexy👌

What an entrance❢

Pretty in peach

Do you spot the needlefish?

Those cars doh!

It costs absolutely nothing for these views💙

My fave stands alone

Hanging with Ugo's Miami Mountain

Miami Beach Community Church

Red and white never looked so good

What's your story?

Colorful balconies

Beautiful silhouettes at South Pointe Park

First night capture

"Out of Africa" under the palms

My bracelet trio from Cindy Vega Jewelry

My dream home💕

Early bird catches the view

404 Washington Ave - the most photographed bldg in Miami

Cluster

All locked up

On a side note, one of the reasons I love to travel is because you never know who you will meet along the way. In this case, I met a friendly, patient bartender at "The Room" by the name of Jacob Coronado. We started talking travel and blogging when he shared that he was about to embark on a worldly adventure. He is quite an interesting chap and I encourage you to follow his trail, where he is spreading the love.
http://thebackpackfiles.com/

Hope we meet again, Miami. You were marvelous💞

Sunsets in Miami...swoon🌴

Miami's Vegetarian Culinary Scene

You don't have to be a pescatarian or carnivore to thoroughly enjoy the food scene in Miami. From a General Tso Cauliflower Taco to a Bureka pastry filled with Labneh Cheese, this vegetarian was well fed. Other than The Room and Della's Test Kitchen in Wynwood, I let nature take its course with my food and drink venues.

Flight at The Room

Forbidden Bowl at Della's Test Kitchen

I was so enamored with Wynwood Yard that I returned for a brewski followed by a little sustenance from the Lone Wolfe Food Truck.
http://bit.ly/2no6Xvq

Bar at Wynwood Yard

Vegan Mexican Maduro Plantain Taco and Beans

The most delectable revelation came from Naked Taco. I spied the red beauty on the patio and had to check out the menu. So glad I did, because it was foodporn heaven.

Ginger Margarita

Elote and General Tso Cauliflower Taco 

Random venues include the 11th Street Diner, BurgerFi, Abbey Brewing Co., RUST Wynwood, and Aroma Espresso Bar. I neglected to get photos at 11th Street Diner or BurgerFi because I was hangry. 

The patio at 11th Street Diner is good for people watching while munching on sweet potato fries and sipping wine. The yummy VegeFi Burger is made with crispy quinoa and I wanted another, but I had to save room for brews at Abbey. 

There were so many good beer options at Abbey Brewing that I was at a loss. The wonderful bartender let me taste all the beers I was interested in and I decided on a pint of Brother Dan's Double and Father Theodore's Stout.

My final restaurant stop was breakfast at Aroma Espresso Bar. After perusing the menu, I was sad that I wouldn't have an opportunity to try their lunch options. I consumed a poppy seed pastry immediately and saved the Bureka stuffed with Labneh Cheese for the airport. 

Poppy seed pastry

Bureka

A Recap of My Recommendations:
The Room - 100 Collins Ave, #4
Della's Test Kitchen - 56 NW 29th St.
Lone Wolfe Food Truck - 56 NW 29th St.
Bar at Wynwood Yard - 56 NW 29th St.
RUST Wynwood - 2621 NW 2nd Ave.
11th Street Diner - 1065 Washington Ave.
Naked Taco - 1111 Collins Ave.
BurgerFi - 1242 Washington Ave.
Abbey Brewing Co. - 1117 16th St.
Aroma Espresso Bar - 540 Collins Ave.

Thanks for a delish time Miami and I look forward to future culinary adventures.

The colorful patio at RUST

Wynwood Walls Will Take Your Breath Away

Just when I think I have seen it all, I wander the streets of Wynwood and my jaw drops. Over and over again. The stunning murals passionately crafted by talented artists will literally take your breath away.

The neighborhood isn't very large and I recommend going to Wynwood Walls (2520 NW 2nd Ave.) early to beat the crowds. I became so engrossed that I wound up there in the afternoon along with too many other oglers. Wynwood Yard is not to be missed and the perfect place for a lunch break http://bit.ly/2no6Xvq

I found a ton of impressive street art on either side of Miami Avenue between 23rd and 29th. Stroll to your heart's content and stop for another refreshing beverage at RUST Wynwood. I'm not an IPA kind of gal; however, the staff convinced me to try Jai Alai by Cigar City and I loved every drop.

Another must while traversing the area is Give Good Works Vintage Boutique. I was immediately drawn to the decor outside and couldn't wait to see what the inside had to offer (cool stuff galore). http://www.givegoodworks.org/

I don't know if it's possible to post everything I discovered, but let's give it a whirl.

Until we meet again, Wynwood....