Visit Miami by car, taxi or BUS

A car is your best option for getting around and visit miami, as long as you have
a reliable map or a GPS. Taxis are a distant
second — economical only if you’re in a group of four or five people.
Public transportation is plodding, and, except for South Beach and the
shopping and dining meccas of Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, Miami
isn’t much of a walker’s paradise.
Visit Miami by car:
Most streets on the mainland and beaches are numbered, so finding your
way around is fairly easy if you have a reliable map. (You can get one from
one of the information sources listed under “Fast Facts” in Chapter 10,
from AAA if you’re a member, or from your car-rental agency.) Miami’s
attractions, beaches, restaurants, and hotels are spread out, making a car
almost essential if you want to explore in a timely, cost-effective manner.
If, on the other hand, you plan to camp at a resort or on South Beach and
do your sightseeing by guided tour, you won’t need a car. (Don’t forget to
allow time in your schedule for delays caused by traffic congestion and,
if you’re going to or from the beaches, drawbridge openings.)
Chapter 9: Settling into Miami 87
Generally, there are plenty of parking spaces throughout Miami-Dade
County (a major exception is South Beach), but parking can be expensive.
Keep your pocket or wallet filled with quarters to feed the hungry meters
or be prepared for fines of $20 or more. You can find parking garages and
valet service in some areas. The going rate for valet parking at restaurants
and hotels is $3 to $20 depending on how much they think you need them.
(If you’re in South Beach and don’t mind losing a little shoe leather, there
are parking garages at 17th Street and Washington Avenue, Seventh Street
between Washington and Collins avenues, and 13th Street between Collins
Avenue and Ocean Drive. The cost is $1 an hour or $8 a day.)
See the Appendix for contact information about rental-car agencies.

Visit Miami by taxi:
Unless you can fill the cab (five passengers), this isn’t a cheap way to
travel, especially when you add a tip. However, a taxi is usually quick
and direct, with fixed rates between certain points. Usually it’s $1.50 to
start the meter and $2 for each mile. The county’s main cab companies
are Central (%305-532-5555), Metro (%305-888-8888), and Yellow
(%305-444-4444).
Visit Miami by bus:

Miami’s public transit system offers little to recommend it. Bus routes
almost universally are designed for commuters, not visitors. Even if buses
go your way, they’re slow, making too many stops and often requiring
transfers and more time. For the record, the Metro-Dade Transit System operates the
county’s bus line. Fares are $1.25 plus 25¢ for each transfer.