<p>Right after New Year’s our family’s going to drive from Georgia to Key West for a week there. On our way south we’re planning to spend the night in Miami - we’ll just have a few hours that night and a few the following morning before heading on to the Keys.</p>
<p>We’re thinking we may just stroll the South Beach area the night we arrive and then visit Calle Ocho in Little Havana for lunch the next day. Where would be a safe but reasonably-priced place to stay, considering that we’ll only use the hotel for sleeping? Would we need to be concerned about the safety of an out-of-town van with luggage, and if so, what would you recommend we do for security? Do you have any suggestions regarding restaurants or other places to visit?</p>
<p>Too tired to reply in full tonight. Will get back with suggestions manana. Many SoBeach hotels include parking (expensive, but safe). Also, there are several public lots ($16), with guards at entrance way. The only SoB hotels I know are expensive, but I’ll look up some tomorrow.</p>
<p>Where are you staying in KW? I have stayed in @10 B&Bs there.</p>
<p>Thanks - the more we talk about it, we’re now thinking of leaving a day earlier so that we have two nights and an entire day in Miami. We have a private house rental in the keys, 15 miles east of Key West.</p>
<p>^15 miles? That would be about where? Big Pine Key, maybe? The glories and gluttonies of the keys and Miami are very different.</p>
<p>We lived in Miami for a year, but that was nearly 20 years ago, so my recommendations are getting dated. But I recommend you try a nice Nicarauguan restaurant in Miami. I recommend El Novillo on located on Bird Road. Try the Churrasco steak with fried plantains. The Nicarauguans manage to do things with beef that is better than most others. Also be sure to get stone crabs. Not many places serve them. Joe’s Stone Crabs in Miami Beach is the best and most famous, if you don’t mind the hour wait for a table. </p>
<p>I found most Cuban food to be good but kind of bland. Not very spicey for Latin food. But I like Cuban food for lunch. Stop at a busy family cafe in a heavily Cuban section of town for lunch one day.</p>
<p>There was a Jamaican restaurant on Le Jeune near Coral Gables that was pretty good - try the jerked chicken.</p>
<p>For a hotel I’d recommend the Miami Airport Hilton. It sits on a nice lagoon and doesn’t feel like an airport hotel at all. I’ve stayed there. It’s a good area and it’s safe. The food is good and it is convenient to the freeway so you can drive to your other destinations.</p>
<p>Coureur - I tried the Airport Hilton, but it was booked for that time. I may check out the Hampton Inns in the area since we’ve stayed in a number of them before. Our rental house is on the water in Cudjoe Key.</p>
<p>Sofitel, Hyatt Summerfield Suites, and Club Hotel by Doubletree are all located in the same area as the Airport Hilton. Of these I have experience only with the Sofitel, and it was fine and slightly cheaper than the Hilton. And for the other two at least you know they are in a good area.</p>
<p>If you don’t need to be right near the beach, the Mutiny in Coconut Grove is nice for a family without over the top rates. It is right on Biscayne Bay with a nice view, although no beach. It’s a converted condo building so all suites have kitchens. It’s also walking distance to CocoWalk and tons of shops and restaurants in the Grove (we love Le Bouchon for breakfast). If you want Stone Crabs and don’t want to wait in line at Joe’s, Monty’s has a nice happy hour and 2 locations, one in SoBe and one in Coconut Grove. Lincoln Road in SoBe has a great pedestrian mall with lots of dining options. It’s also a great people watching place. Have a great time.</p>
<p>Another tip about Miami: assume every body of fresh water has at least one resident alligator. It can provide a whole new meaning to to the phrase “water hazard” out on the golf course.</p>
<p>We got a great weekend rate for two nights at SpringHill Suites Airport South for a single suite that can accommodate the five of us - thanks for the tip on the Airport area, Coureur! And I appreciate the SoBe suggestions, m-3-s!</p>