I was going to suggest priceline.com also – we’ve used it a couple times in the last year and have generally paid at least 50% off retail. You can restrict your bid to a subsection of the city, and airport-vicinity is generally one of their options, so you won’t spend much if anything on taxis. Worth a try if you’ve already saved $50 more than expected, you might actually get a room for that much.
No, spending the night on the public side of security is not a non-starter in most airports. It’s really not that big a deal, honestly. People do it all the time because they get bumped or they have horrible connections or what have you. Or they get to the airport the evening before because their flight leaves at an ungodly hour. Shrug.
56,
Is this the new or old terminal? Just collecting information in case I get stuck there again.
Better than hard, plastic benches or those molded seats with arms that you can only sit up in.
I’ve found that there’s a class element. I am not bothered by security if I am dressed like a business traveler (shined shoes, tailored clothes, etc.).
I’ve done it plenty. It’s not fun, but I thought it was worth it. $100 is not a fortune, but it’s still something I’d be willing to trade a night on a concrete floor for. It’s worth it to hunt around for the good places to sleep. Chances are you won’t be the only one doing it.
Have you checked out if there are any cheap youth hostels in Miami? Also, check out onebag.com for some packing tips. A carry on should be more than enough for a week.