I’m going to be in Florida next month. Tampa from the 11th to the 13th, Miami for the 14th and 15th then back to Tampa for the 16th, going home the 17th. In Miami I got a hotel through Priceline. I’m staying at
Fairfield Miami
3959 Nw 79th Avenue
Miami, Florida 33166
is this a safe area? I will be comming back to the hotel very late at night. Also while on the subject of Florida and dopers want to get together?
It’s in the Doral area, which is not bad. Your major problem is going to be its location smack next to the airport. Bring earplugs. Luckily you’ll be there on a weekend, because it’s right next to the Palmetto Expressway, which is a horrible huge pain in the ass on weekdays.
We hope to not be in Miami any more by then (nothing personal), but if we are, we’d be glad to get together. There is an area with a boatload of restaurants not too far from there.
Just east of there is an area that is rather industrial, not really bad, on the north side of the road bordering the airport. The hotel is JUST east of Doral, a swanky-ish area of walled communities, not much there. Outside that to the south and east are some heavy Latin neighborhoods, good ones. You are in a prime spot to get to the beaches easily. The restaurant area my lovely wife spoke of is south of the hotel, down 87th Ave. I would avoid heading too far east on the main east-west road there, Doral Blvd. It runs by some bad neighborhoods after the airport.
Geobabe and UncleBill I plan to be spending my nights in South Beach singing karaoke, would either of you be so kind as to point me to directions to get to South Beach.
Go south out of hotel on NW 79th, turn left (west) onto Doral Blvd and immediately get into right lane, as you will hit the entrance ramp to 826, the Palmetto Expressway, in about 100 yards. take the ramp to the right for the Palmetto southbound. A mile and a half later is the 836, the Dolphin Expressway. You want 836 east, toward the airport. Stay on 836 past the airport, through the toll booths ($0.75), and get in the lane NEXT to the left lane after the toll booth. That runs you right out the MacArthur Causeway, past the cruise ships, new Monkey Jungle and Star Island, and you end up on 5th St, South Beach. Stay out of the left lane after Star Island if you want to hit Ocean Drive, that lane is a ramp that takes you to Alton Road. OD is at the end of 5th St.
It is dead simple. Hop on 826 South, get on 836 East, and go straight.