I can't compare as I've not been to Orlando - only Miami. We shopped at Dadeland, Dolphin Mall and downtown. You will be able to find info on both of the malls online. There's a huge outlet mall called Sawgrass Mills near Fort Lauderdale, I think about an hour north of Miami. I think it's one of the biggest in the US, so might be worthwhile stopping at as you would be passing through that area anyway. It's slightly inland, but not far.

thanks for your reply. where abouts did you stay in miami? did you use public transport at all? are the beaches nice?

Some great beaches in Miami. South Beach is the "in" art-deco area. Lots of lovely people walking up and down Collins Ave. Great night life. It gets very busy at the weekends or during American holidays. You won't need a car here. Walk or use taxis.

Beaches are just as nice further along and hotel prices become more reasonable. Sunny Isles has a nice wide beach and cheaper hotels. You could get a taxi from the airport and perhaps one to South Beach for a night out. Dollar have a car rental office at the Day Inn Thunderbird which means you could just collect your car when you drive up to Orlando. Virgin Holidays use this hotel and do a transfer from the airport and then allow you to collect the car later during your holiday. You can then also return it at Orlando airport.

How about Fort Lauderdale. It is about 45/60 min drive from Miami airport.

Previous poster has given some good tips on shopping malls.

Driving up the Florida turnpike between Miami and Orlando will take about 3.5 - 4 hours. The road is not very exciting however. Why not take a few days to drive up the coast. Plam Beach is very nice for a mid way break, or Singer Island.

I did use public transport, we stayed downtown. It's central, but not touristy and I probably wouldn't recommend it. We stayed 1 night pre cruise, it was ideal for that. Then after the cruise we did 4 nights back at the same hotel (Courtyard Marriott). Hotel was fine, nice rooftop pool too, but we had to get buses and the metromover everywhere. There was Bayside in the evening nearby (walkable or Metromover), and during the days we went on the bus to Dolphin Mall, train to Dadeland, bus over to South Beach etc. We also went to Coral Gables one evening. We didn't stay over on SoBe because we knew we wanted to do quite a lot, and downtown was the mid-point for getting to everywhere, so it suited our needs. As I say, only a 4 day stay and we planned some shopping without a car so it was ideal.

SoBe is nice. Near Lincoln Road is ideal. We went over there 2 nights and really liked it. I would like to stay over there some time, but the rates are also fairly high from what I remember. Watch out also for hotels charging a fortune to park!

Thanks, so how far is sunny isles from miami international? any rough idea of cost in a taxi? also how far is this from the shopping malls?

i dont think we will have a car for our whole holiday but will consider hiring one for the drive up to Orlando, as i guess we can make a few stops along the way! Would this be cheaper to do at that hotel in Miami rather than here from the Uk?

If you decided on Fort Lauderdale instead, you could base yourself at one of the properties on the beach (the Marriott was excellent) and then walk the short distance to the docking area for water taxis to various areas of the city including Las Olas Boulevard where the Cheesecake Factory and other restaurants/shops are located.

Fort Lauderdale is often dubbed "the Venice of America". Whilst I wouldn't go that far (it doesn't smell in summer for instance ) I really enjoyed the two nights we had there after the Florida Keys and would like to go back.

I'm not sure on Miami. I've only been to the airport (hated it), but I just don't have any wish to go there which is strange for us and a US city.

How far is fort lauderdale from Miami international? Do you know the approx cost in a taxi or can you get a shuttle? I like the idea of water taxis...... interesting, do you have to pay for these each time? or is there any sort of pass? My friend also did not like Miami airoport! lol. Does it take a while to get throuigh immigration compared to Orlando?

Here's the link to the water taxi provider:-

http://www.watertaxi.com/FLLHome.Asp.htm

Note the South Beach Miami Express tab at the top which may be an option depending on season.

Miami International was about an hour away, maybe a bit less. Bear in mind though, Southwest Airlines fly from Orlando into Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood airport, with a journey time of less than an hour and flights around the $39-$59 each way if booked well in advance. It might be a better way to go. The Turnpike is fairly dull after all.

http://www.broward.org/airport/
http://www.southwest.com/

I'm not saying that Fort Lauderdale is better than Miami, just my experience. Miami doesn't appeal but Fort Lauderdale did. The water taxis were cool in FL, but at the same time, a car was very very handy to get to other parts of the city. For a beach though, the Marriott private beach was pretty exceptional by any standards (as was the hotel itself).

Thanks for the links, ive been looking at southwest flights allready, i wish i could book everything now, we have to wait for visa again, hopefully, just like to know what were going to be doing & get organized in advance where we can & its something to look forward to.....

i guess most things are booked allready in my mind. lol.

Did you notice is there alot of water sports in Miami?

We have a home in Haines City and a son who used to attend university in Miami so know both areas somewhat.

The drive between Orlando and Miami is straightforward and easy depending on where you stay you can either use the Turnpike or US 27. It takes approximately 4 to 4 1/2 hours.

Car hire companies do not have one way drop off fees in Florida.

You would need to have both your passport and driving licence on you when driving.

We find public transport in the Miami area is very good and have often used it to get about. You have both the overhead metro and the bus services. You pay a flat fare and if you have to change from the metro or a bus to complete the journey then there is a smaller transfer fee as opposed to paying the flat fee again. If you return within a certain time again again you pay the transfer fee. The metro mover in the centre of Miami is free.

Shopping in Miami is pretty much like shopping in Orlando both have several very good malls. Malls we like in the Miami area are The Falls at Kendall an open air mall with continous canopy outside the stores as running right through the middle are waterfalls and ponds which is very attractive, Sawgrass Mill already mentioned is huge, The Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables is more upmarket like the Mall of Millenia in Orlando and Aventura Mall at Aventura north of north Miami is another good mall. Although there is the I-Drive Trolly bus it does not go to many of the malls as it runs maily up and down International Drive. This is where are car is useful.

In Miami we also like the beach at Bear Cut which is on Key Biscayne.

Do you know if you need a credit card to hire a car? Have you used any of the water sports facilities in Miami? Thanks for your reply.

We have always pre booked our car hire from the UK and you do not have to pay by credit card this way. We have normally been asked for a credit card on arrival in case of additional charges but I am not sure if it is essential it would be best to ask who ever you book car hire through what arrangements they have on collecting the car.

As far as watersports are concerned we have not used them although there are jet skiers from some of the beaches and Virginia Key has kite surfing. Our son is a marine biologist so did a lot of diving through Underwater Unlimited, in Coral Gables and would recommend them.

Hi,
Have a look at Continental too as they also fly from Miami to Orlando. We used them for a return flight last time we went to Orlando & booked on their Uk website.
On our return from Miami we got there quite early & the check-in lady moved us to the earlier flight for free

Have stayed on Ocean Drive twice (once at the Richmond & once at Park Central) & can recommend this area - near to bars / restaurants / nightlife.
I personally prefer the shopping in Orlando rather than Miami. Bayside Marketplace seemed to have gone downhill slightly & also watch out for the people begging for money, especially in the food court area.

Thanks for the replys. Were only planing on flying in to Miami we want to return from Orlando. Are there many other shops apart from clothes in Miami?

You should google 'Sawgrass Mills' - it's the biggest in the area (although up at Fort Lauderdale which you'll be passing anyway). Staying in Miami is fairly expensive, and the shops aren't really that great other than the big malls, and Sawgrass you could visit the day you drive up to Orlando.

Yeah i have had a look at some of the hotels & 3 nights is around what we paid for 9 nights in orlando this year! lol. I really wanted to do a day trip this year but we both didnt really fancy the coach there & then back would be like 8 hours!! thats why were planning on doing this next year.

Have had a look at a few of the malls on here, i really like paul frank though & i couldnt find anything in orlando, my friend stayed near miami a while ago & said she saw quite alot..... please dont think im just going for this, lol, its just i was looking forward to shopping & i thought it was quite big in america & couldnt believe i couldnt find anything! lol.

Im looking forward to the beachs & water sports, wouldnt mind the everglades aswell & the star island cruise is it? anyone ever been?

Just to throw another option at you...do you know there are some short cruises 3/4 nights available from Miami? Also possibly from Ft Lauderdale. http://www.carnival.com You might find it cheaper than a hotel for the same number of nights on the beach!

Well wouldnt mind that, except last time my husband only got a one time entry visa & if he only gets the same this time if we left Miami on a cruise, since we would have left America i dont think we would be allowed to enter again on return would we? I think this happened to a friend of relative, he didnt realise & went to an island near by & on return wasnt allowed back in to America.....