Cheap Flights to Miami  

Miami is the hottest city in the U.S. right now - and we're not talking about the temperature here. The city's revitalized downtown Brickell Ave. core, complete with new restaurants and state of the art hotels that look out on beautiful Biscayne Bay, is becoming as popular as the city's iconic South Beach. The city's cruise port is the biggest in the world and as such attracts a lot of foreign travellers who always make it a point to return to Miami after their sail. If you look up the word "chic' in the dictionary, a picture of Miami will be displayed beside the word. The Mary Brickell area off Brickell Ave. is the best kept secret in Miami and home to some of the city's best new restaurants. Not far away is Little Havana, home to the city's massive Cuban population. The only thing missing in Little Havana to make it more like the real Havana is Fidel Castro himself. Great outdoor activities like golf and diving await here and the city's shopping scene is the best outside New York.

Best time to visit: Winter, spring and fall.

Getting around: Public transportation in Miami is the rental car. There is bus service but even the locals don’t count on it and cabs are rare and expensive. There’s a LRT train that runs through the financial district off Brickel Blvd. but it offers limited service.

Our favorite hotel: The Biltmore (1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables)  - The Biltmore Hotel was built in 1926 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996. It’s one of the best properties in Miami and a short drive from all the action.

Our favorite restaurant: The Oceanaire Seafood Room (www.theoceanaire.com, 900 S. Miami Ave., 305-372-8862) – Located in the heart of Miami’s financial district north of  Brickell Ave., this landmark eatery is often voted the best of its kind in the Sunshine State. Make reservations because it’s always packed. May we recommend the seafood tower – two can eat off the small tower, by the way.