Pre-Cruise Details

We arrived in Miami late on Friday, April 3rd. We took a taxi from Miami International Airport to our hotel in downtown Miami, the Miami Intercontinental. We got a good deal on Priceline, but they offered a $20 upgrade per night to get an ocean view room. We thought this was reasonable. The Miami Intercontinental is a beautiful hotel... very modern dEcor and impressive lobby. Prices for everything (including a charge just to use the gym!) are high... but I can't complain because we got the great deal for the room. The Miami Intercontinental overlooks the cruise port and we got to see all of the cruise ships line up for embarkation on Saturday and Sunday. For a cruise nut like myself, this was really cool! Spent Saturday milling around South Beach. We loved walking the streets and looking at the architecture, the palm trees, the beach. Miami is a gorgeous city, but the service at restaurants and bars is the pits. They charge you ridiculous prices for drinks ($15, $25) and always seem to have an automatic service charge. Every place adds gratuity automatically, so they don't have to work for the tips and it shows. Here's a tip - if they don't have a price next to the drinks on the menu, just ask how much they will be. Otherwise, you will have a big, unpleasant surprise. And if someone tells you that there is a 2 for 1 deal for happy hour, get it written in blood.

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