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Hi guys 'n gals,

I am looking to hit Florida for a holiday in early August for 1 week (between 3rd-15th - ish!).

Specifically, I was looking at going to either Orlando or Miami.

I was looking for ideas on either city and a combination of advice on:

places to go
places to see
places to stay
anywhere to avoid
weather in early August
Florida culture(?) - been out to San Diego before, loved it, incredibly friendly, open, you peeps as friendly to the Paddy brogue?
I dont have a driving license for the US, so dont want to end up hiking forever
Anything that is a "must see"?
where to stay centrally in either city.

Being honest, due to flight prices, Miama is more likely the choice.

Thanks peeps for any ideas/advice

If I know anything from watching Burn Notice, steer clear of Miami, there are massive firefights every other day!

To simulate the weather in Florida in August, take a dutch oven, or large casserole dish and fill it with water. Then place it in the oven at the highest setting. When it begins to boil, stick your head in. That is August weather...

In seriousness, the weather will be hot and humid, temps around 98F (34c?) and the humidity will be in the 90% range. As far as things to do in easy walking distance, Miami is slightly better, but Orlando has more to do. Culturally, Miami is a cross section of Cuban, Haitian, Puerto Rican and American. People are friendly, but can be temperamental. Orlando is a massive melting pot. The locals see people from all over the world on a daily basis, are friendly and polite at the larger attractions, but farther out (toward Deland, Sanford, Lakeland, etc...) are a bit Red Neckish.

Overall, both have advantages and disadvantages. Got kids? Go to Orlando, go to Universal. Going stag? South Beach.

Either way enjoy your trip.

PS stay hydrated. Beer makes it worse, so it doesn't count,

Orlando has Disney World and Universal Studios. Stick to the more populated areas there though, because Orlando has a relatively high violent crime rate.

Can't say much about Miami, cause I've only been there once as a kid.

And don't try to rob people in Florida. Most are packing heat.

Nocturn wrote:

And don't try to rob people in Florida. Most are packing heat.

Don't try to rob the locals is good advice no matter where you are vacationing.

Florida in August is very warm, usually a little rainy every day (Though usually only for a half hour or less), and it is hurricane season. So watch the news in your hotel every day for hurricanes.

But overall This advice is the best:

treadhead1944 wrote:Overall, both have advantages and disadvantages. Got kids? Go to Orlando, go to Universal. Going stag? South Beach.

Either way enjoy your trip.

PS stay hydrated. Beer makes it worse, so it doesn't count,

If you want to go to Disney World go to Orlando.

If it does not matter, and you want a tropical beach scene go to Miami.

If you want to deal with drunken teenagers, lots of disorderly conduct, and WAY too much traffic, go to Panama City Beach.

Orlando is the slightly more holiday destination. If you want night-life and clubbing, go Miami. Personally, I'd go Orlando, theme park (buy at the gate, not those *discount ticketeers*), go down to the cape kennedy and through the tour (see a saturn 5 rocket)

Definately go and watch the Cirque Du Soliel in downtown disney. Finally, go down to daytona beach. sadly its about a month too early for the annual blessing of the bikes, but its a good place.

Orlando definitely has more to do. Miami has a better club scene, if you like that kind of thing. It also has much easier access to the beach.

Orlando is overflowing with theme parks and attractions, but it is a considerable drive to the beach- you'd likely be limited to hotel swimming pools and water parks. It is also slightly less hot. I expect it will feel a lot like wading through a hot shower for the first day or two, regardless of which one you choose. If you are going to Miami, brushing up a little on your Spanish will be helpful.

Thanks peeps, very decent and open advice

I suppose as Docta suggested, the club/nightlife scene is what I probably would gravitate towards - so Miami?
As I said I wont be driving over there, so is Miami accessible without driving all over?

And its gonna be hot? Like hot hot hot in August?!
Us Paddys cant deal with heat!

Late August in Miami. Hurricane Season, so watch out for that (This is all of Florida, not just Miami.)

The weather in Miami in August is:
Average High (F) 89.8 (Is 90(32 C) hot ? here in Chicago we just had a string of 100+(37C) degree days)
Average Low (F) 76.7 (24C)
Average Rainfall (in) 7.89

However if you want the Nightlife and club scene go to Miami Beach instead of Miami. (They are adjacent to each other but they are actually two different cities.)

Miami Beach has South Beach that has a lot of clubs and party places. They have excellent beaches really close to the hotels.

If you're looking for drunk chicks. . . well, congratulations! They're everywhere! The sub-species intoxicatus femalia non-obnoxious is a bit harder to find, however.

DeathReaper wrote:Late August in Miami. Hurricane Season, so watch out for that (This is all of Florida, not just Miami.)

The weather in Miami in August is:
Average High (F) 89.8 (Is 90(32 C) hot ? here in Chicago we just had a string of 100+(37C) degree days)
Average Low (F) 76.7 (24C)
Average Rainfall (in) 7.89

However if you want the Nightlife and club scene go to Miami Beach instead of Miami. (They are adjacent to each other but they are actually two different cities.)

Miami Beach has South Beach that has a lot of clubs and party places. They have excellent beaches really close to the hotels.

Yeah, but with the relative humidity, it usually feels much hotter than that.

I use to live in Orlando.

I would go to the Dessert Lady. A nice little wine bar that focuses on wine and desserts.

ON your way tot he Space Coast, a fun (and free) place to visit is Fort Christmas. They have a wooden fort and some othe rhitorical stuff, like Cracker board houses.

Just past Fort Christmas is a great hiking park, if you want to see gators, snakes, and other dangerous creatures up close and in the wild.

The Science Museum is kind of cool in Orlando too. I think that costs money though?

There is also a nice free gardens but I can't recall the name.