How to Survive Memorial Day Weekend in Miami
Miami is one of the most popular Memorial Day Weekend destinations in the country. Between the beaches, nightlife, concerts, restaurants, and nonstop events, thousands of people travel to South Florida every year for the holiday weekend.
I have personally been to Miami during Memorial Day Weekend twice, and it is definitely an experience. The crowds were massive, hotel prices surged, and South Beach became extremely busy from day to night. If you are planning a trip, the most important thing to understand is that preparation matters. Booking late, ignoring traffic, or underestimating the crowds can quickly ruin your trip.
According to CBS Miami, Miami Beach has implemented increased police presence, traffic restrictions, DUI checkpoints, and enhanced crowd control measures ahead of Memorial Day Weekend.
If you are considering visiting, here are some tips to help you survive Memorial Day Weekend in Miami and still have a good time.
Check out the City
There is always something to do in Miami and the surrounding areas. Browsing the shops at the Lincoln Road Mall, walking down Collins Avenue, or even visiting Tootsies are just a few. There are things to do on the beach and in the city. You can drive north to Sunny Isles, Hollywood, or Fort Lauderdale if you need a break from the mega crowds. All three of those cities have lovely beaches and fun things to do.
Be Patient
People from all over the country will visit Memorial Day Weekend in Miami. With people staying as far as Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, you are guaranteed to see a lot of crowds and traffic. The lines to some of the bars will be longer than they are during Spring Break! If you go to the club during MDW weekend, leave early. Mostly, the people in the crowds are there to have a good time. With anything, use common sense. Watch out for pickpockets and scammers.
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Check the Weather
During that time of the year, the weather is usually excellent. Who am I kidding? The weather is always great in Miami. With high temperatures in the 80’s, what is there not to like? Ensure you have sunscreen because you don’t want to get burned.
Book Tickets Early
Numerous hip-hop and R&B artists will be in town for MDW. Many will host parties at the clubs or perform near South Beach. If you’ve ever wanted to party or see them, this might be your chance. You can check Eventbrite to see what events are happening while you’re there. Also, check out StubHub. Sometimes, they have better deals than Ticketmaster.
Price Gouging
This usually happens with any holiday. MDW is no different. The same party that will be thrown by your favorite rapper, which would typically start at $25 per entry, will now be at least $50. Also, hotel prices will be a lot higher than usual. A room that usually costs $140 per night may cost more than double that. The rooms cost more the closer you get to the South Beach area.
One way to beat some of the price gouging is to book your rooms in advance. Since Memorial Day is in May, I’d try to have my room booked by the end of February. The last time I visited Miami during Memorial Day Weekend, I booked a room at HomeAway. They were much cheaper than the local hotels. VRBO is another option. You can search to see if rooms or houses are available during that time. Learn more about VRBO here.
Parking
Parking already sucks on South Beach. It is ten times worse during Memorial Day Weekend. You’re better off walking to most places. You can use Uber or take a taxi if your destination is too far. The two times I spent Memorial Day Weekend in Miami, I stayed within walking distance of most places I was trying to go. I didn’t need a car that weekend. I made sure that I stayed in South Beach. If you can, do the same thing. You’ll save a lot of money doing that.
Be Careful
I’ve never had a problem in Miami during Memorial Day Weekend at all. Having people come in from all over the country, I could see how something could happen. This could be the case for any event, though. To my knowledge, there hasn’t been too much violence down there. Hopefully, it stays that way. It’s been a few years since I’ve been down there. A quick Google search shows you recent crime statistics. Most people are down there to party and have a good time anyway.
Drink Water
Staying hydrated is critical. It’s going to be 80 degrees during the day. Remember to drink water if you’re walking and hitting up different bars. Dehydration is real. You don’t want to be the person who has to go to the hospital on vacation. Make sure that you have some water with you or in your room.
Memorial Day Weekend in Miami can be a fun trip if you know what to expect before you go. The beaches, nightlife, concerts, and overall energy make it one of the biggest holiday weekends in the country, but the crowds and costs can catch people off guard quickly.
The biggest keys are planning ahead, staying patient, booking early, and using common sense while you are out. If you can handle large crowds and busy nightlife scenes, Miami during MDW is definitely something you should experience at least once.
Just understand that prices will be higher, traffic will be worse, and security will be tighter than a normal weekend in South Florida.
If you want to save money while traveling, also check out:
How to Save Money on Travel
Apps That Pay You Real Money
Miami Beach Resources
TripAdvisor
You can book your hotel room with TripAdvisor. They have some great deals. Click this link for more details about Priceline.
CamelBak
As I stated earlier, you must ensure that you stay hydrated. A Camelbak will help you with that. You can put water and other liquids in it. Check out the one below for more info.
Cooler
This cooler can be used for the beach or your hotel room.
Beach Towel
You need a towel for the beach. Check this one out.
Sunscreen
Here’s some sunscreen that you can use. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Jason Butler is the founder of My Money Chronicles and an SEO consultant with over a decade of blogging experience. Since 2015, he has earned income through side hustles including blogging, eBay flipping, affiliate marketing, and freelance work while paying off over $64,000 in debt. His work has been featured in Forbes, Discover, Investopedia, and Yahoo Finance.
