Miami Overview
'Miami Beach is where neon goes to die' - Lenny Bruce
A febrile, glamorous melting pot with a hint of danger.
It used to be called 'God's Waiting Room' because of the many octogenarians eking out their last moments by the pool. Today the old folks mingle with fashion designers, bikini models and Cuban émigrés, and the city that once had the highest murder rate in the US attracts millions of tourists.
Greater Miami is a melting pot that would make America's founders swell with pride. Half the population is Hispanic, giving the city an international outlook that feels rare in the USA. For the casual visitor this means a city spiced with Latin American food, language, music, politics and spirit.
Currency in Miami
Notes in United States
American banknotes (bills) often confuse visitors: they're all the same size and the same colour. Be especially careful not to hand over too much cash, and always check your change carefully. Be careful not to accept incomplete or severely torn notes, as they can be refused; small rips are usually not a problem. Bills come in denominations of 1, 2 (rare), 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars.
Coins in United States
Coins come in 1 (penny), 5 (nickel), 10 (dime), 25 (quarter) cent and 50 cent denominations; there is also a dollar coin.
Preferred Form of Payment in Miami
If you can't use your credit card in the US then you probably can't use it anywhere. ATMs are hard to miss, well networked and offer an even cheaper option if your card is set up to use them. Otherwise travellers cheques are almost as good as cash; you'll save yourself hassle and expense if they are in US dollars.
Changing Your Money in Miami
Major credit and debit cards, including the Visa Cash Passport Card, are widely accepted. You can also access your bank account using US ATMs which are ubiquitous. Travellers cheques are easily converted to cash at any bank. You'll probably need to take your passport along to prove your identity.
Money Tips
If you camp or stay in hostels, catch buses and cook your own food, you could feasibly explore the country on around 50 USD a day. Staying in motels and eating at modest cafes will mean you'll hit the 100 USD mark, and enjoying the convenience of a rental car will push your daily budget up to 150 USD.
Using a Mobile Phone in Miami
In the USA cell phones use GSM 1900 or CDMA 800, operating on different frequencies from systems in other countries. The only foreign phones that will work in the USA are tri-band models, operating on GSM 1900 as well as other frequencies. If you have a GSM tri-band phone, check with your service provider about using it in the USA, but be aware that calls will be more expensive than using your home network (because of the US service provider's charges). Your mobile phone number stays the same, and callers at home will be connected to your phone automatically.
You may be able to take the SIM card from your home phone, install it in a rented mobile phone that's compatible with the US systems, and use the rental phone as if it were your own phone - same number, same billing basis. Ask your mobile phone company about using your SIM card for global (or international) roaming. You can rent a phone for about 45.00 USD per week, but rates vary.
Phone shops in the USA will allow you to rent a GSM 1900 compatible phone with a set amount of prepaid call time. Pricing plans are complex, but generally this is an expensive option. T-Mobile (www.t-mobile.com) is one US company that provides this service.
Doing Business in Miami
Doing business in Miami can be a truly multinational experience with many Latin American companies represented there. Being part of the USA, things happen quickly and efficiently. Temporary multilingual employees are easy to find (by checking the Yellow Pages). The non-profit Beacon Council (tel: 305-579-7300) provides business introductions and other related services.
Miami International Airport operates the Executive Conference Center which provides business services and meeting rooms for up to 12 people, while the conference suite can seat up to 200. It is equipped with audiovisual equipment and provides a catering service. Other business facilities are available within the executive lounges operated by individual airlines.
A major location for conventions and meetings is the multipurpose James L. Knight Center. Situated in the heart of Miami's downtown business district, it has an auditorium which seats 4,645; 28,000 square feet of dividable exhibit, meeting and banquet space, and first-class accommodation and restaurants.
The downtown area is the hub of Miami business, with Brickell Avenue being the heart of the financial district.
Media in Miami
Miami's print media is a healthy dose of English and Spanish language publications, ricocheting from tabloid junk to designer high-gloss, with alternative weeklies flipped into the mix. Television and radio is your standard American fare, with the addition of the Beach Channel, a local 24-hour TV station which runs like a quirky infomercial about the goings-on in Miami Beach.
