Visiting South Beach is easier than ever with some new, budget-friendly transportation options that will have you out of the airport and basking in the sun in no time! While images of celebrities and socialites cavorting in the surf give the city a posh reputation, a number of dedicated discount transit services make Miami Beach a truly affordable family destination. Discover the Airport Flyer, the South Beach Local Shuttle Service, Swoop Miami and the new Miami Beach Deco Bike Sharing System.

Hotels in this story

Price Dates

Four Points by Sheraton Miami Beach

Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, Autograph Collection

The Palms Hotel & Spa

1 Hotel South Beach

W South Beach

1. The Miami-Dade Transit Service recently introduced a dedicated Airport Flyer Route connecting the Miami International Airport to South Beach with limited stops and a family-friendly fare of just $2.35. Each brand new VIP coach features luggage racks, comfortable seating and free WiFi making the bus a great alternative to the $32 taxi fare. Guests can board the airport shuttle at the ground level of Concourse E from 6am until 11pm seven days a week. The bus travels to 41 Street and stops southbound along Collins Avenue all the way to 16th Street where it turns around at Lincoln Road Mall at Washington Avenue and returns to the airport. The Airport Flyer is a great option for guests staying at the Four Points by Sheraton, Courtyard by Marriott Oceanfront and the Palms Hotel & Spa.

2. The City of Miami Beach provides a unique South Beach Local Shuttle Service that circles the heart of the tourist district nearly every 15 minutes from 7:40am to 1am seven days a week. These fully air conditioned busses are bike and wheelchair accessible and cost just 25 cents a ride so everyone can afford a quick do-it-yourself tour of the local scene. Hop on board the SoBe Local to travel to the Miami Beach Convention Center, the Performing Arts District, the Botanical Gardens and the Holocaust Memorial. The circuit includes all of Washington Avenue, South Pointe Park, West Avenue, Lincoln Road Mall and the Collins Park Museum District. The South Beach Local Shuttle is ideal for guests of the Gansevoort Hotel, the W South Beach, the Mondrian and the Standard Hotel and Spa. Just print the route map and you’re ready to roll!

3. Swoop Miami is a dedicated open-air tram service helping South Beach tourists access more of their favorite city sights for FREE! The on-call ride updates the traditional golf cart into a mod, 6-passenger “Go-Pod” that swiftly navigates South Beach traffic from First to Twenty-third Streets and from Ocean Drive to the Bay. Just call or text (305) 409-6636 and prepare to be swooped in under 15 minutes! The service operates from noon until 2am making the eco-friendly tram the ideal designated driver in the event you reallocate your transit budget toward one too many frozen cocktails.

4. Speaking of eco-friendly travel, the City of Miami Beach has just rolled out the Deco Bike sharing service, a unique way to instantly rent a bike at a curbside depot and drop it off at another docking station anywhere in town. A citywide, multi-million dollar GREEN transit enterprise, Deco Bike offers 1,000 custom cruisers at over 100 solar-powered rental kiosks. Simply slide your credit card and ride away! Residents can purchase monthly memberships and tourists can buy 1-day, 3-day or hourly passes that start at just $5. Ride where you like and return the bike at stations from South Pointe Park to 53rd Street Beach – which makes a ride down to South Beach even easier for guests at the Eden Roc Renaissance Resort & Spa, Fontainebleau Resort and the Miami Beach Resort & Spa.

~AdvisorGirl