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Although, nearer to New Jersey than the other four boroughs, Staten Island is one of the five boroughs of New York City with a population of almost half a million. The Staten Island Ferry takes only 25 minutes to travel the five miles from the St. George Ferry Terminal to Battery Park, Manhattan and runs regularly throughout the day. But, best of all its free; there is no charge for foot passengers who use the service. There is room for 4,440 foot passengers on each ferry, and with over 50 weekday round-trips you should have no trouble getting a place on board, although try to avoid the rush hour periods when many residents of Staten Island make their way to jobs in Manhattan, and back to their homes in the evening. At the weekend there are less services but still a significant amount, enabling you to make the most of your big city vacation.

With all the major sights in New York City such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park and Grand Central Station all easily accessible from the southern tip of Manhattan via the subway and bus, it makes great financial sense to stay in Staten Island. Both uptown and upstate New York can be conveniently reached using the excellent transportation system throughout the five boroughs and beyond.

Also, while you travel on the ferry you will get excellent views of the Lower Manhattan skyline, and you’ll steam past Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, although if you wish to visit the latter two attractions you will need to embark on a separate Liberty ferry that travels from Battery Park.

From your hotel in Staten Island you can be in central Manhattan in less than 45 minutes; while benefiting from the much lower room prices – easily saving $100 per night per room – money you will save on your accommodation during a one week stay could pay for all your sight-seeing activity, and may even fund other entertainment options and for all your day-to-day dining!

Being a sub-tropical city, Miami is climatically very different from most places in the USA. The city is a cosmopolitan water playground that attracts more visitors than any other US city.

Miami appeals to travelers wanting warm sun, great beaches, a laid back lifestyle, world class entertainment in clubs and bars and a diverse mix of art, music and international cuisines.

Travelers visiting Miami may actually spend their time in Miami Beach, a separate municipality situated 4 miles (6 km) across Biscayne Bay from downtown Miami. The combined greater Miami area includes several ethnic neighborhoods such as Little Havana and Little Haiti.

The diverse cultural mix is evident in Latin American languages, cuisine and music throughout the city and the population of the Greater Miami Area is 50% Hispanic. Dining in Miami offers the opportunity to visit a different ethnic restaurant every night and enjoy diverse international cuisines.

Once upon a time, Miami attracted mostly retirees turning their backs on snowy, colder climates but nowadays it attracts the ultra-chic glitterati, cashed up yuppies, the boating and yachting fraternity and Cuban immigrants.

** Miami Vacation Attractions

Greater Miami is a great base for access to several major Florida holiday attractions. The northern tip of the Florida Keys is just off shore, the Everglades are just a short distance inland and the affluent enclaves of Palm Beach and Boca Roton are just a short distance along the coast.

The Miami Beach Promenade, aka South Beach, is a favorite spot for cyclists, skaters, joggers and skateboarders. This is the most instantly recognized beach front location in existence and the place to be seen if appearances are important.

Many of the early Miami buildings from the early 1900’s have been restored. A walking tour around the South Beach precinct is recommended to see the spectacular rejuvenation of the 1920’s buildings in the Art Deco Historic District.

Miami boasts fine museums, galleries, historic gardens, zoos, sports stadiums, spring fed natural pools and of course, the ever present golf courses. Greater Miami has lots to brag about when it comes to world class golf courses and is home to some of the most testing courses in the world.

** Miami Vacation Cruises

The busiest cruise ship center of any city in the USA is the Port of Miami with holiday cruises to the Caribbean and Latin America making up the bulk of these cruises, but there are also cruises to all parts of the world.

Cruises are usually well equipped for gambling and casinos open as soon as the ship passes into international waters. Non stop food, games, movies and onboard activities ensure guests are always entertained and well fed.

** Miami Hotels & Resorts

Miami visitors are offered a range of hotels, resorts and vacation rentals to satisfy all tastes and budgets. There’s accommodation and prices to suit everyone, ranging from the restored boutique hotels in the Art Deco and South Beach district, modern glass and chrome high rise hotels, budget hostels, beach front condos and villas, serviced apartments, inns and guesthouses… it’s your choice.

** Miami Vacation Transport

Miami International Airport is one of the major airports in the USA, and a major hub city for American Airlines. Major domestic airlines such as Northwest/KLM, United and US Airways, Delta and Continental all service Miami as well as several lesser known economy carriers.

There are two Amtrak trains that run daily from New York down to Miami and the travel time is approximately 27 hours.

The Metro-Dade Transit Agency runs two Miami rail systems, one being Metrorail which is a modern elevated commuter train that connects downtown Miami and the southern suburbs. Metromover is an elevated line looping the downtown precinct and connecting with many of the important attractions, shopping and business districts.

Tri Rail is a south Florida commuter train service that connects all the major Miami centers with North Palm Beach.

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