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Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami

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Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami
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Just a 3-hour flight from Montreal, Miami offers a sunny cocktail of beaches, Art Deco architecture and lively nightlife.

Dotted with verdant parks and wetlands such as the Everglades, its ecological wealth is revealed through a generous array of wildlife, from tropical birds to sea turtles.

The « Magic City » enjoys an inviting tropical climate, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Average temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C throughout the year.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - miami-beach pixabay

Famous for its world-renowned beaches, including South Beach, Miami Beach and Key Biscayne, this American city is characterized by remarkable cultural diversity, with a strong Latin American influence, particularly Cuban.

Every year, it hosts several major events, including the Miami International Boat Show, the contemporary art festival Art Basel Miami Beach, and the electronic music festival Ultra Music Festival.

To optimize your long weekend of discoveries in Miami, you could, for example, devote your first day to exploring the city’s art and history; your second day to savoring the pleasures of the beaches; and your third day to venturing into its subtropical nature.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - pixabay

Miami as a family

Miami is full of exciting activities for families. Among the best:

The Skyviews Ferris Wheel, perched on the seafront, offers spectacular views of the city from an impressive height of almost 60 metres. You’ll embark in air-conditioned cabins for a comfortable experience during the complete tour, which lasts 12 to 15 minutes.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - Grande Roue Skyviews

How about a day at Zoo Miami, Florida’s largest zoo? In this natural ecosystem, you’ll discover wildlife through the presence of over 3,000 animals and a profusion of 1,200 plants and trees.

Or, if you prefer, Jungle Island, an eco-adventure park where young and old can marvel at the exotic fauna and watch fascinating bird shows.

Another site of interest is the Frost Science Museum, an interactive museum featuring technological and meteorological exhibits, a planetarium and an aquarium.

If you want to enjoy the sea with the whole family, a cruise on Biscayne Bay is just what you need! You’ll have a maritime view of Miami, with the chance to spot dolphins and other local animals. An experienced guide will share the history of this ecosystem and reveal details about these islands, both natural and man-made, home to some of the city’s most exclusive residences.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - pixabay

Park-loving families will love Crandon Park , where they can enjoy the beach, playgrounds and picnic areas for a moment of relaxation, especially at sunset.

Superblue, a trendy art gallery, presents luminous exhibitions through intriguing rooms, digital installations and a labyrinth of mirrors. It’s a unique immersive artistic experience!

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - Superblue Miami

A weekend with friends

It’s well known that Miami is also an ideal destination for groups of friends looking for adventure and fun.

The vibrant neighborhoods of Wynwood and Little Havana, with their colorful walls and artistic atmosphere, create the perfect backdrop for memorable photos.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - wynwood

Explore the Everglades on a must-see excursion. This emblematic park, extending its marshes and mangroves over 6,000 km², is home to a rich biodiversity, with alligators, Florida panthers, manatees, as well as hundreds of species of birds and fish.

In South Beach, you can enjoy water activities, rollerblade along the Ocean Drive promenade, and relax on the lively beaches.

Ocean Drive, Miami Beach’s iconic thoroughfare, is packed with open-air cafés, restaurants, boutiques and street artists.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - Unsplash

The evening comes to life in Brickell City Centre, Miami’s financial district, with its trendy bars, restaurants and spectacular views.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - unsplash

For daytime partying, head to Day Club Arkadia. Among Miami’s popular bars at night:

  • Mango’s Tropical Cafe
  • Bleau Bar
  • Mac’s Club Deuce
  • Clevelander South Beach Club

For a romantic getaway

Couples are not left out in Miami, as this dynamic, cosmopolitan metropolis can also offer a romantic setting.

How about a hand-in-hand stroll through the gardens of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, an early 20th-century Italian villa surrounded by magnificent scenery?

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - Pixabay

You’ll also love discovering the bohemian atmosphere of Coconut Grove, where couples can enjoy a delicious brunch in an open-air café.

A stroll along the Miami Beach Boardwalk is always appreciated.

Key Biscayne beach is also perfect for a relaxing day for two, followed by a romantic seafood dinner at one of the beachfront restaurants.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - Miami Beach Boardwalk -unsplash

In the evening, to enjoy a cocktail while admiring the twinkling lights of downtown, head to Bayside Marketplace, a two-storey open-air shopping mall located alongside the city’s marina.

Miami accommodations

Miami offers a range of accommodations, from luxurious hotels along the beach to more affordable options in the downtown area.

We recommend booking in advance to guarantee the best choice.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - 1 Hotel South Beach

Here are some ideas to help you plan your stay:

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel

Some practical information

Access and transport

Miami International Airport (MIA) is the main gateway. Alternatively, by car from Montreal, the journey takes around 26 hours. At your destination, transportation options include cabs, using an app like Lyft, car-sharing services and hotel shuttles. Car rental is also a great way to explore the city and surrounding area.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - aéroport international de Miami

Security

Miami is a relatively safe city, but it’s always advisable to remain vigilant, especially in tourist areas. Avoid leaving valuables unattended.

Neighborhoods to explore

Wynwood for street art, Coconut Grove for its bohemian ambience, Little Havana for the Cuban experience, and South Beach for its beaches and nightlife.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - little havana-unsplash

Kitchen

Miami offers great culinary diversity, with Latin American, Cuban and Caribbean influences. Don’t miss a taste of Cuban cuisine in Little Havana and fresh seafood along the coast.

Among our most popular restaurants:

Night outings

The neighborhoods of Brickell and South Beach are renowned for their lively nightlife. Discover dance clubs, live shows and rooftop bars like the East Miami Hotel’s Sugar.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - Sugar au East Miami

How to get to Miami for less?

Air Canada and Air Transat offer direct flights to Miami, as shown on Flight Connections. It’s an indispensable tool for finding flights quickly.

With Aeroplan points

Ticket prices vary enormously depending on the time of year, and even on the same day! Booking your seat in advance can often avoid a high price.

If you fly Air Canada in economy class on March 15, 2024, your one-way seat will cost you 8,700 Aeroplan points + 112 CAD in taxes, for a 6:45 p.m. departure.

Beware of the timetable: you’ll need an extra 14,500 points to catch the 8.30 a.m. flight.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - FR-vol-montreal-miami

Opting for Fort Lauderdale is also a good opportunity to save points, especially if you want to leave Montreal early. There are many bus connections to Miami.

To Fort Lauderdale, at 7:40 or 8:55 a. m., the flight costs 11,900 points + 112 CAD tax.

Our travel guide for your long weekend in Miami - FR-vol-montreal-fortlauderdale

With travel points

You could also take an Air Transat flight and benefit from travel points applicable to your expenses.

These rewards points can be used for any travel purchases, such as National Bank purchases. You’ll reduce the cost of your trip!

Exclusive
Annual fee
$0 $150

No annual fee the first year

Our valuation
$150

Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.

Welcome offer
First Year Annual Fee Rebate

$150 annual fee rebated

Ends Nov 4, 2026

Apply Now

on National Bank's website

With Milesopedia, take advantage of an exclusive offer: your first-year annual fees are refunded with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is exclusively available on the Milesopedia network, from June 30 to November 4, 2026.

  • Refund of the first-year annual fee (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. This fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a credit on your statement within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card offered by NBC.

With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:

  • 5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
  • 2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on recurring bills
  • 2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
  • 1 point per dollar for all other purchases

And since it’s an NBC mycredit Mastercard, you can use it at Costco.

With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:

  • Airport parking
  • Baggage fees
  • Seat selection
  • Access to airport lounges
  • Airline ticket upgrades

What’s more, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, Milesopedia has named the National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Travel Credit Card in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 2xTravel
  • 2xBills & recurring payments
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$778
2nd Year Value$923

Card benefits

Airport lounge access$400
Travel creditsIncluded

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 60 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 31 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $2,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentIncluded

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+2 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard® also offers excellent travel insurance, as well as an annual credit of $150.

With Marriott Bonvoy points

To book free nights with Marriott Bonvoypoints, you must first open an account and collect points.

Once you have enough points, you can redeem them for free nights.

Here are some suggestions for Marriott Bonvoy hotels located in Miami:

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990

Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.

Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points

Ends Sep 22, 2026

Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

As well as the hotels that have been tested in Miami:

Bottom Line

Between the sun-drenched beaches, cultural vibrancy and endless shopping opportunities, we’re sure you’ll love your long weekend in Miami!

Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990

Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.

Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points

Ends Sep 22, 2026

Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.