Travel Tripz » Miami

Leaving Miami

traveltripz — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:06:00 +0000

Tuesday morning and it is time for us to pick up the rental car. Avis is just a short walk from the hotel, straight up Chopin Place and on up NW 2nd St.

We have hired a two door silver colored Cobalt. So after receiving instructions on how to get back to the hotel off we go. Well thank goodness most of the streets are one way, it gives me time to work out where to make turns, as I am now sitting in the car on the left hand side and driving on the opposite side of the road.

I keep turning on the wipers as the indicators are on the opposite side to what I am used to.

We have to go around the block to get back to the hotel, easy - right - ha, wrong.

We come close to Biscayne Boulevard, there are no traffic lights and the traffic shows no signs of clearing because the bridge is up and the traffic is not moving. So we do a U turn and head off in another direction and end up having to go around the block a few times to work out how to get across the main road to the hotel. Signposting is at a minimum so it is simply a matter of taking note each time of how the road system works.

Finally - we reach the hotel and guess what - no parking is available so in the end we take the valet parking option even though we are only go to be at the hotel for another couple of hours.

Okay so far so good, we head off to breakfast to contine networking with the affiliate marketers.

Unfortunately it is time to go and we have to head off. When we first decided to come to the conference we didn’t purchase the full pass, because of the cost so we thought two days would be enough. It was only after we had booked everything that we were then sent a coupon code to get the full pass at a reduced rate. What this meant however was that we couldn’t stay at the conference for the full three days so it was on to Orlando that morning.

Affiliate Summit in Miami

traveltripz — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 06:43:00 +0000

The main reason for our trip to Miami was to attend the Affiliate Summit which is held twice a year in the US.

We are up bright and early and off to have the continental breakfast where we meet Tara from Link connector.

After breakfast we attend the keynote address by Ze Frank. This is one very funny guy who uses humour to get his message across. Ze was jettisoned to fame on the internet when he posted a birthday invitation named ‘How to Dance Properly’ which received a massive web response.

Unfortunately with both of us being unwell we weren’t able to make the most of the day but even so we managed to get through a number of sessions and networking at the exhibitor stalls. Breakfast and lunch was included with our Summit pass and for dinner we got room service in as we were still recovering from our colds and didn’t feel much like going out.

Here are a few of the stands that were represented.

Our Review of the Intercontinental Hotel Miami

traveltripz — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 06:13:00 +0000

During our stay in Miami we stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel in Chopin Plaza which was the ideal location for us. We received a great rate as part of the conference we were attending so it turned out to only be about $120 per night.

We checked in at about 4pm. Check-in was smooth and quick and we were given a room on the 9th floor.

First impressions of the room were that it was quite large compared to what we were used to in New York. The room has an extra large window making for an excellent view even if it is only to the buildings across the road. We could see a little of the water if we looked out the window to the right.

The room contains two double beds which are very comfortable. We have stayed in so many hotels now that we are starting to rate a room based on the quality of the beds but we were very happy with these.

The room contained the basics including a TV, coffee maker, mini bar fridge, lounging chair and office desk.

The bathroom was quite large and comprised two rooms. The first contained a closet, sink and clothes drawer. The second contained the toilet, bathtub and separate shower which was hidden behind the door.

We ordered room service once for breakfast and twice for dinner. The staff were extremely attentive and the meals were wheeled in on a table that was then set up in the room. We had no complaints about the meals. They were well presented with plenty to eat and reasonably priced for a hotel.

Maid service was good. We didn’t have any problems with this. We did leave a tip but they didn’t take the money and we found out later that the tip is part of the final bill.

Overall we felt that the room was to the standard of a four star. It was very clean and modern. We definitely recommend this hotel for anyone staying in Miami.

Views from the bedroom window:

Miami Day 2

traveltripz — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 21:21:00 +0000

Today we were intending to have a nice sleep-in but ended up getting up early anyway. We had pre-ordered our breakfast for 9am and it arrived right on time and was brought in on a table on wheels and set up in a corner of the room. The breakfast was just wonderful. I had ordered an American breakfast and Wanda ordered Eggs Benedict. It also included orange juice, green tea and a variety of bakery items.

We then headed down to the Mezzanine to register for the Affiliate Summit. This is the main reason for our trip although any excuse to travel and we are off. We received a big bag of goodies and went back to our room to go through it all and work out what sessions of the conference we were going to attend over the coming days.

After making our choices for the next day we got our walking shoes and headed out to check out the monorail that was zipping around just across the road from us. Upon reading the signs at the entrance we realised that it was free to use which was a bit of a surprise.

Here are some of the attractive buildings in downtown Miami:

We took a couple of different trains and then got off at the Macys stop and headed on into the store. Well that was a mistake. A couple hundred dollars later and laden with our shopping bags we finally exit the store and walk up Miami Avenue to check out the rest of downtown Miami.

Unfortunately, being Sunday, most of the stores were closed. This was a little surprising to us as in Australia the shops in most major cities are open on Sundays and we just expected it to be the same here.

As we were getting hot and tired we got back on the Metromover and headed back to the hotel. After a quick break we then headed up through Bayfront Park to the Bayside Centre to see if we could find somewhere for lunch and we finally decided on the Hard Rock Café. The food here was delicious and the atmosphere was great although the music was way too loud at the start. I think they realised it was too loud and finally turned it down to a reasonable level.

Paula was feeling a little merry after one and a half cocktails.

I stuck to the fresh fruit juice which was refreshingly cool and full of fruity flavour:

We brought the glasses as a memento.

After our lunch we headed back to the hotel which is where we are now watching Harry Potter on the TV. This is probably where we will stay for now. Neither of us is in the mood to go anywhere at the moment - Wanda is still getting over her cold and I have caught her cold as I am sniffing away here as well. We were going to head down to the start of the conference but with neither of us feeling well we are going to stay in so we are feeling well for tomorrow.

On To Miami

traveltripz — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 20:24:00 +0000

Up bright and early this morning - 6am. Pack the bags with great difficilty. We haven’t brought much but it is amazing what you accumulate in a short time.

Check out is painless and we head off to 41st Street to catch the bus out to Newark station. “Which terminal ya goin to?” we are asked. Oh god we don’t know, and a frantic search of the paperwork ensues.

A young lady advised that she thought we would probably leave from terminal C as she was heading to California and she felt the Miami flight would also leave from C.

We figured we could catch a cab between terminals if we had to.

Sure enough it was terminal C. Our original flight had been cancelled and the terminal alpha wasn’t on the replacement paperwork, but thank goodness we had also brought a copy of the cancelled flight as the required informtion was on that.

Next step - find out what you have to do when there are no signs or assistants to explain how things work.

So we stand in line waiting to be called to a counter when the people behind us tell us that we just approach a counter and key in our details. Okay, off we go and sure enough as we are following the directions on the screen, a lady appears to check out that we are who we say we are and take our bags.

The system is great once you know how it works.

On to the check-in scanners and once again I set off the alarm. I wear a gold bangle that I have worn since it was given to me by my grandmother when I was 10. It tends to set off the alarms at most airports. And of course I have grown around the bracelet over the years so it can’t be removed.

So there I stand in a glass cage being patted down while Paula waits patiently putting on her shoes which have had to be removed before going through the scanner.

The flight is smooth although we are put into a holding pattern for 25 minutes.

The snack is also interesting, consisting as it does of a turkey sandwich, a packet of raw baby carrots and a packet of M & M’s.

On arrival we get lost looking for the baggage carousel. Finally work it out and manage to find a shuttle bus which delivers us right to the door of the Intercontinental Hotel for a cost of $15.00 plus the tip.

Check in is smooth and the room is spacious with an excellent view.

We have decided to take it easy tonight and check out the surrounding area tomorrow.