Miami holiday

Miami is a global city located in the south-east region of the US state of Florida. The city is the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most densely populated county in Florida.

Miami is the largest city within the Miami metropolitan area (which is the seventh largest metropolitan area in the US) and is ranked a global city for its importance in finance, commerce, entertainment and the arts.

The city is also home a host of television studios, banks and company headquarters and is known as an international centre for popular entertainment in television, fashion, music, film and the performing arts.

Miami is a veritable melting pot of diverse people and cultures, which gives the city a real flavour and vibrancy.

There are plenty of flight offers available so those interested in visiting Miami should scour the internet to find Miami flights online and book that last minute holiday before they are all snapped up.

Traditions and culture in Miami

Some 50 per cent of Miami's population is Hispanic - mostly of Cuban origin, which gives the city's cultural landscape a real Latin flavour. At every turn, you are likely to be within earshot of the Spanish language.

Cubans have also influenced the music in Miami, introducing the conga and the rumba and popularising it in American culture. Dominicans are responsible for bringing in bachata and merengue, while Colombians introduced vallenato to American shores.

To compele this heady mix, West Indians and Caribbean people have brought in reggae, soca, kompa, calypso and steel pan music into Miami.

Things to do in Miami

The International Hispanic Theater Festival from late May to mid-June is one of the largest Hispanic theatre events in the US and is well worth a visit. It features US, Latin American, Caribbean and European theatre companies all performing at the El Carrusel Theater in Coral Gables.

In the second week of November, the Miami Book Fair is held in the city and is among the most well attended international book fairs in the country. Hundreds of well-known writers convene at the event along with hundreds of publishers and book lovers alike.

There are also countless bars and nightclubs around the Miami Beach and South Beach area that come alive when the sun goes down.

Weather in Miami

The best weather in Miami Beach occurs between December and May, when temperatures average between 15 degrees C (60 degrees Fahrenheit) and 30 degrees C (85 degrees Fahrenheit). Rainfall is also scarce during this period.

June is the rainiest month, August the hottest and from July to September, hurricanes are frequent.

(Destination checklist for Miami

Miami has a population of around 376,815.

The currency in use is the US dollar.

English is the official language and Spanish widely spoken.

The city is five hours behind GMT.

Miami's international dialling code is +1.