As part of booking roundtrip flights which depart from US airports,
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on Varig, which operates a non-stop flight everyday except Tuesday from Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU) to Miami (MIA), regularly scheduled to depart at 11:00am and arrive at 4:10pm. Usually a McDonnell Douglas MD11 is flown for this route. The average travel time from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Miami, FL is 8 hours and 10 minutes.
During your Miami vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
GameWorks
At Steven Spielberg's SEGA GameWorks in the Shops at Sunset Place, you'll see people fighting off dinosaurs from Jurassic Park, racing in the Indy 500, swooshing down a snowy ski trail, throwing darts, and shooting pool in this multilevel playground. The young and the young at heart will find a good combination of vintage arcade games, high-tech videos, virtual-reality arenas, pool tables, food, and cocktails in this playground occupying more than 33,000 square feet. Bring lots -- and we mean lots -- of change.
Miami Art Museum at the Miami-Dade Cultural Center
The Miami Art Museum (MAM) features an eclectic mix of modern and contemporary works by such artists as Eric Fischl, Max Beckmann, Jim Dine, and Stuart Davis. Rotating exhibitions span the ages and styles, and often focus on Latin American or Caribbean artists. There are also fantastic themed exhibits such as the Andy Warhol exhibit, which featured all-night films by the artist, make-your-own pop art, cocktail hours, and parties with local DJs. JAM at MAM is the museum's popular happy hour, which takes place the third Thursday of the month and is tied in to a particular exhibit. Almost as artistic as the works inside the museum is the composite sketch of the people -- young and old -- who attend these events.The Miami-Dade Cultural Center, where the museum is housed, is a fortresslike complex designed by Phillip Johnson. In addition to the acclaimed Miami Art Museum, the center houses the main branch of the Miami-Dade Public Library, which sometimes features art and cultural exhibits, and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida, which highlights the fascinating history of the area. Unfortunately, the plaza onto which the complex opens is home to many of downtown Miami's homeless population, which makes it a bit off-putting but not dangerous.
ArtCenter/South Florida
Not exactly a museum in the classic sense of the word, ArtCenter/South Florida is a multichambered space where local artists display their works in all mediums -- from photography and sculpture to video and just about anything else that might exemplify their artistic nature. Admission is free and it's quite fun to mosey through the space viewing the various artists at work in their studios. Of course, all the art is for sale, but there's no pressure to buy. If you call ahead, you can schedule a guided tour of all the studios, which will give you extra insight into the exhibits. Otherwise, just wander and enjoy.
Hampton Inn
This very standard chain hotel is a welcome reprieve in an area otherwise known for very pricey accommodations. The rooms are nothing exciting, but the freebies, like local phone calls, parking, in-room movies, breakfast buffet, and hot drinks around the clock, make this a real steal. Although there is no restaurant or bar, it is close to lots of both -- only about half a mile to the heart of the Grove's shopping and retail area and about as far from Coral Gables. Rooms are brand new, sparkling clean, and larger than that of a typical motel. Located at the residential end of Brickell Avenue, it's a quiet, convenient location 15 minutes from South Beach and 5 minutes from Coconut Grove. If you'd rather save your money for dining and entertainment, this is a good bet.
Bentley Hotel
The biggest coup the Bentley Hotel pulls off is its ability to remain immune to the throngs of pedestrians on the well-traveled Ocean Drive outside. Guests enjoy a private front entrance that leads, via elevator, to the main lobby. Inside this enclave of Old World luxury you will find a charming ambience and an overly accommodating, professional staff. The hotel's 53 suites are both hotel rooms and condos; some of them can be rented year-round. Rooms come complete with marble floors, well-stocked kitchens, and roomy bathrooms with steam showers. Try not to get a corner room, though, or you will learn more about your neighbors than you'd ever want to. Because it is located on South Beach's bustling strip of neon and nightlife, the Bentley, despite its efforts to stand apart from the rest of its neighbors, isn't impervious to noise. However, if you want luxe in the midst of all the action, the Bentley is a great choice.
Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort
This conveniently located 422-room resort stands apart from other area resorts in that it's the nation's first and largest African-American owned and developed beachfront resort. Unfortunately, unflattering fluorescent lighting in the lackluster lobby is reminiscent of a sterile hospital ward, despite colorful wall decor by local pop artist Romero Britto. A mish mash of unsightly lobby furniture doesn't help either. The hotel is massive, composed of five buildings located adjacent to Ocean Drive. Three of the five buildings are restored, while the two towers are brand new, and, despite the fact that this resort is a small city, it miraculously maintains a sense of intimacy not typical with many large resorts thanks to the renowned design team Arquitectonica. While the rooms aren't as appealing as the building itself, they are comfortable, modern, and, here's a surprise for a South Beach hotel, remarkably quiet with little or no disturbance from the throbbing bass coming from cars passing by. The outdoor areas of the hotel are pretty, with one pool on a mezzanine level and the other beachside.
