Miami news, Miami local news

The Coral Gables Venetian Pool, which started off as just a rock pit when they were planning to build Coral Gables in the 1920s, underwent a six-month, $730,000 renovation that was completed just before summer of 2009. The Saturday following the Friday grand reopening welcomed 471 guests. The Venetian Pool renovation included new and improved bathrooms, walkways, fountains, roof tiles, concession area, patio furniture and wrought-iron gate.

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Since our economy has gone into recession, plastic surgery procedure popularity has slumped drastically. The more expensive the procedure, the more it has decreased in procedure popularity in requests by patients. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, sales for liposuction went down 19 percent; tummy tucks procedure popularity went down 18 percent;and breast augmentation procedure popularity went down 12 percent.

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June 2009 brought an 18 percent drop in Miami-Dade hotel taxes. This drop resembles that of the 16.8 percent decline in the 12 months following the 2001 terrorist attacks.

This drop in hotel taxes further complicates the county’s efforts to finance a new baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins. The county is securing future hotel taxes for the nearly $400 million of construction debt they plan to incur. The steep hotel tax decline has forced county officials to rewrite the stadium’s financing plan. The stadium’s future is dependent on the hotel market’s success over the next two years.

If you are planning a trip to Miami, check out the different lodging options from Miami hotels to Miami vacation rentals.

Miami International Airport Miami - Airport Passenger Reviews

Skytrax has added a site in which travelers and prospective travelers may find guidance pertaining to Miami International Airport. Basically, the site is a forum where previous travelers who have visited Miami International Airport can write Miami Airport Passenger Reviews about their experience as well as rating the airport on a 5-star system. You can find information such as airport ranking for Miami International Airport, as well. The site is filled with travelers’ opinions in Miami Airport Passenger Reviews as well as tips in hopes that other travelers may benefit.

Of course, the site is also one in which you may post your own Miami Airport Passenger Reviews so that other travelers may be well-informed. You can find this informative Miami Airport Passenger Reviews site at airlinequality.com/Airports/Airport_forum/mia.htm

Miami Beach tourism is still suffering even through the high season. Miami Beach hotel revenues and occupancy numbers are decreasing even more quickly than they did after September 11th. Miami Beach tourism suffered a great deal after September 11th due to people’s reluctance to fly. Miami’s Guide will guide you in the right direction and help you find everything you need for the perfect trip.

Revenue for Miami Beach hotels in February 2009 was low and occupancy rates dropped between 10 to 73%. Miami Beach hotel room prices declined an average of 15% to $180 per night. Aside from the global decline, Miami Beach tourism is also suffering because of the increased hotel room supply. There are 10% more Miami Beach hotel rooms this year than last year. Despite the decrease in numbers, Miami Beach tourism gets along well compared to other US top tourist destinations. Vacationers in Miami Beach take advantage of incredible deals on accommodations and usually prefer to stay in Miami Beach vacation rental properties. Miami Beach hotels averages per room are the highest in the country. Use Miami’s Guide to make educated decisions and save while traveling.

Finnegan’s on the River is ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Miami with the best themed party in Miami. Guests will be as Irish as they will ever be on Tuesday’s party starting at 4PM at Finnegan’s River. They’ll enjoy beer, live music, a DJ, a bag piper and a green-dyed pool. Enjoy the interior bar, raw sushi bar and a menu with bar classics such as spicy wings and spinach dip with chips.

Special for St. Patrick’s Day, corned beef and cabbage and shepherd’s pie will be added to the menu. For more information, call 305-285-3030.

For other information on Miami events or venues, visit the online Miami Guide. If you will be visiting Miami from somewhere else, take a look at the cheap but high-quality Miami vacation rentals and Miami holiday homes.

The economical crisis is hitting the boating industry and Miami boating events extremely hard as seen by the rapid disappearance of boat buyers. Some analysts had anticipated that the wealthy would not be impacted by the crisis and that the yacht and mega yacht segment of the market would be unscathed.

It is time for those analysts to go back and rewrite their reports. Visitors on Florida vacations will normally be preparing now as the Miami Boat Show approaches at this dire time. Some billionaire boat owners have been impacted more than others. The Russian oligarch Abramovitch, a yacht collector, lost most of his fortune in the past few months. His fortune dwindled from about $80 billion to $3 billion.

Large yacht manufacturers and Miami boating events have begun to feel the effects quite intensely. The Italian Ferreti is restructuring its debts and the French Rodriguez is said to be on the verge of bankruptcy.

The 68th Miami Boat Show will be challenged by our current economy. Out-of-towners can find deals for their Miami boating events vacations by booking a Miami Beach vacation rental.

Due to the economic struggle that industries are currently facing, Miami restaurants are slashing prices in order to lure customers. Miami Spice, a month-long event where top Miami restaurants offer discounted meals, normally takes place in the summer because it is considered the slow season.

Now, the new Winter Miami Spice by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau has come into effect and will run from January 12th to February 12th. Over 30 Miami restaurants will participate in Winter Miami Spice and offer a fixed menu for lunch for $23 and dinner for $36. For more information on Winter Miami Spice, visit ilovemiamispice.com.

Miami Holiday Rentals & Florida vacation rentals - Find amazing accommodations in Florida and Miami for your next Miami vacation.

Today is another new beginning for Miami-Dade’s northbound I-95. Drivers will be introduced to a new traffic system on some of the busiest sections of I-95. Drivers will no longer be able to dive freely into expressway traffic. Now, they must wait for a green light at the entrance ramp to merge in during rush hours. These traffic signals will await motorists at eight different northbound I-95 ramps between NW 62nd Street and the Golden Glades interchange.

This new addition to the driving system is meant to ultimately manage congestion and ease any merging madness on this very busy Florida expressway. This, much like the implementation of the new northbound toll lanes, will require some adjustment. Drivers should pay extra attention when entering I-95 as the new traffic signals create a huge potential for rear-end collisions.

Drivers that are not used to red lights on an interstate ramp may not stop and end up rear-ending drivers ahead of them that obey that traffic signal. Florida Highway Patrols hope that, like the new I-95 toll lanes, people will come to understand the purpose of the traffic signals and adjust after some initial chaos and confusion. A trooper will be set up at every traffic signaled ramp to enforce the new regulation. Violators may face penalties including a $160 ticket and three points on their license. Ramp backups will be monitored by sensors under the ramps and expressway lanes as well as surveillance cameras. When ramps get too backed-up the sensors will signal to speed up entries. If you are traveling to Miami and you plan to rent a car, these traffic signals may not be foreign to you.

There are several like these that already exist in other parts of the country. If you want to avoid them, maybe you should look into Miami Beach vacation rentals and Florida vacation rentals which are within walking distance to many of Miami’s attractions.

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The City of Miami Beach ordinance has been fighting the allowance of vacation rentals of single family homes for the past 8 years.

The city finally decided to discontinue the renting of “party homes”, villas rented by operators for 1 or 2 nights for an organized commercial event.

The events were disturbing neighbors so the City of Miami Beach took drastic measures to put a stop to the nuisance. Unfortunately, by the same token they have affected the entire industry of home vacation rentals in Miami Beach.

Owners and managers of a vacation rental house in Miami Beach have been severely limited in their ability to rent their homes. They can rent their properties a mere 3 times a year, no matter the term of the rentals.

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City of Miami Beach inspectors have been on the lookout for violators of this legal interpretation that will soon be added to the city codes.

Home owners in Miami Beach have received fines and have watched their homes get raided by police to enforce a misfit regulation for one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Nonetheless, vacationers should follow tips for travel and be careful when staying at a vacation rental. Maintain the serenity to your vacation in order to avoid such consequences.

Some vacation rental property owners advertise on websites or magazines under the false indication that their vacation homes are located in Miami Beach when, in fact, they are in other neighborhoods of Miami.

Make sure to get travel information such as the address of the house when you reserve it. If it is located in Miami Beach, you should be prepared to risk expulsion. Otherwise, follow tips for travel and avoid this vacation rental house entirely.

If the vacation villa is located in other areas of Miami such as North Miami Beach, Miami or North Miami, you can peacefully enjoy your stay. Always make sure to follow tips for travel and ask the Miami vacation rental agency if there are any restrictions or other travel information you should know.

The cities of Miami, North Miami and North Miami Beach are not targeted by this ordinance.