Driving to Miami Airport

Hi. It is years since I had to drive to MIA and I remember having a lot of trouble finding the Alamo Car Rental Return. This was before the new MIA Mover and Rental Car Centre. I will be driving from Naples across Alligator Alley on I-75 and wondered if the Rental Centre is well signposted now or if someone could give me any helpful advice ?!
Thank you.
hiljil

We came back from Miami in June and although the car rental place is quietly signposted (i.e. not a huge sign hanging in the middle of the road, more of a small signpost to the side), whatever you do, please do not miss the turning. You will literally have to drive the whole way around the airport, back out again, and then come back on yourself and this will take about twenty minutes.

They signs are in place but quite small. Once you have deposited your car, the walk to the terminal is quite long with suitcases and does involve a tram/train. It might be worth you dropping off your suitcases, checking in and then going to the rentals return to leave your car.

The below link may help.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/204/miamit.jpg/

Thank you so much - that is really helpful !
regards
hiljil

Did this in May - pretty painless but as waatp says its better if you can drop luggage and pax at the terminal before returning the car to alamo.

Follow signs from the terminal complex to the car rental garage (about 4-5 minute drive)

Once at the garage a quick check of the car was done and then a short walk, tram back to the terminal and another short walk to check in.

Good luck.

Waatp is right, it's easy to see the signs for the rental centre but the main problem is refuelling the car. The Shell station is just the other side of the turning to the rental centre and if you pass that turn to go to refuel..... Disaster!! It was a stressful 15 minute detour all round the East side of the rental centre with you then even being rerouted passed the terminal due to the mass of road works. Poor temporary signs almost made me miss it again!!! My advice, refuel the hire car if you have to a few miles before the airport. Sorted.

Only big tip I can really offer for flying from Miami Airport is that there are not a huge range of places to eat (well, not from the terminal that we flew home from - I think it was Concourse F). Huge windows if you like to see the planes coming and going.

If you have lots of time to spend at the airport, there is a fairly decent restaurant called Top of the Port (or something similar) located at the International Hotel. I didn't go there in June this year, but when I was in Miami in 2010.

There are a lot of shops - Duty Free and about a dozen Hudson News' within 200 yards of each other.

Free Wifi is available at certain places too but I do remember reading a sign that said that it was only for travel related websites (car rental, airlines, hotels etc ...) and everything else would be charged at an hourly rate. Can't remember how much exactly but I think it was about £3 for half an hour.

When we came through in June, we noticed there were various art exhibitions taking place as well.

Hi Hilary! Hope you had a good trip!

The consensus for MIA is not to arrive at the Airport too early! The Club America lounge is pretty terrible.

The Return Rental place is a little tricky to return to however make sure you fill up with Gas before you hit the Airport area as there are a number of gas stations very close to the Rental Car Garage but they are in tricky locations that can end up in confusion on how to get back on the right track.

Thank you all for all the helpful hints. It sounds as though Miami Airport is still the hell hole I remember from years ago ...
Hi Ryan ! We have had a wonderful time, thank you. Dread returning to UK rain and cold !!!

Annoyingly the F concourse is. When I flew out if the north terminal on AA domestic, it was really nice. Hope they get round to finishing the rest of it off!