To get the most out of Miami, you need a car. Some of the fly-drive packages can save a great deal of money.

There’s no doubt that visiting the area out of season costs much, much less. Hotel prices can be reduced by up to two-thirds. It’s true that the weather is a lot muggier, but the ocean breezes make beach life tolerable, and everything else is air-conditioned. Also ask your travel agent or check the web for promotional fares, but be sure to get all the details.

Coupon brochures – often with useful maps – are available free at most tourist stops or information desks. Savings can often be significant if you’ve got a large group or family to pay for. There are sometimes accommodations and tour discount coupons, too.

Not much is free here, apart from the stupendous beaches. But there are parks and gardens that charge no admission, and strolling around the busy streets doesn’t have to involve any outlay. One of the greatest pleasures is watching the ships go by, either from the bottom of Miami Beach, at South Pointe, or from Mallory Square in Key West.

It’s always worth trying to bargain the price down a bit, since no rates are cast in concrete. You can get an especially good deal in many places if you negotiate a weekly rate. If you’re traveling on business of any kind, you can also request a commercial rate.

Although there are many very expensive restaurants, there are many more chain fast-food franchises. If such fare disagrees with your palate, you’ll also find excellent local eateries that charge relatively little for good sandwiches. Otherwise, restaurants and bars often supply free food during cocktail hour, if you order a drink. Some restaurants also offer early bird specials for patrons dining between 5pm and 6pm.

You can have your picnic anywhere that there isn’t a sign forbidding it. Many public parks and all state parks have tables and other facilities and you can take your snack to the beach with you, too. However, be aware that littering in the US is severely frowned upon, so dispose of all refuse in the bins provided.

Often when making a purchase of any kind, especially in a shop, you can negotiate a discount if you pay in cash, rather than by credit card. The shopkeeper will be saving the charge from the credit card company and willing to pass on some of that saving – usually 2–5 percent – to you.

Not only is it healthier, allowing you to work on your tan and breathe in the energy-charged air here, but it’s also one of the very best ways to get around most of the prime areas in South Florida. Biking around South Beach, Key Biscayne, Key West, and even along certain trails in the Everglades is, for many, the only way to go, and the money you can save is significant.

Whatever you’re in the market for, from tickets to trinkets, take the time to do a little research and price-comparison. Chances are you can find the same or similar item for much less if you shop around. If it’s a toiletry need, for example, head for one of the large, all-purpose drugstores, where there are generic brands of almost everything, from contact lens solution to mouthwash, usually at half the name-brand price.