Miami Airport

Boutique cigars on sale at MIA Int’l Airport

MIA MARLINS

Miami International Airport
is developing a locally-themed marketplace in the North Terminal, (between gates D-26 and D-29) and plans to fill it with shops and restaurants that offer a sampling of Miami’s diverse demographics.

A Miami Marlins store opened in the marketplace in December and this week the airport celebrated the opening of a branch of Cuban Crafters , which sells boutique cigars, humidors and accessories.

MIA CIGARS

More marketplace outlets should be open by the summer and the airport promises other locally themed concepts, from Caribbean and Mediterranean food to stone crabs and empanadas.

Wi-Fi updates for O’Hare, Midway & Miami airports

Bucking a very definite trend, Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports, as well as Miami International Airport still charge for Wi-Fi access that would allow you to check email and take care of other business.

But these airports all now offer travelers free access to a wide variety of other on-line destinations.

At Miami International Airport, AWG (Advanced Wireless Group) is now delivering a free live stream of the CNN Airport Network on the wireless system that includes HBO, TBS, TNT and TCM programming as well as sports events and Spanish-language content from CNN Latino.

In Chicago, where Boingo provides the paid Wi-Fi service at O’Hare and Midway, there’s now a free Wi-Fi portal they’re calling “The Good Stuff” that gives travelers free access to about 30 sites for news, weather, shopping, entertainment, banking, travel and tourism, as well as local contact information.

To find “The Good Stuff” at O’Hare or Midway, go to the Boingo Wi-Fi network and click on the “The Good Stuff” panel on the left side on the page. Here’s where you can surf to for free:

GOOD STUFF

 

Tidbits for Travelers: trends, airport pick-ups and free tickets

suitcase

 

Results from a study Tripadvisor is calling the “TripBarometer” are out today with some insights on trends in travel and the hospitality industry garnered from the responses of more than 35,000 people.  Among the highlights:

  • Room discounts (79%), a free night’s stay with booking (51%) and free Wi-Fi (45%) are the top motivators when it comes to booking rooms;
  • Globally, travelers look at an average of seven properties before booking an accommodation, with 55 percent of U.S. travelers considering 1-5 options, and 26 percent considering 6-10.
  • The top three decision-making factors for global travelers are: price (76%), location (68%) and online reviews (44%). U.S. travelers agree.
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    The folks at the (somewhat creepy) site MeetAtTheAirport.com have done a survey as well and come up with the top five U.S. airports “to make a hot connection.”

    On the list: Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport, Newark-Liberty International Airport, Boston Logan Airport and Philadelphia International Airport for a variety of silly reasons.

    If you’re heading to or through Miami International Airport this weekend and want to ‘hook up’ with some deals and prizes – including the chance to win two tickets for a free Royal Caribbean Cruise – be sure to check out out the airport’s free Spring Break events, which include DJ music, a sand sculpting demonstration,  a chance to play the Nintendi Wii surfing game, beach ball giveaways, photo booths, discounts at shops and restaurants throughout the airport and an entry into that free cruise contest. Details here.

     

    Free airport cab rides. Turkey Day at MIA, Santa at IND

    Getting ready for Thanksgiving travel? Here a few things that may help.

    The folks at Shairporter – a new cab-sharing social platform – is promoting its New York City launch by giving away free cab rides on November 21 to New Yorkers traveling to the airport who register their ride through the Shairporter platform.

    If you’re traveling through the Miami International Airport on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, November 19-21 or on Saturday and Sunday, November 24th and 25th, you’ll find activities underway that include a DJ, Pilgrim and Indian greeters, a kids craft station, a stilt-walking scarecrow, giveaways and a harvest background for taking photos. Here’s a link to the list of events and a sheet of coupons for the shops and restaurants.

    And if you’re at Indianapolis International Airport on Saturday, November 24th, keep an eye out for Santa. He’ll be arriving on a giant fire and rescue truck (the reindeer only work on Christmas Eve) and once in the terminal, he’ll be hanging around the pre-security Civic Plaza from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. overseeing activities that include taking pictures with kids, holiday decoration-making stations, and photos and autograph opportunities with the Indianapolis Pacers Pacemates and Rowdie Claus from the Indianapolis Indians

    Airports in London & Miami get Olympics fever

    Miami International Airport is saluting the Olympics with some fun events and promotions from Friday, July 27th through Monday, July 30th.

    While a DJ spins tunes from around the world, passengers will be able to:

    • Get a picture taken on a winner’s podium and take home a souvenir postcard;
    • Win a gold, silver or bronze medal at a ring toss;
    • Create Olympic-themed crafts;
    • Hold the MIA Olympic torch;
    • Play Wii games against the Olympics mascots.

    London’s Heathrow Airport is also having fun with the summer Olympics.
    There are ping-pong tables set up in all the terminals, Olympics-themed art, giant globes and a full-schedule of character appearances and live music. Throughout the games, updates on medal winners will be announced on the public address system as well.

    A waxwork statue of sprint champion Usain Bolt is now at Heathrow Airport