2012
TRAVEL INFORMATION
There will be shuttle service from both the Sofitel Hotel and the Comfort Suites to the Campus on Monday and Tuesday, but if you plan on sightseeing while in Miami (the beaches will be spectacular this time of year) you'll want to rent a car. Miami Airport has a brand new car rental center. The hotel is only minutes away as is the campus (and the beaches) :)
Airport
Miami International Airport is in the heart of the city and will be the quickest and easiest way to travel to the conference. Most major carriers stop in Miami: American Airlines, Delta, United, US Air, among others.
Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is another option as well. It's about 25 miles north of Miami and easily accessible by I-95.
Hotel Shuttle Service
The Sofitel, 5800 Blue Lagoon Drive,
Miami, FL 33126, offers daily shuttle service between MIA and the hotel from 4:30a.m. to midnight. Drivers leave the hotel on the hour and the half-hour. Depending on the traffic, it takes 10 to 15 minutes for the shuttle to reach the terminals. Upon fetching your checked luggage, proceed to the second floor to find the Hotel Shuttle Pick-up and Drop-off Area. You may also inform the hotel of your arrival time when you make your reservation. Please exit the airport on the second level (ticketing and departures), stand by the curb side anywhere between gates E through J, and wave at the driver as he is approaching.
Unfortunately, the Sofitel does not offer shuttle service to FLL.
Concierge services are available by calling (305) 503-8348 or miami_concierge@accor-hotels.com.
The Comfort Suites, at 3901 SW 117th Avenue, Miami, FL 33125 does not have hotel shuttle service between MIA and their hotel.
Car Rental
MIA's brand new Rental Car Center (RCC) is just minutes away from the airport via our new MIAMover. Upon fetching your checked luggage, proceed to the third floor to access the Skyride toward the MIA Mover station. You will have a number of national rental car agencies to choose from. For more information on this and car rental services at MIA, go to www.miami-airport.com/car_rental.asp
Driving Directions to Hotel
To get to the hotel from the MIA RCC, go west on NW 25th Street toward N. Le Jeune Rd (AKA NW 42nd Ave). Make a U-turn at NW 28th Street (first light) onto North Le Jeune Rd (NW 42nd Ave) as if you were going to the airport. Take the ramp to the right labeled West 836 (FL State Road). Follow this road until you are on the highway. Stay to your right and exit on Red Road (NW 57th Ave) after about a mile or so. Go forward to the traffic light, which is Blue Lagoon Dr (NW 11th Street) and make a right. The hotel will be to your immediate left.
If you are driving from to Miami from the north down, you can take either Interstate-95 South or Florida's Turnpike South (Homestead Extension). For those driving on I-95, proceed till you are approaching downtown Miami (you can't miss our skyline!). Look for SR 836 West (you'll see an airport sign). SR 836 West entrance is to the right, once on the 836 proceed for a few miles and exit on Red Road (NW 57th Ave). Go forward to the traffic light, whcih is Blue Lagoon Dr. (NW 11th Street) and make a right. The hotel will be to your immediate left.
If you are taking Florida's Turnpike south, before coming to the Golden Glades Interchange, you will take the Homestead Extension ramp. This will take you west for a moment, then back south. Go all the way until you reach SR 836 East. Go East on SR 836 and exit on Red Road (NW 57th Ave). Go forward to the traffic light, whcih is Blue Lagoon Dr. (NW 11th Street) and make a right. The hotel will be to your immediate left.
Directions to the Conference
There are two ways to get to Florida International University, the first is by highway and will require that your car rental be equipped with a Sunpass for the toll roads. Exit the hotel to the right and then make a left at the light, which is Red Road (NW 57 Ave). Go north and stay to your left. Take the on ramp for SR 836 West and proceed for about 4 miles toward Florida's Turnpike (stay to your right). Once you pass the toll plaza, stay to the right and merge onto Florida's Turnpike. Once one the Turnpike, stay to the right and exit the highway at Tamiami Trail (SW 8th Street). Follow the road to the right and move over one lane to the left. Go forward and you'll see the university on your right-hand side. Proceed to the end of the block where there is a traffic light for SW 107 Ave, turn right, following the perimeter of the campus. Continue to the main entrance on SW 16 Street and make a right to enter the university. Proceed forward toward the garages that flank the road, park in the garage to your right (AKA Gold Garage).
To take the street, in the case that you do not have a Sunpass for the tolls, exit the hotel to the right and then make a right at the light, which is Red Road (NW 57 Ave). Go south and stay to your right. On Tamiami Trail (SW 8th Street) make a right. Go forward on this street until you reach SW 107Ave (about 4 miles). At the traffic light for SW 107 Ave, turn left, you'll see the university in front of you to the left, then to your right, once you've make the turn. Continue to the main entrance on SW 16 Street and make a right to enter the university. Proceed forward toward the garages that flank the road, park in the garage to your right (AKA Gold Garage).
