Miami

After a four hour bus ride between Orlando and Miami, we arrived to a very warm and cloudy Miami, making our way to the very Miami-esque named Bikini Hostel. For whatever reason, they couldn't put us all in the same dormitory, but before we had the opportunity to mention to them that we weren't bothered about being split up, they upgraded us to a Deluxe King Apartment. Not a bad start.

We'd opted to stay in South Beach, which is undoubtedly one of the best beach/tourist scenes in we've come across this trip. I have no doubt the place is usually teeming with tourists, but due to our September arrival (it's officially 'Fall' here now, and school/college has resumed), the crowds have distinctively died down. An amble along Ocean Drive and a walk along the impressively pristine beach itself was all the more enjoyable by not having to avoid swathes of tourists as we had done a couple of months ago in the very crowded (albeit entertaining) Venice Beach.

With palm trees, art deco buildings and neon lights lining the streets, the general look of South Beach still feels very Miami Vice orientated (or Grand Theft Auto IV).With several days of what was perhaps one of the most relaxing periods on our holiday, soaking up the Florida rays, swimming at the beach and in our hotel pool, playing table tennis and pool, we're leaving Miami for a week thoroughly recharged and acclimatized to our next adventure - a week long cruise through the Carribean.