Miamians love our tourists, if only because they keep a large chunk of our economy running. But like anything we love, they sometimes annoy us. As the barrage of summer break tourists pours into South Florida this month, let's review the things that bother us most about our money-spending visitors, in the hopes we can start getting along a little better.
Visiting with no basic information about Miami: Tourists heading south on South Dixie Highway have asked us at stoplights how to get to South Beach ("Actually, you need to go north.") Others have told us they're surprised Miami has such a "Latin influence." Some complain about the hot and rainy summer weather. You don't have to buy a guidebook, but at least read the Wikipedia page before you get on your flight.
Asking everyone where to get cocaine: Miami has a reputation for yeyo, but that doesn't mean you should ask every local where to get it within the first five minutes of meeting them. Seriously, a lot of us don't know, and even those who do aren't going to jump through hoops to hook you up.
Tipping low or not at all: Sometimes they come from countries where tipping isn't customary. Sometimes they realize they're spending way too much and try to cut corners by screwing local service workers. Whatever the case, there's really no excuse.
Expecting sex: The problem with living in a tourist town with an oversexed image is that a lot of people head here with the expectation that guaranteed sex is part of the package. And when they set their sights on us locals, it's the worst. The entire population of Miami is not sitting around here waiting for people to fly in to service their sexual needs.
Judging Miami completely on Miami Beach: Did you look out the window on the cab drive over? Did you notice that most of this city is not pastel art deco with bikini babes and nightclubs on every corner? Did you stop to think of that before you made a snide comment about the entirety of Miami? Obviously not.
Driving: OK, we don't mean this in all cases, but Miamians will be the first to tell you that we're horrible, crazy drivers. So if you're a tourist who isn't prepared for that, maybe it's just best for everyone if you stick to cabs.
Looking down on locals: The looks. The stares. The air of annoyance. The offhanded comments. People visit Miami expecting it to be their own personal pleasure palace and not, you know, a major American city filled with millions of people simply trying to live their everyday lives.
Underdressing: We know Miami is not the capital of appropriate dressing. We know you're on vacation. But if you're trying to go anywhere after dark aside from McDonald's, leave the bathing suits, flip-flops, and cargo shorts in your hotel room.
Getting too turned up: No one wants to see some girl from Kansas on vacay with her sorority sisters puke in a Washington Avenue garbage can while holding her Payless pumps in her hand. It's just sad. Sure, this is a party town, but that doesn't mean you'll gain magical abilities to party harder than you usually do once you cross the 305's borders.
