How to Enjoy Miami on a Budget - Day 2

Daiquiris, Pools and Ocean Drive.

Aug 6, 2025

Hey, y’all! I’m just back from a second trip to Miami, almost a year apart. If you’re finding this article, I highly recommend you read How to Enjoy Miami on a Budget Overview blog and Day 1 first to get a solid overview.

We tend to pack some healthy snacks, water and protein bars to fill in for breakfast or random hungry moments (you know the ones, where you don’t feel like leaving your hotel room to get something). 
Day 2 overview:

•  Pool day at the hotel

•  Late lunch/early dinner at Botta Italian Street Food

•  Happy Hour at the Daiquiri Bar

•  Long walk after dinner taking in the sights on Ocean Drive

OK, let’s dive in!

Pool Day

Hubby had a long day at the conference, so I took care of some work, then enjoyed a pool day with friends. Many hotels have beautiful pools, and some have direct beach access in this area. You can enjoy all these amenities that are covered in your resort fee in the hotel bill. The same goes for the hotel gym, which we used daily in addition to getting out for walks.

Botta Italian Street Food

I know I talked about being easy on the purse, but you must live a little, too! Honestly, their advertising caught my eye, and we love a good Italian sandwich. 
Hubby is spicey, so he got Dante’s Inferno, and I got L’Eremita. Honestly, they were as good as they looked advertised. WIN!

Inside space was at a premium, but we were able to snag a table for 2 facing the meat case. There were a few tables under nice red umbrellas out front that several families enjoyed. Again, we paid cash, and it was $52 with all of the taxes. That is fairly expensive for 2 sandwiches and 2 strawberry lemonades, but that was our meal for the day due to timing. It is located at 1451 Ocean Drive, Unit 103.

Happy Hour

After dinner, we set out for our first walk on the main drag of Ocean Drive. When we got to the end, we spotted a frozen daiquiri bar. We normally pass things like this up, but they were offering 2 for $20 drinks. Hubby lobbied to grab a tiny table, enjoy a drink and take in the sights facing the park and beach. 
You can mix and match the flavors-I got strawberry pina colada and hubby got red, white and blue. The cost was $25 after taxes and then a tip. 

Walk After Drinks

We made our way back and wound up seeing friends from home just enjoying dinner al fresco! Whoa! That was pretty cool to chat and grab a pic. 
If you are visiting from an area that is more on the quiet side, you may have a minor adjustment to walking and being chatted up by the staff of every restaurant. Their job is to entice you to eat and/or drink at their establishment, so expect it!

Y’all, did I mention it is HOT and HUMID in August down in Miami?

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