How do I book hotels cheaper using a VPN?

Set your VPN to a Thailand server before searching on Agoda or Booking.com. Thai IP addresses are shown prices 20-40% lower than US or European IPs — for hotels anywhere in the world.

Is using a VPN to find cheaper hotel prices legal?

Yes, using a VPN is completely legal in most countries. You are simply browsing the internet from a different location. CheapStay teaches you how to find the best publicly available price.

Which is cheaper — Agoda or Booking.com?

It depends on the destination and dates. CheapStay compares both in real time so you always see the lowest price. In Asia, Agoda is often cheaper. In Europe, Booking.com tends to win.

What credit card is best for hotel bookings?

Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 2x points on hotels with no foreign fees — best for most travelers. Amex Gold has the biggest welcome bonus. Capital One Venture is the simplest — 2x miles on everything.

Can I get cashback on hotel bookings?

Yes. TopCashback and Rakuten offer 3–8% cashback on Agoda and Booking.com. Stack this with Thai IP pricing and a travel credit card for maximum savings.

Expert guideVerified: July 22, 2026

🇺🇸 Flying to USA (Miami)

Visa · Health · Arrival · Flights — everything you need before you fly.

⚠️

Content under review. Entry requirements and health rules change frequently. Information marked [VERIFY] has not yet been confirmed against authoritative sources. Do not rely on this page for travel decisions until verified content is published. Always check IATA Travel Centre and your government's travel advisory.

Last verified: July 22, 2026 · Recheck every few months — ESTA fee and VWP country list have both changed multiple times in the past 18 months.

Sources: www.cbp.gov, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, www.dhs.gov, www.gov.uk, en.wikipedia.org, wwwnc.cdc.gov, www.miamiandbeaches.com

Avi's Insider Tip

If you're staying in South Beach, skip Metrorail entirely — it stops in Downtown, well short of the beach, and you'll end up paying for a rideshare for the last leg anyway. Just book the Uber straight from the airport curb.

Travel essentials

Scannable data for the efficient traveler.

Sources: www.cbp.gov, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, www.dhs.gov, www.gov.uk, en.wikipedia.org, wwwnc.cdc.gov, www.miamiandbeaches.com

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Visa-free entry

Around 40 nationalities can enter the US visa-free for up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) using an approved ESTA instead of a visa. This includes the UK, most EU/EFTA countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Brunei, Chile, Israel, Qatar, Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino. [VERIFY: Romania was added to the VWP in March 2025, then had its designation rescinded in May 2025 — status has been unstable; confirm the current full country list at cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/visa-waiver-program before booking.] VWP/ESTA does NOT apply if you have traveled to Cuba on or after January 12, 2021, or to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen after March 2011 — those travelers need a full B1/B2 visa even if their nationality otherwise qualifies.

The US does not offer visa on arrival for any nationality. Non-VWP travelers must obtain a B1 (business) or B2 (tourism) visa from a US embassy or consulate before departure — there is no way to get a US tourist visa at the airport.

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Health & vaccines

No vaccines are legally required to enter the US for any nationality. The CDC recommends staying current on routine vaccines (MMR, Tdap, flu, COVID-19) for international travel generally, but nothing is a condition of entry.

warningYellow fever

The US does NOT require a yellow fever vaccination certificate for entry, regardless of which country you are arriving from or transiting through — unlike many countries in Asia, Africa, and South America.

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Customs

200 cigarettes or 100 cigars, 1 liter of alcohol (21+) duty-free. Declare cash/monetary instruments over $10,000 — not illegal, just must be declared. Fresh fruit, vegetables, and most meat products are prohibited and must still be declared even if you plan to eat them before landing — an undeclared item risks a $300+ fine.

🛂 Entry requirements

Visa-free entryAround 40 nationalities can enter the US visa-free for up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) using an approved ESTA instead of a visa. This includes the UK, most EU/EFTA countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Brunei, Chile, Israel, Qatar, Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino. [VERIFY: Romania was added to the VWP in March 2025, then had its designation rescinded in May 2025 — status has been unstable; confirm the current full country list at cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/visa-waiver-program before booking.] VWP/ESTA does NOT apply if you have traveled to Cuba on or after January 12, 2021, or to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen after March 2011 — those travelers need a full B1/B2 visa even if their nationality otherwise qualifies.

Visa on arrivalThe US does not offer visa on arrival for any nationality. Non-VWP travelers must obtain a B1 (business) or B2 (tourism) visa from a US embassy or consulate before departure — there is no way to get a US tourist visa at the airport.

e-VisaThe US has no e-visa system. Non-VWP nationals apply for a B1/B2 visa via the DS-160 form plus an in-person consular interview. Processing after the interview is typically 10–21 days, but interview wait times themselves vary hugely by consulate — a few weeks in much of Western Europe, but 3–10+ months at high-demand posts (New Delhi, Mumbai, Dubai) as of mid-2026. Apply at least 12 weeks before travel.

Passport validityYour passport generally only needs to be valid for the length of your intended stay to enter the US — there is no blanket "6 months beyond travel" rule as in many other countries. That said, some airlines apply their own stricter check-in rule, so 6+ months of validity avoids any argument at the gate.

⚠️ US entry rules are federal (CBP/DHS) and apply identically no matter which US airport you fly into. Always confirm your nationality's current status at esta.cbp.dhs.gov before booking.

💉Health & vaccine requirements

Recommended vaccinesNo vaccines are legally required to enter the US for any nationality. The CDC recommends staying current on routine vaccines (MMR, Tdap, flu, COVID-19) for international travel generally, but nothing is a condition of entry.

Yellow feverThe US does NOT require a yellow fever vaccination certificate for entry, regardless of which country you are arriving from or transiting through — unlike many countries in Asia, Africa, and South America.

MalariaNot applicable. Miami is not considered a malaria-risk area and no antimalarial medication is needed.

⚠️ Health guidance sourced from CDC Travelers' Health (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel). Always confirm with your own doctor before departure, especially if you have onward travel to a yellow-fever or malaria-risk country (e.g. onward trips to the Caribbean or South America).

Essential local apps

Download these before you land — tap a card to open the real app or site.

Uber

Ride-share

Pickup is on the arrivals level middle inner curb — check the app for your terminal's exact door number.

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Lyft

Ride-share

Also widely available at MIA — worth comparing price against Uber, especially for the South Beach run.

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Apple Pay / Google Pay

Payment

Widely accepted, including on Metrorail/Metrobus if linked to an EASY Card or contactless payment.

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Google Maps

Navigation

Works normally in the US, with real-time Metrorail/Metrobus arrivals built in.

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Arriving at Miami International Airport (MIA)

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SIM & connectivity

The arrivals level at MIA does not have a SIM card counter — you'll need to go up to the Departures level, where ICE Currency Exchange counters sell prepaid SIMs (from about $37 for a basic data plan up to $70 for a higher-data Lycamobile option). Buying an eSIM before you land avoids the extra walk.

US Dollar (USD). Contactless cards and Apple/Google Pay are accepted almost everywhere — you rarely need cash. Avoid the airport currency-exchange counters; their rates are poor.

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Getting into town

The free MIA Mover tram connects the terminals to Miami Central Station, where you can pick up Metrorail's Orange Line into Downtown Miami (~$2.25 with an EASY Card, 20–30 minutes). Metrorail does NOT reach Miami Beach — if South Beach is your destination, either transfer to a Metrobus route (~$2.25 but 60–90 minutes total) or take Uber/Lyft direct (roughly $35–$55 depending on traffic and demand, 20–40 minutes). Uber/Lyft pickup is on the arrivals level middle inner curb — check your app for the exact door at your terminal.

location_onMiami International Airport (MIA)

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Search flights to USA (Miami)

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit Miami?▼

If your country is one of the ~40 Visa Waiver Program nationalities, you can apply for an ESTA online (esta.cbp.dhs.gov, $40.27, apply at least 72 hours ahead) instead of a visa, valid for stays up to 90 days. Everyone else needs a B1/B2 visa with a consular interview.

Is a yellow fever vaccine required to enter the US?▼

No. The US does not require a yellow fever certificate for entry from any country — though if you're continuing on to the Caribbean or South America, check that destination's own rules.

Does Metrorail go to South Beach?▼

No — Metrorail's Orange Line only reaches Downtown Miami. To get to Miami Beach you need a bus transfer (adds 30–60 minutes) or a direct Uber/Lyft, which most travelers with luggage find simpler.

Can I get a SIM card at Miami airport?▼

Only on the Departures level, not Arrivals — ICE Currency Exchange counters sell prepaid SIMs from about $37. An eSIM bought before you land saves the walk.

Where do I get an Uber at MIA?▼

Arrivals level, middle inner curb — the app will tell you the exact door number to head to for your terminal.

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