Would you recommend Calle Ocho to tourists? (Miami, Havana: homes, neighborhoods)

[thumbelina]

I've come across lost tourists in downtown Miami several times recently who want to know how to get to Little Havana. My response? "Are you SURE you want to go there????" And I managed to talk them out of it each time. Maybe if they had a car they could see for themselves. But it would always be by bus and my opinion is that it totally is not worth it.

What the heck are guidebooks saying about Calle Ocho that makes people want to go there? I could see maybe on Viernes Culturales, but we're talking 5 pm on a weekday.

I travel a lot and I'm always grateful when locals give me advice, even when it goes against the Chamber of Commerce party line. But I'm wondering, am I just a jaded local who doesn't appreciate the wonderment of SW 8th Street? Opinions welcome! And if you can convince me, next time I'll just keep quiet and point them to the bus stop

[noland123]

As a white caucasian male I enjoy Little Havana and what it has to offer,I would like to be there when they have the celebration or party every month on Calle Ocho. I feel it is definitely worth the visit and it is a relatively safe place too.

[big mean bear]

No

[doggiebus]

I am not sure where the tourist are getting this. I post on some of the travel sites and have seen tourist ask questions on how to get there what to see while we are there. So obviously they have read about this or seen something on Little Havana Calle Ocho... I then have to tell them, that there really isn't much there to see. And that going there without a car in a little difficult. They can take a taxi to Versailles, but getting a taxi back will be hard as cabbies don't hang out there. So to answer your question you are not jaded.

[nicsma2002]

There have been occasions when we've been dining at Versailles and a tour bus pulls up and unloads tons of tourists right there. Believe it or not, Little Havana is a cultural center. There is lots to see there if you know the history of the area and know what to look for. They give walking tours of Little Havana that are pretty popular. The esteemed local historian Dr. Paul George gives coach and walking tours of Little Havana himself. Historical Museum of Southern Florida (http://www.hmsf.org/programs-adult.htm - broken link) This is something I've been meaning to do myself, thanks for reminding me. Little Havana has history and charm that's worth for tourists and locals alike to explore.

[TannerMan]

The few times Ive visited you can see loads of tourist getting dropped off, particularly germans?
Anyways for Europeans and people not used to the latin vibe we get drowned in everyday, Little Havana is a great place. Its not the prettiest in some spots, but cultural neighborhoods like that dont tend to be pretty. A walk down a street with Cuban gallaries, restaurants, cafeterias, specialty shops, the cigar shops and theaters, its not your everyday place outside of here. the chicken sculptures, dominoe park, and funky sidewalk design plus I believe theres a walk of fame type over there too. That area in particular too seems to have some of the most beautiful historic homes in Miami too. Great food too.

[big mean bear]

Originally Posted by TannerMan

The few times Ive visited you can see loads of tourist getting dropped off, particularly germans?
Anyways for Europeans and people not used to the latin vibe we get drowned in everyday, Little Havana is a great place. Its not the prettiest in some spots, but cultural neighborhoods like that dont tend to be pretty. A walk down a street with Cuban gallaries, restaurants, cafeterias, specialty shops, the cigar shops and theaters, its not your everyday place outside of here. the chicken sculptures, dominoe park, and funky sidewalk design plus I believe theres a walk of fame type over there too. That area in particular too seems to have some of the most beautiful historic homes in Miami too. Great food too.

I drove down that street twice daily for a year and I never saw "loads of German tourists" let alone loads of people who were tourists let alone people who were white. NEVER. It is incomprehensible why anyone would want to make a tourist stop by that area. They would be disgusted.

Tanner Man- You must not live near there, but I did, and it got old after the first week. Hell, even the Spanish only speaking crowd would tell me all the time they hated it.

It shouldn't be called Little Havana anymore but rather "Little Central America."

[TannerMan]

Well Ive been there 3 times and I saw loads of tourist. lol
Why would I lie about something like that, other people can say the same about the tourist.
And no I dont live there, Im not telling anybody to move there, just saying why its a tourist spot, visiting and living are 2 different things. Dare i say I enjoyed going to Little Havana!

[intelfan11315]

The other day I saw a travel site promoting Carol city with nice big palm trees. I can't remember the site but it just goes to show the lengths some people will go to make money :P

[big mean bear]

I drove 8th street twice a day for a year, that's 300+ days x 2 = 600+. And I never seen no bus load of German tourists.