With a population of 424,662 in 2007, Miami is the largest city within the Miami metropolitan area which has a total of 5.4 million residents. It is a global city and is considered so because of its banks, company headquarters and television studios. Miami has a sparkling collection of incomparable beaches as well as an endless number of cultural, sporting and recreational activities. The Port of Miami accommodates the largest volume of cruise ships in the world as well as cruise line headquarters. The largest number of international banks in the entire nation is here.

Excellent shopping lines the sidewalks as well as nightlife activities which include the opera, theater and the ballet are available. The celebrity-filled hotels, bars, restaurants and clubs keep Miami in the forefront of places to be and people to be seen with. For all the glitter and glamour of the celebrity-filled sands of South Beach, however, Miami is quite accessible to the average non-celebrity. Each upscale boutique hotel on South Beach has a corresponding kitschy Art Deco boutique less taxing on the wallet. For every haute Asian-Mediterranean fusion cuisine is a down-to-earth no nonsense Cuban hole in the wall offering hearty fare at stupendously low prices.