Miami Sees Travel Boom As Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Approaches

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is headed to Miami, Florida, and the city is already buzzing with anticipation. From October 18 to October 20 of this year, the megastar will take the stage at the Hard Rock Stadium for a sold-out 3.5-hour show that features a whopping 40-plus songs — giving fans another reason to hit up Miami as the perfect sun-soaked getaway to escape winter's chill. 

However, along with the thousands of excited fans and friendship bracelets coming to town, Swift's impact extends far beyond the stage — after all, the "Taylor Swift Effect" has already transformed cities across the globe. From Pittsburgh — where her June 2023 concerts generated $46 million in spending and a 95% hotel occupancy — to the U.K. — where her 2024 shows were estimated to inject $1 billion into the local economy— there's no denying that Swift's presence is a major economic catalyst. Throw in the viral travel trend that Swifties inadvertently started (now referred to as "gig-tripping"), and you've got the perfect combination of tourism surge and destination buzz rolled into one.

And now, it's Miami's turn to bask in the glow. With searches for "hotels near Hard Rock Stadium Miami Gardens" up 250% in the past 30 days — as well as a 60% increase in travelers searching for "Airbnb near Hard Rock Stadium" — it's no surprise that locals are trying to make the most of the singer's much-awaited arrival. Plus, considering that last year's Tampa shows drew in around 200,000 fans, racked up $5.1 million for the venue, and saw a dramatic spike in nightly hotel prices of roughly $1,000, it's safe to say that Miami is in for a similar swell.

As Miami gears up for the Eras Tour, the city is rolling out the red carpet for Swifties. For starters, Southwest Airlines was quick to jump on the bandwagon — possibly due to the fact that Google searches for "NYC to Miami flights" soared by 140% — by scheduling extra flights into Fort Lauderdale and Miami for that weekend. The airline has even gone as far as to name the extra routes "Flight 22," a nod to one of her songs, and "Flight 1989," after her birth year and album title. Once the confetti has settled and the cowboy boots have been slipped off, "Flight 1313" (a reference to Swift's lucky number 13) will fly Swifties out. Prices for these range from $468 to $543, with the lowest fares mostly sold out.

Along with that, local hotels are also getting in on the action. Hotel AKA Brickell, for instance, has put together a "Taylor Swift Midnights Package" that includes a friendship bracelet-making kit, themed cocktails and mocktails, and a curated playlist. In terms of bookings, a two-night minimum is required and suites are going for roughly $900/night that weekend — assuming they haven't all been booked. 

Other hotels offering Taylor-made experiences include the Elser Hotel, with a "Concert Package" starting from $1,049 a night that includes a charter bus to and from the stadium; the Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, serving up pun-filled menu items like "Wing of My Heart" ($17) and "Should've Said Nacho" ($21); and the Gale Miami Hotel, starting at $509 a night, with a package that includes a $100 Uber gift card, friendship bracelet, and concert-proof makeup bag (use the code KARMA at checkout).

If you didn't manage to snag tickets to the concert, there are still plenty of Swiftie-approved experiences to help local and traveling fans experience some Eras Tour magic. For example, Brightline and iHeartRadio's "Sing-Along Train" will take fans from Orlando to Aventura alongside a specially-curated playlist that covers all of Swift's hits. Once aboard, passengers can sing along, make friendship bracelets, and enjoy Swift-themed decorations and surprises all throughout the journey. The train will run on all three concert dates, and prices start at $209 for SMART business-class tickets and $309 for first-class PREMIUM tickets. These also include a shuttle service to get concertgoers all the way to Hard Rock Stadium.

There are even more Taylor Swift-themed adventures taking place. A special cruise is set to depart from Miami on October 21, 2024 — a day after Swift's final Miami show. The four-night "In My Cruise Era" Taylor Swift-themed voyage — organized by the travel agency Marvelous Mouse Travels — will sail to the Bahamas aboard Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas. And while Swift herself won't be on board, the cruise promises a celebration of all things Taylor — including themed dance parties, karaoke nights, and friendship bracelet exchanges. Unfortunately, the cruise is sold out, but you can still wave goodbye to all of your fellow Swifties at the end of an amazing trip!