Spring break is one of the most hectic times of year for South Florida. However, for once, it isn’t the Floridians causing the chaos. Miami Beach, often one of the biggest centers for tourists in the world, will be taking a different approach to spring break this year.
Although it may seem a dream to many northerners to spend their break in sunny, warm South Florida on the beach, that won’t exactly be possible this time around, mostly due to the chaos caused by tourists around this time last year.
According to Governor Ron Desantis, Florida experienced over 140 million tourists last spring break, with Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando all being in the top cities for domestic tourism in the USA during the spring months. The issue was, though, that tourists in Miami were anything but peaceful travellers. In terms of crime, law enforcement arrested 16 people for felonies and 17 misdemeanors from Miami Beach alone.
This isn’t a new thing either — Miami Beach has long been a center for chaos over spring break. Over 1,000 partygoers were arrested there back in 2021. Even worse, there’s a history of shootings going on in heightened numbers during spring break weeks.
In fact, last year’s spring break was considered “successful” by Miami Beach’s mayor, Steven Meiner, who cited zero shootings or riots. Nonetheless, police reported feeling overwhelmed over the past few years, which has led to this year’s verdict for Miami Beach vacationing.
Authorities had announced that Miami Beach would be “breaking up” with spring break in 2024 after the chaos that afflicted Miami Beach’s streets, and they’ve further pushed this message in 2025, promising heightened security, stricter curfews than previous years, beach closures, and bag checks. The city aims to further reduce crime in 2025’s break, reducing the still-alarmingly high rates from 2024 despite the regulations in place.
However, some Florida residents feel like these changes may not even cause too much of a difference. “I don’t think they really care,” said PPCHS sophomore Alani Sookhoo, referring to the tourists that frequently flood South Florida destinations during spring break. “They come whenever, however. They don’t care. They’ll go anywhere, they’ll stay out all night. I live here, so I respect the rules, but I don’t think the tourists care because it doesn’t affect them personally.”
Some PPCHS students, like Sookhoo, don’t think the changes will affect their vacations in Miami Beach too much. “As for me, I might have less fun,” she remarked. “[The tourists] don’t bother me that much, unless they’re super loud or partying in the middle of the night.”
If you plan on visiting Miami Beach for spring break, keep in mind that there are strict curfew rules, and beaches close early, so it’s probably best to have a day trip than a night one. In addition, parking may be a challenge, as there is a flat $100 parking fee throughout most parking areas in the city, so consider being dropped off or taking public transportation. Also keep in mind that travel may be more difficult, as street closures are in effect, and entrances to beaches are limited.
