Apartment Hunting in Miami for Larkin Community Hospital Dietetic Interns

Are you considering moving to Miami for the Larkin Dietetic Internship? Not only is our program one of the best with amazing preceptors, a supportive director, and a 90% passing rate for the RD exam but, Miami is a great location to be at if you are also looking for exposure in a multicultural environment, learn some Spanish, and enjoy your time off by the beach.

We know that moving can be stressful and overwhelming, especially if you don’t know the area. Which is why as South Florida residents and Larkin interns, we’ve created this guide to help you get familiar with Miami areas that have easy access to the internship’s South Miami site, budget-friendly, safe and with entertainment activities. You’ll also see the different price ranges for apartment leases and Airbnb options. An important thing to consider when deciding between them is that most leases require a 1-year commitment (the internship is about eight months long) as well as application approval along with security deposits and usually don’t include services (internet and power). On the other hand, when renting through Airbnb, you can adjust the dates to your preference, and they usually include all services like wifi and are also furnished. We’ve added several housing options based on Larkin's South Miami location; they are divided into different zip codes, a brief description of the area, and a map to give you an orientation point.

Kendall/West Kendall

In Kendall and West Kendall, you can find an abundance of recreational parks, many with walking/jogging trails, and workout areas where you can enjoy the outdoors. You can find an array of retail shops, restaurants of many different ethnicities, and movie theaters located within the boundaries of Kendall/West Kendall. Dadeland Mall and Town & Country Mall offer great shopping and many great restaurants and bars. You can also find stores like Target and Walmart for your everyday necessities, as well as grocery stores such a Trader Joe’s, Publix, Sedano's and Winn Dixie.

Kendall is approximately 20 miles from South Beach, and West Kendall is about 25 miles from South Beach. Public transportation (MetroBus) is easily accessible, especially from the main streets such as 88th Street (Kendall Drive) and 72nd Street (Sunset Drive). Sunset Drive takes you directly to Larkin South Miami. Just note that from West Kendall, it could be a long commute during rush hour traffic. Uber and Lyft are also available in the area.

Kendall (approx. 5 miles):

- 33156: 1 bedroom apt ($1,250-2,500/month)

- 33176, 33173, 33175: 1 bedroom apt ($1,250-1,700/month)

- 33183, 33186, 33193: 1 bedroom apt ($1,250-1,700/month)

- Airbnb 1 bedroom, shared apt/house, ($900-1,650/month)

Coral Gables

In Coral Gables you can move around very easily with public transportation. The Coral Gables Trolley is a service provided by the city where you can hop on and off, free of charge within the city limits. The Trolley also has a stop right by the Metromover, an automated people mover train, this services is also available for free by the Miami Dade County and it can take you to Downtown Miami, Brickell, Park West and the Arts and Entertainment District neighborhood which are areas known to have many events, active nightlife and great restaurants. The Metromover also has connecting stations to the Metrorail and Metrobus which can take you further distance if needed however, there is a small fee for using those services. Another free service for transportation is the Freebee, an electric eco-friendly car that you can request to pick you up on their app and it can take you within its limits of the city. The Larkin Community Hospital (South) is very close to the city and with these free transportation services you can easily get to your clinical and management rotations.

Aside from being extremely close to Larkin Community Hospital, this city has a lot to offer. Outdoor activities are common in the neighborhood. There are several golf courses around, a tennis center, the Venetian Pool which is an iconic public spring water-filled pool with waterfalls and caves, there are also several running and walking trails. Several grocery stores are also nearby, including Sedano's and Publix, which are common chains of Latin supermarkets in South Florida. The beach is also close by, about 10 miles to the nearest one where you will often see people kayaking and paddleboarding.

- Coral Gables (approx. 5 miles):

- 33134, 33146: 1 bedroom ($1,300-$1,800/month)

- Airbnb 33134: 1 bedroom, guest house or apt., ($1,200-$1,700/month)

- Airbnb 33146: 1 bedroom, shared apt., ($700-1350/month)

Florida International University (FIU) Area

Transportation from the Florida International University to the Larkin Community Hospital (South) is around 10 miles by car. Public transportation is also available; however, it can take at least two different buses or a bus and the Metrorail to arrive at the internship site and can take one or more hours of commute. Other methods of transportation can be Uber and Lift to get to Larkin Hospital or around the area. Freebee, which is a free method of transportation, is available within the FIU area limit and can be easily requested to pick you up with their app.

This area has several Latin chain grocery stores like Publix, Sedano's, and Fresco y Mas. Entertainment activities can include events at the FIU campus, nearby Dolphin Mall, which, aside from extensive stores to shop at, has a movie theater, bowling alley, arcade, and many outdoor dining options. The Miami International Mall and Mall of the Americas are also very close and have many shopping stores available. Beaches are somewhat close, the nearest one is about 12 miles.

- FIU Area (approx. 9-10 miles):

- 33174: Studio (~$1,300/month); 1 bedroom ($1,300-$1,600/month)

- Airbnb 33174: 1 bedroom, shared apt., ($1,000-$1,500/month)

- 33165: 1 bedroom ($800-$1,200/month)

- Airbnb 33165: 1 bedroom, shared apt., ($950-$1,500/month)

South Miami

South Miami is the 186th largest community in Florida. South Miami is in Miami-Dade County and is one of the best places to live in Florida. Living in South Miami offers residents an urban, suburban mix feel. It is characterized to be attractive to younger, educated professionals. In South Miami, there are a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. When it comes to grocery stores, South Miami has a wide variety of stores around the city that fit anyone’s culture and budgets. As an example, Whole Foods Market, Publix, Winn-Dixie. In regards to transportation, South Miami consists of the Metrorail System, which is easily accessed and helps you commute around the city. It provides access to the Shops at Sunset Place as well as a number of hospitals.

South Miami is an extremely ethnically-diverse city. The people who call South Miami home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. People of Hispanic or Latino origin are the most prevalent group in South Miami, accounting for 53.39% of the city’s residents (people of Hispanic or Latino origin can be of any race).

- South Miami:

- 33143: Studio (~$1,100/month); 1 bedroom ($1,300 - $1,600/month)

- Airbnb 33143: 1 bedroom, shared apt., ($700 - $1,000/month)

- 33155: Studio (~$1,400/month); 1 bedroom ($1,300 - $1,700/month)

- Airbnb 33155: 1 bedroom, shared apt., (~$1,000 - $1,700/month)

Doral

Doral is one of the 34 municipalities in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Doral is considered to be one of the primary neighborhoods in Miami. It is located about 1 mile from the Miami International Airport, 7 miles from the area of Downtown Miami, and 13 miles from Larkin Community Hospital in South Miami. The City of Doral includes Doral Trolley as the main public transportation in the area. The Doral Trolley operates every day on 4 different routes, and it is completely free. There is a Trolley live tracker for people to know exactly where the trolley is. This trolley takes residents and visitors to shopping centers, outstanding restaurants, and parks/recreation centers. Besides the Doral Trolley, the Metrobus can also get you around Miami and can get you to Larkin at South Miami. Doral is also a great city to live if you have to complete some rotations at Larkin's Palm Springs location since it is only 7 miles away.

The City of Doral has become an attractive positive attention for young families, businesses, corporations, and more. This city is very fortunate to have more than 10 fitness facilities as well as parks for people to engage in physical activity. In regards to grocery stores, residents have access to healthy food and grocery stores around the city. The city of Doral is also a perfect place for people to come together and enjoy a coffee or a nice meal at a restaurant. This city has over 100 restaurants that offer quality food and service and can fit anyone’s culture.

- Doral (approx. 12 miles):

- 33178, 33166: Studio ($1,450 - $1,650/month); 1 bedroom ($1,570 - $2,150/month)

- Airbnb 33166: Studio (~1,600/month)

After you have done some apartment hunting online, it would be ideal for you to come for a visit and size up the areas you are most interested in. Take a day or two to visit the neighborhoods, see apartments, and check out the area's shopping malls, restaurants, and nightlife.

Finding an apartment in Miami may take some time, so it’s best to start early. We hope the information we have provided is helpful and guides you in the right direction to help make this process a little easier.

We wish you the best of luck in your Dietetic internship. It’s going to be amazing!