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Miami, Florida
Concert dates: Oct. 18-20, 2024
Miami knows how to throw a good party, so it’s not surprising the city is welcoming the pop superstar in style. Special events include “A Starlit Tribute to Taylor Swift” at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay on October 19 (for ages 13 and up) and an all-ages Eras Tour Pre-Party at Loews Miami Beach Hotel on October 19, hosted by 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast and featuring photo ops, themed cocktails, and friendship bracelet exchanges. (Tickets are $13, naturally.)
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Special hotel packages can be found all over the Miami area (all subject to availability; check with the individual hotels for full details). The concert package at The Elser Hotel & Residences starts with a welcome “Bejeweled” mocktail and a gift basket stocked with a Polaroid camera, friendship bracelet kit, and other goodies. Get ready for the main event with Taylor Swift–themed fitness classes or by hitting the hotel’s expansive pool area, where The Eras Tour movie and Taylor Swift tunes will be playing on repeat, then enjoy luxury limo service to and from the concert.
The Art Deco Gabriel South Beach on Ocean Drive is offering a package that includes a “Miss Americana, Taylor’s Version” of a French 75 welcome cocktail, a friendship bracelet kit, and a Pandora “Moon and Star” ring set with a real Midnights vibe. Before black car service to the show, get ready in style with an in-room spa treatment and strawberries and champagne.
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At Kimpton EPIC Hotel, the “Your EPIC Era” hotel package includes friendship bracelets, a $75 rideshare credit for “VIP popstar transportation,” and special food and beverage offerings. Head up to the hotel’s 16th floor to check out an exhibit of Taylor Swift concert photos by photographer Jasmeet Sidhu (on view in September and October as part of the hotel’s yearlong artist in residence program), then elevate your concert look at a custom cowboy hat making pop-up with local shop Hats & Hats.
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Sip on a “Sweet Nothing” mocktail as you’re checking in for the “Bejeweled at The Balfour” package at The Balfour Hotel. Face gems, glitter and body jewelry, and a friendship bracelet kit in your room will ensure you’re show-ready. Grownup guests can enjoy the “Traylor Hideaway” cocktail inspired by Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s tropical Bahamas getaway and an “Evermore” bottomless mimosa brunch. Make sure to snap a photo through the underwater window at the hotel’s elevated plunge pool during your stay.
At wellness-focused The Gates Hotel South Beach, the Eras Tour package includes a “concert survival kit” stocked with ear plugs, sleep masks, “Lavender Haze”–inspired essential oils, fuzzy socks, and other self-care necessities. A welcome “French Blonde” cocktail or mocktail kicks off your stay, which also includes a friendship bracelet kit, a showing of The Eras Tour movie on the hotel’s pool deck, and a themed box of Pink Love Donuts.
Book the “Stay, Stay, Stay” package at Gale Miami Hotel & Residences using the code KARMA and you’ll get a friendship bracelet for swapping at the concert, a fanny pack and makeup bag for all your concert must-haves, and a hand fan to keep cool in still steamy South Florida. A $100 Uber gift card will help you line up your own getaway car to and from the concert.
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Thematic dining experiences can also be found around the city. Head to the Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club for menu items like the Wing of My Heart (Buffalo wings with blue cheese dipping sauce) and Cruel Summer cocktail (a mix of Aviation gin, St. Germain, homemade raspberry syrup, and dragon fruit). “Eatertainment” destination Pinstripes Aventura will be serving up drinks like the Swiftie Spritz (a blend of prosecco and Aperol) and the nonalcoholic botanical lavender-infused Love Story Lemonade.
Want to really splurge? ACC Aviation is offering an ultimate VIP experience (starting at $50,000) that includes private jet service to Boca Raton, Florida; a private villa stay at Opal Grand Oceanfront Resort & Spa; and access to premium concert tickets through Your Elite Tickets.
New Orleans
Concert dates: Oct. 25-27, 2024
A trip to New Orleans is never a bad idea, and there’s lots to do there with kids and without at any time of the year. We’ve even got a three-day itinerary for visiting the Crescent City with the whole family.
But of course, there’s even more fun when Taylor Swift comes to town. The city’s visitor bureau has put together a Taylor Swift guide to the city to help you follow in her footsteps from her past trips to New Orleans, including a 2022 birthday trip when she visited spots like Preservation Hall. Events taking place around the city’s concert dates include friendship bracelet-making parties, T-Swift karaoke, pre-concert parties at Virgin Hotel New Orleans, and a “Swifties Era Cruise” on the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen.
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Deals and promotions at New Orleans hotels include the Shake It Off package at Nopsi Hotel, which features two themed welcome cocktails, a friendship bracelet, and 50% off the Eras Weekend Brunch.
Nearby destinations like St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana (also known as The Northshore) are getting in on the act, too. Choose a hotel there if you’re going to the concert — and even if you’re not! — and you can take part in events like Taylor Swift trivia, an Eras Tour drag brunch, karaoke, and meetups at the local record store 22 Sound. Find all the details about events in The Northshore here.
Indianapolis
Concert dates: Nov. 1-3, 2024
Visit Indy expects a lot of first-timers to Indiana’s state capital since 87% of the ticket holders for the three concert dates are from outside the Indianapolis metro area. In fact, Expedia’s fall travel outlook named Indianapolis the fastest-growing U.S. destination for fall, with flight searches up 120% in part because of the Eras Tour.
So, it’s no surprise that hotels, attractions, and restaurants are welcoming Swifties in a big way. The dinos outside The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will be sporting friendship bracelets and be ready for selfies, while inside the museum, visitors can shake it off at Taylor-themed dance parties and trade friendship bracelets with museum staff and fellow fans.
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Before the concert, head to the TAY/gate at the Indiana State Museum for themed cocktails and mocktails, friendship bracelet trading, karaoke, and other fun. The general admission tickets for the all-ages event are sold out for November 1 and 2, but when I looked, tickets were still available for November 3. Or you could upgrade to the VIP experience, which includes hair and makeup touch-ups plus other special vendor and food experiences.
Old World Gondoliers already provides a unique way to explore the city. But over the concert weekend, the boat tour company will be offering Eras Singalong Cruises on Indy’s Downtown Canal (blue dress optional). And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to events around the city, with everything from trivia and a silent disco to cookie decorating and face painting. Head to Visit Indy’s Taylor Swift page for all the dates and details.
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If you haven’t booked a hotel room or vacation rental yet, you might be in trouble. But if you want to treat yourself, The Alexander is offering a Champagne Problems package for $1,989 in Suite #1313 complete with a welcome French Blonde cocktail, two monogrammed peach satin bathrobes, round trip luxury SUV transportation to and from the concert, and a Champagne Problems Farewell Brunch for you and 13 of your closest friends.
But you don’t have to book the package to be part of the fun. The hotel will also be serving up themed cocktails at Plat 99 and hosting special events like Down Bad Trivia and a musical version of bingo that’ll test your knowledge of the T-Swift song catalog.
Guests staying at Hotel Indy over the concert weekend will receive a friendship bracelet, heart-shaped glasses, and a concert survival bag. Eras Tour–themed food and drink menus will also be offered at The Hulman restaurant and rooftop Cannon Ball Lounge.
Nearby Hamilton County, Indiana, will be welcoming Swifties with a slew of special events, including a “Shake It Off Fest” at Carmel Midtown Plaza and photo ops plus a Taylor-inspired cocktail and mocktail menu at Hotel Nickel Plate Fishers, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. There’s even an “Eras Guide to Dining in Hamilton County” that includes pumpkin-spice options if you’re in your Red era and all things sweet for fans in their Lover era.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end. These hotels are offering special packages timed around the final U.S. tour dates originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.
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The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology, we review and select family vacation ideas, family vacation spots, all-inclusive family resorts, and classic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators, tour operator reviews, tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations.
