A lot of the people who sit in my chair didn't live around the corner. They drove in from Fort Lauderdale, came over the causeway from Brickell or Wynwood, or flew in from somewhere else entirely. I'm Paul Michael Andras, and Andras Tattoo is my single-artist custom practice at Miami Ink, 1360 Washington Ave in South Beach. If you're planning to travel for a piece, this is how I'd think about the trip so the day goes smoothly and the tattoo heals the way it should.
Where Andras Tattoo Clients Travel From
Miami Beach is the base, but most of my Miami clients come from somewhere else in South Florida. Wynwood, Brickell, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Downtown Miami, Doral and Kendall are all regulars, and plenty of people come down from Broward and Palm Beach counties, from Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Pompano Beach. Others fly in from across the US and internationally for a specific project.
That matters because a custom realism piece isn't something you squeeze into a lunch break. When you're factoring in the drive or the flight, it helps to know how the work is actually scheduled before you commit to a date.
How Long You'll Actually Be on Washington Ave
Most sessions run 2-6 hours depending on the size and complexity of the piece. A forearm portrait or a memorial piece of a parent or a pet usually sits on the shorter side of that range, while larger realism work takes longer. Full sleeves and back pieces are a different animal. Those sessions are typically 5-8 hours each and get spaced 4-6 weeks apart so the skin can heal before the next layer goes in.
If you're coming a long way, we can plan around that. Multi-session projects can be scheduled with back-to-back day sessions during a visit, or spread across several trips. That's something we work out together during the consultation, and the steps from first message to finished tattoo are laid out on the process page.
A few things make a long day in the chair easier, and they're the same things I tell everyone:
- Get a good night's sleep before the session. Showing up exhausted after an early flight or a red-eye makes everything harder.
- Eat a substantial meal beforehand. Low blood sugar can make you lightheaded, and that's the last thing you want halfway through shading.
- Stay hydrated in the days leading up to it, and avoid alcohol for 24 hours before. That one trips people up on a beach weekend.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing that gives easy access to the area we're tattooing.
- Bring something for the longer sessions, like music, a podcast or a friend for company.
Planning the Rest of Your Miami Beach Trip Around a Fresh Tattoo
This is the part visitors underestimate. South Beach is built around the ocean and the pool, and a fresh tattoo can't go in either one. Avoid submerging it in pools, hot tubs, baths or ocean water for at least 2-3 weeks, and keep it out of direct sunlight while it heals. If your trip is mostly beach days, it usually makes sense to get tattooed toward the end of the visit rather than the first morning, so you're not spending the rest of the week covering up under an umbrella.
Right after the session, the tattoo gets a protective wrap. A standard bandage stays on for 2-4 hours, or as instructed, and a second-skin bandage can stay on for up to 24 hours. Pack loose, breathable clothes for the days after, because tight fabric rubbing on healing skin isn't doing you any favors. Peeling and flaking are a normal part of healing, so don't pick at it on the flight home. Everything else, from the first wash to long-term sun protection, is on the aftercare guide, and it's worth reading before you book your return flight, not after.
Once it's healed, Miami sun is the long-term issue. SPF 30+ on exposed tattoos, every time, is the habit that keeps realism work looking sharp for decades.
Getting the Project Started Before You Arrive
The best trips are the ones where the design work happens before you get here. Everything starts with the inquiry form. Send your idea, the placement you're thinking about, a rough size and your reference photos. For portraits, that means the sharpest original photo you have, with natural light and a clear view of the face. I read every request myself and reply within 24 to 48 hours to go over the design and timeline.
From there, you get a personalized quote and a plan for how many sessions the piece needs. Small pieces may start around $150-300, while larger custom work is priced by the session or day rate, so the quote depends on what you're actually asking for. If you want a feel for the work before reaching out, the portfolio and Instagram @andrastattoo are the best places to look.
If you're planning a trip to Miami Beach and want to leave with something worth the drive or the flight, send your idea through the form on my Miami tattoos page, and we'll build the sessions around your schedule.