Location information for West Palm Beach

Car rental West Palm Beach
Introduction
Incredibly beautiful beaches form the main attraction of West Palm Beach. There's a beach near the city center, but there are about forty other beaches in the vicinity. Those who like snorkeling can indulge themselves at the John D. MacArthur Beach State Park on Singer Island. There's also a beautiful beach on this island, much quieter than the trendy beaches near town.
Population
The city has 100,000 inhabitants, but is part of an elongated urban area (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach) where over 5 million people live.
Location
West Palm Beach is located in the southwest of the United States on Florida's west coast, and is the northern part of an elongated urban area which begins just north of the Everglades.
Economy
Besides tourism, an important source of income, the port of West Palm Beach is of economical importance. Sizewise it's Florida's fourth container port. Cruise ships, mainly smaller ones, also moor here. Aviation industry is also present with for example branches of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (plane engine suppliers) and Sikorsky Aircraft.
Airports
West Palm Beach International Airport is situated about 6 kilometers west of the city center. It's easily reachable by rental car. There are several routes: via the I-95, Southern Boulevard or Congress Avenue. Count no more than 5-10 minutes to travel to and from the center of West Palm Beach.
Public Transport
West Palm Beach has good public transport. The main bus station is located near the crossroad of Quadrille Boulevard and Clematis Street. Besides the regular city buses, there's Molly's Trolley, an antique trolley bus running from Flagler Drive on the sea, via Clematis Street to Rosemary Boulevard. It's free and an ideal way to travel through the Center of West Palm Beach.
Traffic and Parking
Like many other American cities, West Palm Beach' center has a square street pattern which makes it easy to find your way around by rental car. It's also easy to find a free parking place. There are two large parking lots just north of Clematis Street, on 1st Street: Municipal Parking and All American Parking. There are also two P+R areas on Okeechobee Boulevard on the city's west side, along the Florida Turnpike. From here you can take public transport to the center. Make sure you have good car insurance, because in Florida you're liable for all damages, also if caused by someone else!
Hotels
West Palm Beach has an enormous choice of accommodations. There are branches of international hotel chains like Marriott and Hyatt, but there are also cozy family hotels. Most hotels are in the center, with some cheap options (motels) near the I-95. Singer Island, north of West Palm Beach, also has a lot of accommodations. Book your room in advance to make sure you can stay at the hotel of your choice.
External Sources
For more information about West Palm Beach, we recommend Google and the following sources: