Flymia

Pretty much anything actually in Downtown Miami or Brickell will suit your needs. I would prefer Hampton Inn Brickell over YVE. YVE has mixed reviews, but is a good location. Anything in Brickell or Downtown you can get a very easy and quick taxi/rideshare to the port. You have endless options for dining and bars. If you want to look at a map to pick hotels that are South of I-395 but east of NE 1st ave. Once you cross the Miami River (going South) then a hotel that would be North of SE/SW 15th Rd and on or East of SW 1st ave.

I always use caution for any hotel under 4 stars on TripAdvisor. Reviews seem mixed, but not terrible. The location is fine. Certainly much better spots in Miami, but if your goal is low cost and you have a car, it will do. No idea if it is clean, that is what reviews are for.

Anything in particular? This is Downtown Miami/Brickell, the most urban dense area not just in Florida, but pretty much the S.E. U.S. the options are endless for food. Great to see a recent visit and that the hotel is doing better. It was not so great just a few years ago.

Yea, I don't see the big savings. Any amount saved in not parking to the port would be eaten up with just a hotel stay. I do think it is easier and less stressful to drive in the day before regardless. But I would not focus on trying to save $5-$15 a day. Then you also need to figure out transport to and from the hotel where your car is. A early morning drive with plenty of time to get to Miami should do the trick.

The rail is not worth the cost savings. Brightline won't be much cheaper if at all compared to a shuttle/ride share and tri-rail is just a pain and not worth the hassle to still need to transfer bags and get a taxi/rideshare. I am bias, but if the hotel cost are not much different, and you have never been. Spend the night in Miami. Find a hotel in Downtown or Brickell (preferably Brickell) and enjoy the city. Don't get me wrong I like Ft. Lauderdale too, and Downtown Ft. Lauderdale/Las Olas is great as well, and that is where I would focus my search for hotels there. Again, don't know your dates, so not sure on prices. But if its a matter of saving $20-$50 I would go with Miami or at least go with a hotel in Downtown Ft. Lauderdale area to enjoy the evening. As for getting to Port. If you are in Downtown Miami/Brickell just pick up an Uber/Lyft. It would cost $10-$15 quick 10-min ride. If you are in Lauderdale, either book a shuttle from the hotel, or again (my preference) get a rideshare that morning. Most shuttles are $15/pp a rideshare would likely be around $45.00. So not a huge savings to go in a shuttle with a group of other people and potentially stopping at other hotels. FLL airport to Miami again, rideshare $45.00 or so.

Have not stayed, but familiar with it. I believe it has been recently renovated, it has switched owners/operators a few times over the past 5-10 years. I will say from the outside, it does not look great. It is an odd corner, but the location is convenient and close to the port. Take a look at recent reviews. I would prefer other hotels such as Hampton Inn Brickell or Courtyard Downtown.

I have never been to a hotel that has not stored luggage prior to the room being ready. I once had a hotel charge a fee in NYC, only one that ever charged anything. Key on hotel, some small motel might not do it. But any decent sized hotel should.

Agreed it will be nicer and more relaxing. But on a Sunday traffic would be around only if there are lane closures. That being said, plenty of time to take the Brightline and that would be my choice as well. On a weekday afternoon sure. On a Sunday morning around 60-75 mins. However, that will be one expensive Uber or Taxi. While the Brightline may be a little longer, it is also avoid the possibility of delays, and likely is cheaper. Look into Brightline tickets, you can Uber to and from the stations to/from port and airport.

Unless you have a large group just do rideshare.

Intercontinental is an older hotel built in the 80s. Unless you really want to be in Miami Beach for the day, I would stick with Downtown Miami and Brickell. Brickell has some nicer hotels. East Miami is not 5-star but new and in a great location. There is also the Four Seasons in Brickell, JW Marriott (4-star built in early 2000s) in Brickell. Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key is very nice. W Miami is also an option. JW Marquis and Epic are also good options right next to each other.

Anything in the Downtown and Brickell area will be fine, just check the reviews. Popular options that are typically decent deals include Hampton Inn Brickell, Holiday Inn Downtown, Doubletree, Courtyard Marriot Downtown.

No problem. The Taxi drivers know and so do rideshare. There are tons around to pick up rides. You will not have an issue catching a ride. I agree, take your time getting off the ship.

Just take an Uber or Taxi. Uber will be more reliable and unless surge pricing cheaper. Only other option is a shuttle, but once you get more than two people you are not saving money, and making a simple trip and a few seconds on an app a much slower and more complicated process.

Reviews seem good. Fine for a stay after a flight or before an early morning flight. Not a walkable/touristy area. A pure airport hotel.

What time of the year? That would be my deciding factor on whether your should check out the Everglades, which a car is needed. If you want to relax and just stay in Miami Beach, a car is not needed. And it is easy enough to grab an Uber to head to Brickell or Wynwood for Dinner one night for a change of scenery. Locals tend to stay away from South Beach with a few exceptions of places. While the beach is nice, and the art deco architecture is a must see if you never been, the better non-beach options are off Miami Beach. Especially for dinner/drinks and shopping.

Just make sure to arrive into Europe at least 24-hours before the ship is set to leave.

You can Uber around, that will be the fastest and likely not that much more than a Hop-On hop off ticket and rental car would take too much time. South Beach in the morning to see the architecture and beach, I would not really recommend the need to eat there. Head to Little Havana for Lunch and a quick walk around, then you would have time to see Wynwood Walls and that area a bit. But not a ton of time. If a week-day give yourself 40-mins to get back tot he port though it should only take around 20-mins from Wynwood area.

We need a sticky post for these. So many request, with the same answers 95% of the time.

I am surprised you could wait 90-mins for any rideshare. Usually the driver or you would just cancel and try again. I have never waiting more than 10-mins at any airport. Most stress free would be a rideshare IMO. No worrying about anyone to find, they find you, better service than a taxi, and easy to pay and use. But plenty of options, there are taxis there at the port and airport. Or use a shuttle like SAS.

Not sure, but even is there is none, you are looking at a $10-$12 rideshare ride.

Flying in a day before certainly helps. To me the key is get a later flight, but personally I don't like arriving into Europe past lunch time as that then messes up your clock a bit too. I try very hard to get some sleep on the flight just 3-4 hours (from Miami 8.5 hours to London) helps a lot and even take some Benadryl to help get sleepy. Only take sometime if you have taken it before though and know how it affects you. Arrive, don't take a nap, just don't do it. I usually will try to shower, and then enjoy the day as much as I can. Hopefully by 11pm/12am local I am tired enough to go to sleep. Again maybe taking a Benadryl to get sleepy. Usually it still may take a day or two to get sleeping earlier in the night, but as long as I am falling asleep by 12-1am I am usually fine with it. East to West is much easier. My trip to Hawaii this summer, I actually stuck to a great schedule falling asleep by 10pm every night and waking up around 6-6:30 a.m each morning, which is not something I usually do on vacation. We had a night in LA each way, which certainly made it easier. But going back home it took a few days to get back into things.

I just wait and see. I usually set up a google flight alert and if the price drops to a decent deal I buy it. I would say you usually do not get a good price the moment the flight is out. It is impossible to know when the best price will be, there are tools online that help. If I had to guess I would say 6 months out usually is decent. Again, once it hits a price you are comfortable with you book it. If you are booking with award travel, then you book as soon as possible.

First, there are tons of options a few good ones have been given. I would also look in the Brickell area, which I would suggest over Downtown. It is all part of what one would call "Downtown" but different neighborhoods. Brickell Hampton Inn is the most popular pre-cruise hotel. Don't fuss about a ride to the port or shuttle. Downtown and Brickell are so close to the port that a taxi or rideshare is usually cheaper than per-person shuttle. There are tons of taxis at the airport or it is east to get an Uber/Lyft which is usually cheaper and better service. To get to South Beach, yes it is easy, again just get a taxi or rideshare. Depending on time of day and traffic it can be as quick as 20-mins or a bit longer if there is traffic on the causeway. I don't know about towels there are sometimes places set up to rent chairs/umbrellas though.

As others stated, stay at the hotel that is in the airport. But I am certain the big hotels likely have a 24-hour shuttle or call to ride shuttle. Plenty of flights come in around 12am-1am.

Agreed with all that it is safe, but given the low cost of a taxi or even cheaper Uber ride, not sure if it is worth the hassle. The Metrorail Station is connect to the airport rental car facility, you take a tram to the rental car facility and follow signs to station. It will take twice if not three times as long if you don't have good timing with he trains than just doing a 20-25 minute $20 Uber ride.