cakerbakermom

We searched and searched for a rental, gave up. Seems as if all the extra fees and taxes make it almost or more pricey. We are staying at the Hyatt 17th Street. Booked thru valuetrips.com for $219/night.

I got tired of waiting for them to post their rates for 2018, after having them tell me that they would be posted in September, so I contacted Hyatt Place directly and had them make a reservation for me, and was quoted the price is supposed to be the ValueTrips rate (219$)

Did you call the hotel directly and ask for the Valuetrips price of $219? We have reservations 1/31 with checkout on 2/3 AND 2/11 reservation. Ours are much more expensive than ValueTrips prices! I did submit a Valuetrip today for 1/31-2/2 checkout, hoping to get at least two days cheaper. But if I knew I could call someone and get it done easier, I would cancel my ValueTrips request.

We will be on Conquest

Which ship are you on?

Hey friends,

I'm looking to compile a list of the latest Lido deck party tunes. We are sailing in a few months and still have time to learn how to dance!

Song titles (and artists) are very appreciated!

We rented a car thru Costco in November. Since there were four of us and we had an entire day to sightsee, we found this our best value.

I emailed Valuetrips and was told they would be available after October 15th. We are looking for dates for early February and the only FLL Hyatt Convention Center are $394.

Family of four needing a hotel middle of February after debarking from a FLL cruise. Our flights are the next day (a Monday) out of FLL. We will be off the ship early in the morning and need something to do, a place to stay. We prefer not to rent a car, will have several suitcases, and prefer to stay somewhere near the airport as we have a 9am flight. Bonus if free shuttle to airport and hot breakfast. Also, inexpensive dining options are a plus with our kids. This is a new area for us and we have no idea about safe places, etc. Thank you.

Try booking Jan 31- Feb 3! Currently a room at Hyatt on 17th will run you over $300. I booked these nights tonight, $1200!

Hoping valuettrips comes out soon!!

'

We arrive Jan 31 2018 for a Feb 3rd cruise. We are a family of four without a vehicle looking for affordable and safe rental. We have rented places in many cities (Paris, San Juan, etc) and like to look into this option. Since we won't have a car, are unfamiliar with FLL, we have no idea where is safe and what areas to stay clear from. Bonus if there are places to dine and grocery stores nearby.

If you have rented thru HomeAway or AirbnB, we would love to hear your suggestions and experiences.

Hyatt Place is $280 per night for Feb 1 and 2. Ouch!!!!

This is our first sailing out of PE. We are two adults and two children flying from Midwest likely needing a place to stay Feb 1 and 2, 2018. Tickets not yet purchased, but probably will fly two days in advance to avoid weather problems. Overwhelmed where to begin.

@ likely won't have a car

@ price is important!

@ safety even more important

@ prefer near port and airport as we will not have a vehicle

@ inexpensive dining that we can walk to, hearty hotel breakfast a bonus

@ nice pool to entertain kids for day and a half or something very close

@ shopping for drinks, last minute forgotten items, etc. within close walking distance

Open to all your wonderful suggestions! Also, are there any small airports nearby that are great to fly into? We will be coming from Des Moines.

Waterworks, waterworks......please let them be adding a waterworks!!!!!

Interested as well... I know, based on the roll call, that it's a big gambling cruise. I'm hoping that means people will spend their time there and not so much on the decks! ;) This will be the biggest ship we've been on.

Will you be on the Nov 12th cruise? We will..along with kids 10 and 12.

Would you do this? Intermediate car rental BUDGET thru Costo:

11/9 - 11/12: = $234 (2 days, 20 hours) (renting from MLB, dropping off at PC)

OR

11/9 1:30PM to 11/10 10am = $80 (rent at MLB, return to PC)

11/10 10am to 11/12 10am = $80 (renting at PC, renturn to PC)

Essentially you would drop the car off and re-rent at the same time in order to save about $70. I realize it takes a little bit of time, but for the savings, is this ever done? Any suggestions?

Well, this just seems like common sense, anywhere.

 

Interesting that the American Consulate is publishing this contact information, as St. Maarten joined the North American Numbering Plan nearly five years ago, and the +599 went away when calling from the US. Now it's like dialing an Area Code within the US, 721. So it should be 1 721. It's still an international call, however, so can be expensive.

 

gary

Gary, I agree that much of this does seem like common sense. I had just ran across it today and thought I would share, for whatever it was worth to people. Our next cruise doesn't stop here, but it wouldn't make me stay on the ship. We need to always use good personal safety skills and be vigilant.

The phone number is interesting. Someone needs to update their webpage!

http://curacao.usconsulate.gov/sm-08182016.html

Security Message for U.S. Citizens in St. Maarten: Increase in Armed Robberies

August 18, 2016

The Police Department is informing the general public and mainly the business community, that an increase in armed robberies on the Dutch Side has been recorded recently.

This situation should not raise any alarm, however, it has raised some concerns. The police force is doing its utmost to investigate and arrest those responsible for these criminal acts.

Anyone who may have information regarding any crime or criminal activity should contact the Police Department immediately at: 542-2222, 911 or the anonymous tip line 9300.

The following tips can help you from becoming a victim of robbery:

Avoid dark areas, dark areas form a risk because most robbers tend to rob people in dark areas;

Don’t go to the ATM during dark hours. Plan ahead and get your cash during safer times;

Avoid carrying a lot of cash and other valuables;

Trust your instincts, if you sense trouble, get away as soon as possible;

Take a bus/taxi instead of walking home. If you have to walk, take some company;

Be very alert and observant;

Keep your money close to you, preferably not in a purse that hangs free from your hand;

Don’t advertise; don’t wear expensive or fancy looking jewelry; Install apps like “find my phone” or “find my mobile” on your Smartphone;

Make a note of the unique IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identification) number of your cell phone. If it gets stolen, the police will be able to search in databases.

If, in spite of the abovementioned tips, a robbery does take place, here are some things you can do to make it easier for police to catch the robber:

Stay calm;

Don’t be a hero, your life is worth more than your money;

Take a good look at the robber. Make mental notes about the robber. Give the dispatcher all the details you can remember about the robber(s), so police patrols on the street can start an investigation immediately;

Note the direction of the robber when they leave;

Try to get a description of the vehicle, if the robber uses one;

Call 911 as soon as possible;

If there are any witnesses, ask them to remain with you until the police arrive. If they can’t, get their name, address and phone number;

Go to the nearest police station to file a report;

Call the emergency number of your Credit Card Company or bank. They can freeze your credit;

Log on to your “find my phone” service, try to locate the phone and tell the police about your findings.

Contact Information

The United States Consulate General in Curacao serves U.S. citizens in Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Maarten, and St. Eustatius.

Location: The Consulate is located at J.B. Gorsiraweg 1, Curacao.

Phone Numbers and Dialing Instructions: During business hours, call +599(9) 461-3066. For after-hours emergencies, call +599(9) 510-6870. If calling from the United States, dial 011 before the number. If calling from the following islands, enter the appropriate code before the number: Aruba (00); Bonaire (00), Saba (00), St. Maarten (011), St. Eustatius (00).

Email: You can email the American Citizen Services Section at acscuracao@state.gov.

Website: The Consulate's Website is curacao.usconsulate.gov.

The reason I say $500 is because the rental car company will authorize on your card the cost of the rental plus a $200-$250 deposit which will drop off when you return the card. The exception to this would be Sixt which will authorize a $999 if you rent a BMW or Mercedes.

Thank you for clarifying why the $500. Good to understand how the deposit works. I guarantee you we will not be renting anything that costly! We are a no-frills kinda family :)

Reread the quoted suggestions above as insurance is probably the most important thing you need to know about your rental.

 

One thing I would add - check with your credit card company (the one you will be charging your rental to) as it may also provide free rental insurance.

I am very appreciative of all these tips!! We will be using our credit card, but cannot rent expensive vehicles or they won't cover. I think a smaller size SUV might be acceptable, but definitely not a minivan or truck (unless we want to pay for all the extra insurance charges. No thank you!) Taking photos/video with cell is a wonderful idea!

Oh, our CC does have more than $500 AND we also just renewed our Costco. I will continue watching to see if we can score something!!!

Yes, we are inexperienced at renting cars and are looking for some good advice.

Fly into MLB on 11/9/16. Need a car that fits four people plus luggage. Will be sightseeing for couple of days.

Sail on 11/12 out of Canaveral. So basically we need a car rental for 2-3 days from MLB and drop off at PC. (still have yet to make hotel arrangements)

Return cruise 11/20. Need car from this morning until late on 11/21 as we have a 6pm flight on 11/21. Again need to make sleeping arrangements for 11/20. Car pickup from Canaveral and return to MLB.

Has anyone had good experiences that are affordable? I am looking right now and many of these companies are over $100/day for a compact car. This is way out of our price range!! I need tips how to get inexpensive car rental, not needing a minivan but would like something that will accommodate four people and all our luggage. Are their coupon codes? Ways to score some cheap rentals? I could really use some help! Thank you in advance.

We are doing Magic in Nov with our 12yo girl and 10yo son. This will be their 3rd cruise. Did your girls go to the children's programming? I am most concerned about the 12-14 age grouping and if it is appropriate for our daughter.

We found tickets on Delta for $325/person DSM to MLB (Melbourne, near Orlando). Those same tickets are $463 today. Plane tickets out of Iowa are crazy prices! I looked and looked, having drove to Orlando once before and really not wanting to do with two young kids. You are on the opposite side of the state, but we found tickets out of Omaha to be cheaper.

I would want to stay as close to the airport as possible. The trip to port area in Miami isn't a long ride, but at 2am I would feel safer just sleeping at a nearby airport hotel, not to mention kids could be crashed and you may be carrying them.

Deja View to our Liberty Cruise in 2012!!!! We had to miss a port and we were stuck in San Juan for two days while they fixed it. Weird thing? It was one of my favorite cruises and favorite ship. Hope they fix it!!

 

 

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We were on that same cruise!!!! Propulsion problems seem to be a common problem on Liberty.

Don't forget though... there is usually at least one assistant, sometimes two. According to Carnival . com, capacity is just over 3,000 and it looks like there are about 1440 cabins - that's an average of just over 2 per cabin. So if a team of two had 30 cabins - that would be about 63 passengers. Tips would be about $260/day for both. An even split would be $130/day. Sure, some tip extra... but others remove the tips and tip nothing. I have no idea if more tip extra or if more remove tips. I know that a good waitress in a decent restaurant can make that in tips in one quick dinner service.

We cruise four to a cabin. Our tips for an upcoming 8 day, of which we have saved for three years to take, will be over $400. We settled for an OV, and likely will be driving from the Midwest to save $. (That's a 24hour drive for us.) My husband works seven days a week cutting and boxing sandpaper for a major US company and doesn't make anywhere the amount that stewards would make based on numbers being thrown around here. If I took a trip to any other vacation place, say that certain ears place, we wouldn't tip $50 ...... money comes so hard nowadays. I get that the stewards are busy and work long/hard hours -- so does my husband. I think stewards are being compensated much better than we are led to believe. Do the higher-ups really get part of the tips??

Sorry for the long reply, but I would HIGHLY recommend a brand new suite hotel in Cape Canaveral that does not even open until May 2016!

http://homewoodsuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/homewood-suites-by-hilton-cape-canaveral-cocoa-beach-MLBCBHW/index.html

I travel a lot and always pick Homewood Suites, if available. Each suite has a full-size fridge, microwave, stove, dishwasher, free daily breakfast, +free Happy Hour and light dinner on weekdays.

The new Cape Canaveral location is now taking reservations for future months.

I just looked and all the rooms for family of four are over $200/night. Too costly for us to stay four nights in November. I'm sure this is a very nice place to stay -- is this typical price?

1+ miles, dragging your bags, in the heat/humidity of Miami, while dodging traffic :eek: (Miami is a commercial port so expect lots of trucks in addition to cars, cabs and busses) - a $10-12 cab ride (probably $8 or less in Uber) sounds like a better deal ;)

Not worth the risk...pay the few dollars for safe cab ride!!