Fort Lauderdale - hotel - port....Help please

I have searched and searched but no luck finding exactly what I am looking for so I will ask the experts.

I will be arriving at Fort Lauderdale airport, heading to a hotel near the port then off to the port the next day.

Can anyone advise me the best way to do this??? Any hotels with free shuttle from airport to hotel then to the port??? If nothing with both shuttles is it better to go airport free shuttle to local hotel or pay a cab or car rental to port area hotel and free shuttle to port??? Can you also recommend some hotels and a car rental company that has something at Fort Lauderdale Airport and free shuttle to the port after we drop off the car.

Sorry for such a long question but I can't seem to get this happening.

Thanks

Kim

We rented a car through National at FLL, and reserved a room at Holiday Inn through priceline ($50) last month. National does have a complimentary bus shuttle to and from the pier/FLL, if you have your rental agreement. We also went to Chimas Brazilian restaurant the night prior to embarkation. Water taxis are a great way of transportation if you have the time. Some hotels have transport to the pier. We have previously stayed at Best Western with shuttle to pier, but a taxi from airport. It really depends on how long you have in Ft. Lauderdale and what you wish to do there. Friends stayed at Lago Mar. It is closer to the pier, on the beach and has a nice pool. The "room" they had was two bedroom, two bath, living room/kitchen/dining room combo. Both are quite old, but comfortable for a night.

We just returned from a Holiday Cruise aboard Celebrity's Century.

We stayed at the Amerisuites which was located close to the port, and within a short walking distance to restaurants (OutBack), and a small shopping center. It was very convenient....and they provide free shuttle to the port.

Hope this helps.

You don't really need a car OR a shuttle if you stay at one of these hotels. Just grab a cab, it's MUCH quicker and easier! They're all less than 10 minutes from FLL, just outside the entrance to Port Everglades and are surrounded by dozens of restaurants, shops, grocery, drug & liquor stores as well as the very popular Water Taxi all within safe, easy walking distance.

SE 17th Street hotels (closest to Port Everglades and FLL)...

Renaissance... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/FLLBR

Embassy Suites... http://www.embassysuites.com/en/es/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=FLLSOES

Marina Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/FLLFL

Holiday Inn Express "Convention Center"... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hd/fllcc

Extended Stay America... http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/hotels/fort-lauderdale-convention-center-marina.html

AmeriSuites... http://amerisuites.com/reservations/locationdetail.asp?facid=3929

AmeriSuites is cheaper on Valuetrips... http://www.valuetrips.com/AMS/FL/F17.htm

Here's a list of the SE 17th Street area Restaurants...

Tara Steak & Lobster is right next door to Extended Stay America... http://www.tarasteakandlobsterhouse.com/

Carlos and Pepe's (Mexican) & Durty Harry's (bar with food) are in the same shopping center as Tara. There's also a small diner in that strip mall that I've been told has an excellent breakfast.

Einstein Bros. Bagels is across the street from Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America... http://www.einsteinbros.com/

Bimini Boatyard and Bravo (great Italian restaurant) are both across the street from Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America, and about a block east, opposite the Renaissance Hotel... http://www.bravoitaliano.com/

Jack Jackson's new restaurant FISH is across the street from the Renaissance hotel, attached to the Convention Center complex at the entrance to Port Everglades... http://www.fish-fl.com/

Chuck's Steakhouse... http://www.chucksflorida.com/

And Waxy O'Connors are both across the street from Embassy Suites, a long block west of Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America... http://www.waxys.com/

Outback Steakhouse and Del Rio Tex Mex are just west of Embassy Suites, and Quarterdeck is across the street and a block north of Embassy Suites on Cordova Road, just beyond Winn-Dixie... http://www.quarterdeckrestaurant.com/

Kelly's Landing is a great New England style seafood place in a strip mall on Cordova Road, across the street from Winn-Dixie.

If you want some excellent ice cream, Aspen Ice Cream is next door to Office Depot, in the large yellow strip mall across the street from Tara and Carlos and Pepe's... http://www.aspenicecream.com/

There are 3 large strip malls around Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America - More or less across the street, next door, and behind, as well as several smaller ones. There are at least a dozen other small restaurants scattered throughout those strip malls, plus a number of fast food and carry-out places in the area as well... You'll never go hungry along that section of SE 17th Street, there's something for every taste and budget.

Publix grocery store is in the large strip mall a block south on Cordova Road, behind Embassy Suites. Publix sell beer & wine as well as being very large, very nice grocery stores.

Barnie's Coffee & Tea is in the same strip mall as Publix, a few stores to the west, next to Carvel Ice Cream... http://www.barniescoffee.com/

Crown Wine and Spirits is across the street from Embassy Suites, behind the Chevron station, and 67 Wine & Spirits is across the street from Crown.

Winn-Dixie grocery store is next door to Crown, and there's a CVS drug store in the same strip mall as 67 Wine & Spirits.

Walgreens drug store is a block east of Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America, across the street from the Renaissance hotel.

The restaurants above are just those that you can easily walk to. If you take the Water Taxi you can easily get to dozens more. The nearest Water Taxi stop is 2 long blocks east, under the SE 17th Street Bridge, in front of the Marina Marriott hotel... http://www.watertaxi.com/FortLauderdale/FLLHome.Asp

Some popular places easily accessible by Water Taxi are...

15th Street Fisheries... http://www.15streetfisheries.com/

Jackson's Steakhouse... http://www.jacksonssteakhouse.com/

Shirttail Charlie's... http://www.shirttailcharlies.com/

Fort Lauderdale Riverhouse... http://www.ftlauderdaleriverhouse.com/

Downtowner Saloon... http://www.downtownersaloon.com/

Shooter's Waterfront Cafe, and at the same stop Taverna Opa... http://tavernaoparestaurant.com/

Charlie's Crab... http://www.muer.com/locations/chcrab...ab-ftlaud.html

The many many restaurants and shops along beautiful Las Olas Blvd... http://www.lasolasboulevard.com/

And Las Olas Riverfront... http://www.riverfrontfl.com/

Thank you all for the information. I will check them out.

I am curious hiowever which National did you return your car to in Miami. I am not sure which location offers the shuttle.

Thanks

Kim

Several of the major rental car companies will shuttle you to the Port of MIAMI from their MIA airport location, but I thought you were cruising from Fort Lauderdale/PORT EVERGLADES??? :confused:

Yikesssss. I hope I didn't explain this wrong.

We are flying into Fort Lauderdale as it is too expensive from where we are to fly into Miami. We are cruising out of the Port of Miami. I was considering either renting a car from Fort Lauderdale airport and getting to a hotel and drop the car off the next morning but I wasn't sure what the closest car rental was or even what area to input in the quote screen.....yikesssss.

I am glad I have 9 months to figure this out....:D

Thanks for all your help

Kim

....but I wasn't sure what the closest car rental was or even what area to input in the quote screen.....yikesssss.

Kim, your pickup location would be Ft Lauderdale Airport (FLL) and drop off at Miami Airport (MIA). If you choose Avis you can drop your car off in downtown Miami, 5 minutes from the port. ;)

We flew into Ft. Lauderdale, rented car, stayed in Ft. Lauderdale overnight, returned rental car to FLL airport, and rode the shuttle bus to Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale. On our return, we scheduled a ship excursion to Miami airport, which was cancelled(last minute and not told about it till debarkation morning). So, we were comped a bus ride from the ship at Port Everglades to Miami airport. Since we booked just a month out, I had checked flights for several days, and actually found this cheaper to fly into FLL and out of MIA. Just don't miss the ship!LOL!

Yikesssss. I hope I didn't explain this wrong.

 

We are flying into Fort Lauderdale as it is too expensive from where we are to fly into Miami. We are cruising out of the Port of Miami. I was considering either renting a car from Fort Lauderdale airport and getting to a hotel and drop the car off the next morning but I wasn't sure what the closest car rental was or even what area to input in the quote screen.....yikesssss.

 

I am glad I have 9 months to figure this out....:D

 

Thanks for all your help

 

Kim

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh okay... You didn't mention anything about the Port of MIAMI in your original post, so scratch my previous post then.

Yes, renting a car is usually the cheapest way to go if you're going from FLL to Miami. As stated above many of the major rental car companies will shuttle you from their MIA airport locations, or Avis and Hertz have downtown Miami locations.

If you didn't want to rent a car Tri-County/Airport Express' shared van service is another way to go ($18 per person)... http://www.floridalimo.com/

Here are some nice/decent hotels. If you don't rent a car then I would stay downtown, otherwise they're all easy to get to/from with a car.

Downtown Miami hotels, closest to the Port of Miami and Bayside Marketplace... http://www.baysidemarketplace.com/

JW Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/miajw

Hyatt Regency... http://miamiregency.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

Intercontinental... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic/1/en/hd/miaha?irs=null

Biscayne Bay Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/miabb

Conrad International... http://conradhotels.hilton.com/en/ch/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIACICI

Four Seasons... http://www.fourseasons.com/miami/index.html

Mandarin Oriental... http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/526000001.asp

Marriott Courtyard (budget priced)... http://www.miamicourtyard.com/

Holiday Inn Bayside/Port of Miami (only for the budget minded)... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/miabb

South Beach...

Hotel Victor... http://hotelvictorsouthbeach.com/

Loews... http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/miamibeach/default.asp

Royal Palm... http://www.solmelia.com/solNew/hoteles/jsp/C_Hotel_Description.jsp?codigoHotel=5964

South Beach Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MIAMB

Ritz-Carlton South Beach... http://www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/south_beach/default.html

Shore Club... http://www.shoreclub.com/

Delano... http://www.delano-hotel.com/

Raleigh Hotel... http://www.raleighhotel.com/

The Tides Hotel... http://www.tideshotel.com/

The National... http://www.nationalhotel.com/

Doubletree Surfcomber... http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIAOFDT

Marriott Courtyard South Beach (3 blocks from the beach)... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MIACB

The Hotel of South Beach (1 block from the beach)... http://www.thehotelofsouthbeach.com/

Coconut Grove...

Mayfair Hotel & Spa... http://www.mayfairhousehotel.com/

Ritz-Carlton... http://www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/coconut_grove/default.html

Sonesta... http://www.sonesta.com/coconut_grove/

Coral Gables...

Hyatt Regency... http://coralgables.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

Biltmore Hotel... http://www.biltmorehotel.com/

Omni Colonnade... http://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/default.asp?h_id=8

Miami Beach (best only if you have a car)...

Fontainebleau... http://www.fontainebleau.com/

Eden Roc... http://www.edenrocresort.com/

Courtyard Miami Beach... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MIABH

MIA Airport...

Hilton... http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIAAHHH

Hampton Inn... http://www.hamptoninnmiamiairport.com/

Homewood Suites... http://homewoodsuites.hilton.com/en/hw/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIABLHW

Summerfield Suites... http://www.summerfieldsuites.com/location_details.php?code=MIASS

Sofitel... http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fichehotel/gb/sof/0889/fiche_hotel.shtml

Kim,

We always stay at the Embassy Suites in Ft. Lauderdale when sailing out of that port. They have a shuttle from the airport. The hotel is great, within site of the port (from the upper levels of the hotel), has a free shuttle to the port (just sign up when you check-in) , free happy hour drinks and free breakfast! In most places we call this HEAVEN! They aslo have a nice pool area incase you want to get a head-start on that cruise tan. Oh, it is also just around the corner from an Outback steakhouse.

i too had the same idea as you. Here is how my plan is supposed to work out. On 2/18 I fly to Fort Lauderdale where i will get a free shuttle to the Ramada Inn airport/ cruiseport. I am paying $135.00 for the night with a full hot breakfast. They offer a shuttle to the Miami port at $10.00 per person. I have booked the same package post cruise. They said they will pick us up at the port of Miami and bring us to the hotel. The next day when we fly out we will have a hot breakfast and then take the free shuttle to the Fort Lauderdale airport. Sounds good right? i hope it works out. I have never stayed at this hotel before. Good luck and happy cruising! Katie

i too had the same idea as you. Here is how my plan is supposed to work out. On 2/18 I fly to Fort Lauderdale where i will get a free shuttle to the Ramada Inn airport/ cruiseport. I am paying $135.00 for the night with a full hot breakfast. Sounds good right?

NO, No, NO! Stay far away from this property! Any property on State Road 84 is questionable, this one is downright nasty. Search the board, many feel the same way. ;)

thanks for the input.. i thought it might have sounded to good to be true.. well back to the drawing board i go!

We are staying at the Newport Beach Resort 2/24/06 before our cruise. We are flying into Miami as it was cheaper. Newport Beach is charging us $116. That is a good price for this time of year and it is beach front. We are using a taxi to the resort and maybe to the ship.

thanks for the input.. i thought it might have sounded to good to be true.. well back to the drawing board i go!

As Bequia said you'll DEFINITELY want to AVOID that place, and any others along State Road 84! It's a nasty place, that's a nasty neighborhood that's downright dangerous at night.

Don't concern yourself with shuttles, those are NEVER a reason to book a hotel! If you want to stay in Fort Lauderdale stay along SE 17th Street. It's a SAFE area with everything you could possibly want right there, and those hotels are a very short, inexpensive cab ride from FLL.

If you need transportation to Miami you may want to just rent a car, it's usually the cheapest way.

Tri-County/Airport Express shared van service is also quite inexpensive... http://www.floridalimo.com/

We are staying at the Newport Beach Resort 2/24/06 before our cruise. We are flying into Miami as it was cheaper. Newport Beach is charging us $116. That is a good price for this time of year and it is beach front. We are using a taxi to the resort and maybe to the ship.

You may also want to consider renting a car if you're staying all the way up in Sunny Isles. It would be cheaper than a taxi up there and back down to the port, plus you'll want a car to go someplace for dinner.

Try the Holiday Inn Express "Convention Center". We're staying there on recommendadtions from this board. Our room is $161 a night, 10 minutes from the port, free shuttle to/from FLL.

Holiday Inn Express "Convention Center" and Extended Stay America on SE 17th Street are IMO the best budget hotels in town. They're very nice places, and everything you could possibly want is right there - the location simply can't be beat!

Holiday Inn Express "Convention Center"... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hd/fllcc

Extended Stay America... http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/hotels/fort-lauderdale-convention-center-marina.html

this site is so helpful! I cancelled my reservation for the Ramada Inn cruiseport. My flight gets in at 9pm on Sat and i cruise on Sun 2/19, so i will pick one of the places you have recommended for a quick stay. :) I am travelling with my kids who are 3, 5 and 8. I will be staying in Fort Lauderdale post cruise for one night. Can you reccomend a nice kid friendly hotel with a nice outdoor pool area where we can unwind for the day? Your advice is priceless and appreciated! Katie

this site is so helpful! I cancelled my reservation for the Ramada Inn cruiseport. My flight gets in at 9pm on Sat and i cruise on Sun 2/19, so i will pick one of the places you have recommended for a quick stay. :) I am travelling with my kids who are 3, 5 and 8. I will be staying in Fort Lauderdale post cruise for one night. Can you reccomend a nice kid friendly hotel with a nice outdoor pool area where we can unwind for the day? Your advice is priceless and appreciated! Katie

These are all nice resorts with great pools.

Harbor Beach Marriott and Lago Mar are both very close to the port and airport, and on the nicest part of Fort Lauderdale Beach...

Harbor Beach Marriott... http://www.marriottharborbeach.com/

Lago Mar... http://www.lagomar.com/

Pelican Beach is 10-12 minutes further up the beach...

Pelican Beach Resort (only the NEW tower)... http://www.pelicanbeach.com/

Hyatt Pier 66 is on the Intracoastal Waterway across from the port, and has a great pool, but is in the midst of a major remodeling project if that's something that bothers you.

Hyatt Pier 66... http://pier66.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

Hello Trent,

There are 2 Holiday Inn Express hotels in FLL, the 'new' one is on Rte 84 and the other on SE 17th, I want the 17th Street one, right?

Thanks...

Linda

Hello Trent,

 

There are 2 Holiday Inn Express hotels in FLL, the 'new' one is on Rte 84 and the other on SE 17th, I want the 17th Street one, right?

 

Thanks...

 

Linda

YES! You want to be on SE 17th Street... The one on State Road 84 is not in a good neighborhood, doesn't have anything to walk to, and is a lot farther from the airport and port.

The Holiday Inn Express "Convention Center" is the one on SE 17th Street, less than 10 minutes from the airport, a block from the entrance to the port, in a very safe neighborhood, and surrounded by dozens of restaurants, shops, grocery, drug & liquor stores as well as the very popular Water Taxi.

Holiday Inn Express "Convention Center"... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hd/fllcc

Extended Stay America is right next door to the HIX "Convention Center", and also a very nice budget hotel... http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/hotels/fort-lauderdale-convention-center-marina.html

Trent, thank you so much for your quick response. I appreciate the help!

I had a room booked since last fall at the Best Western Oceanside Inn for one night pre cruise...based on what I read on here, I got scared, cancelled my reservation and have spent the afternoon scouring for a new hotel room, for 3 weeks from now. DH really wanted beachfront or very close to..after several calls and searches, of course many were fully booked or the rooms were in the $300-400+/night range, I found a room for the night at the Sheraton Yankee Clipper. Trent please tell me I won't regret this room as far as cleanliness, saftey walking at night and easy access to airport and cruiseport. If necessary I will keep searching and calling, I do have this reserved, but it can be cancelled. Let me know what you think...Thanks!!!