Miami - National/Holiday Inn

[wendygrace]

We are driving to Miami the day prior to our Valor cruise and will need to stay at a Holiday Inn (we are using points). We are renting from National (again points).

 

 

Which National would you return the car to? Which Holiday Inn would you stay at? How would you get from National to the Holiday Inn? And how would you get to the POM from the Holiday Inn?

 

Basically, with the above limitations, how would those of you who've BTDT do this to make it the least painful? There will be two adults and two kids if that matters.

 

Thanks

[JohninDC]

Holiday Inn Port of Miami in downtown Miami is very popular with cruisers - across the street from Bayside Market (several touristy options for dinner) and many of the hotel rooms have a view of the port - a great way to start your day! :D

 

Parking there is expensive :( - drop family & bags off at the hotel and return the car (probably MIA area or maybe Miami Beach); if they will not shuttle you a taxi back to your hotel will run about $25+tip -- both Hertz and Avis have downtown Miami locations very close to the hotel if you have any flex in your car rental plans. :confused: Or pay the parking, avoid the cab fare, return the car the next day and shuttle to POM. Or avoid driving in downtown Miami ;) and drop the car and all of you cab to the hotel (same fare).

 

Your other option is to stay near FLL and then shuttle with SAS or QLS to the port of Miami the next day - typical fare is about $15 per person.

 

Good luck! :)

[wendygrace]

Thanks so much! After much researching I think we've come up with the same plan you did. We briefly considered doing the HI Airport since they have free parking but dh wants to have the car gone before the day of the trip. He wants to roll out of bed, eat bfast and get to the cruise asap. I wonder if they hotel rooms have fridges. We can stash some bfast foods then and won't have to buy their bfast. Hmmmmm. I also like that the CVS is nearby to grab our water bottles.

 

Thanks so much!