where to stay in ft. lauderdale before cruise?

[ocean waves]

any suggestions of where to stay the night before the cruise departs, maybe a place on the beach or near restaurants, and is it worth renting a car for the day or better to just use a taxi? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[canucks4]

Last year before our AOS out of San Juan, we wanted a few before days. Instead of using them in $$$ San Juan, we flew to Fort Lauderdale and stayed at the Holiday Inn in Hollywood Beach, a small CLEAN hotel between many of the mega hotels. We loved it, nice pool, clean room, ocean-front room, small, neat beach bar, etc. It wasn't too pricey either. We rented a car and drove ourselves to Gator Park for a tour (great fun - stand-up comic wannabes). Hollywood Beach (and the drive there) was very nice as well. Pick-up the car at the airport and return it to the airport - very, very efficient.

[TrentS]

canucks4 - That Holiday Inn on Hollywood Beach is closed, Hurricane Wilma did it in, and no idea if it will ever reopen. Even before Wilma there was a plan in the works to tear it down and replace it with a highrise condo though.

 

ocean waves - The best area for cruisers to stay in, particularly if you don't have a car, is SE 17th Street. It's a very safe area less than 10 minutes from the airport, just outside the entrance to Port Everglades, and less than 5 minutes to the beach with dozens of restaurants, shops, grocery, drug & liquor stores as well as the very popular Water Taxi all within 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

 

If you want to stay on the beach try these...

 

Fort Lauderdale Beach...

 

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

 

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

 

Bahia Mar (older budget priced hotel)... http://www.bahiamarhotel.com/

 

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

 

The Atlantic... http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1475

 

St. Regis (opening in June)... http://www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1512

 

Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach (opening in August)... http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=FLLFSHH

 

Hollywood Beach...

 

Hollywood Beach Marriott... http://www.hollywoodbeachmarriott.com/

 

Westin Diplomat... http://www.diplomatresort.com/

[canucks4]

I'm very sorry to hear that. We had a lovely few days there. Great list of hotels however, for our next visit as well - thanks.

[ocean waves]

TrentS, thanks for the great info. we're going to look into a few of the palces you mentioned.

[ntsurf]

We just stayed at the Amerisuites mentioned above. Decent and clean. Used transportation to and from ship with no problems. Driver was courteous and prompt. We figured we couldn't beat it for $109 including the shuttle. This was Thanksgiving week too.

[Big Daddy]

We have stayed twice at the Embassy Suites and found it very comfortable. The rate includes a free happy hour(s), full breakfast and shuttle to the pier on the morning of your cruise. The rates really vary so sometimes it is a decent value and other times it is not. It is near the airport and the port and as mentioned earlier on 17th Street. There is shopping across the street and a great little Mexican restaurant with wonderful margaritas in the property next door. Enjoy!

[HurricaneSally]

I got the Airport Sheraton on Priceline for $50.00. It was wonderful, but not near anything within walking distance. We stayed there post Wilma and it was intact. The bedding there was to die for and the place was very clean/plush.

[Lily14]

We really like the Renaissance...you can often get a really good deal through Priceline.

 

We've also stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on 17th Street. Nothing fancy, but fine for 1 night.

[vagabondcarib]

We really like the Marina Marriott. Clean, good service and close.

[Carnivalqueen5]

We stayed at the Embassy Suites a couple weeks ago before cruising. It is extremely close to the airport and to Port Everglades. It was quite expensive ($158) since it was Thanksgiving day, but since we split it between the 3 adults in the room it was only about $60 each. Well worth it for the Embassy Suites wonderful cooked to order breakfast and happy hour with cocktails and snacks. There were 6 of us in the room..each of us had a kid a piece...

[CGTNORMANDIE]

NICE LIST...TrentS!!!

 

We have had some great stays in FLL but our last time in October (missed Wilma by 22 hours!!!) was horrible. DO NOT STAY AT THE HOLIDAY INN ON THE BEACH!!! This place is awful. Bugs, No Hot Water, No TV reception and hallways that smelled. The rooms were from the 1960s. Hopefully this place will be demolished and remade into a condo highrise.

 

ROSS

[dougp26364]

I can't recommend where to stay but I can tell you where NOT to stay.

 

We had booked a room at the Comfort Inn Cruise Port South because A. it was reasonably priced. B. We stay at Choice Brand hotels in the midwest and they've always been clean and comfortable though not fancy. and C. free shuttle to/from the airport and cruise terminal.

 

Unfortunately, this hotel was one of the WORST we've ever spent the night in. It's to bad Wilma didn't wipe it off the map. The room was full of painted over mold, no hot water for a shower, absolutely rotten "free" continental breakfast, maintenance AND the maid knocked on our door (actually, maid entered the room without knocking) before our 9 AM wake up call (we arrived about 1 AM, deadbolt on the door did not work, appeared to have girls for rent as well as rooms, surely staff with uncaring attitude and the room came with it's own minature livestock (roaches) crawling on the walls.

 

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER book a room at this dump! Get a rental car and sleep on the streets if necessary or sleep in the airport but DON'T book a night at this flee bag of a hotel.

[Cruising89143]

I like the Marriott Marina. You can catch the water taxi and go down to Las Olas which has plenty of places to eat and the ride to and from is great. The hotel has great views of the port if you get a room on the south side of the tower.

[danyelle]

Hi,

 

I'm stayin at the Renaissance on Jan 1 and will probably have a review up shortly after we return from our cruise if you're interested.

tripadvisor had good reviews and so did a few people in the pre/post cruise hotel forum. you may wanna check that out too.

We got it on priceline for a $60 bid, total w/ taxes etc. was $80. Can't beat that for a 4 star.

 

D

[TrentS]

Great price at the Renaissance Danyelle!!! It's a wonderful hotel, the best on SE 17th Street! It's just across the street from the entrance to Port Everglades, less than 10 minutes from FLL, and has everything you could possibly want within easy walking distance.

[ziggy]

any suggestions of where to stay the night before the cruise departs, maybe a place on the beach or near restaurants, and is it worth renting a car for the day or better to just use a taxi? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Hi.

 

If you go to http://www.sunny.org you will find an area that has Superior Small Lodgings. These are properties that have great character and an individual touch. (And not very expensive for the most part) I have stayed several times pre cruise and just for a long weekend at several and have never been disapointed.

[TheWog]

We stayed at the Hyatt Pier 66 and absolutely loved it. It was recently purchased and renovated and is under new management. So I don't think you can get the $95 Priceline rate. It was definitely worth the money and more. www.pier66.com was the website. You overlooked the area where all the ships come in and if you have a tower room you can see them all arrive in the morning. You are right at the entrance and it is only like a 5 min ride to the pier and less than 10 mins from the airport.

[Learning Conformity]

I used to live down there, and can't highly enough recommend the Embassy Suites hotel! Don't bother with a car rental, as you can cheaply, and easily get a cab to and from there. You would end up paying more for parking at the beach or Las Olas than the cab would cost.

[FlorenceItaly]

at The Sheraton by the airport in FLL. It is a dump, imo. We stayed there earlier this month. The only consolation was that we pricelined it. I feel bad for those who paid full price, and I am sure there were many as we saw lots of cruisers....RCI had a group there. The lobby looks nice, but the rooms are not. We were upgraded to the CLUB FLOOR and it was nice enough, but our traveling companions were on the Starwood Preferred Guest Floor, and it was a dump.

 

Someone on the HAL board that was on our cruise stayed at the Marriott, Hollywood Beach, and loved it. She has pics, and it looks lovely.

 

Marie