August cruise help - Fort Lauderdale vs Miami

[Sherrymc]

Looking for some advice please.  We cruise from Fort Lauderdale on 24 Aug and our flight from the UK on the 23rd has now been diverted to Miami.  We already have a hotel in FL booked but are now wondering whether to change this to Miami’s South Beach area and use the opportunity to see a bit of this area before we cruise. Is this a viable option - how long/how much would a transfer be the following morning?  Thanks  in advance 

[JohninDC]

1 hour ago, Sherrymc said:

Looking for some advice please.  We cruise from Fort Lauderdale on 24 Aug and our flight from the UK on the 23rd has now been diverted to Miami.  We already have a hotel in FL booked but are now wondering whether to change this to Miami’s South Beach area and use the opportunity to see a bit of this area before we cruise. Is this a viable option - how long/how much would a transfer be the following morning?  Thanks  in advance 

Welcome to the boards! 

 

Taxi from MIA to South Beach will run about $35-40, or you can Uber for about $25+. To get from SB to Port Everglades for your cruise an Uber will run about $35 or a taxi will run about $70

 

Your other option is to keep your original hotel. Uber from MIA airport will run about $35+ or taxi for about $70+

 

If any of this helped you owe me a pint!  Whatever bitter you local pours will be fine. 😎

[Flymia]

There really is no difference. Think of Ft. Lauderdale Airport as Gatwick and Miami Airport as Heathrow. They both serve the same area. 

 

You can chose to keep your Ft. Lauderdale hotel or go to Miami Beach. I see August 23 is a Friday. Depending on what time your flight from London comes in, traffic from Miami airport to Ft. Lauderdale can be a bit hectic and make the drive 60-90 mins instead of a usual 30-40mins. 

 

It really is up to you. If you want to take the opportunity to see South Beach then go ahead and do it. An Uber/Lyft from South Beach to Port Everglades will be around $35-$40 and on a Saturday morning will be an easy drive. No more than 45-mins or so. A taxi will be around double the price. You could also look into pre-booking a shuttle or private car for different prices online. 

 

Lots of hotels to chose from on Miami Beach. August is low season so you will get good prices. 

 

Not sure what hotel you have booked for Ft. Lauderdale but Ft. Lauderdale is a fine area as well. Especially the Downtown area on Los Ollas Blvd. Great place for an evening. 

 

 

[Sherrymc]

On 1/12/2019 at 11:36 PM, JohninDC said:

Welcome to the boards! 

 

Taxi from MIA to South Beach will run about $35-40, or you can Uber for about $25+. To get from SB to Port Everglades for your cruise an Uber will run about $35 or a taxi will run about $70

 

Your other option is to keep your original hotel. Uber from MIA airport will run about $35+ or taxi for about $70+

 

If any of this helped you owe me a pint!  Whatever bitter you local pours will be fine. 😎

Haha thank you - a pint of Old Speckled Hen is waiting for you at the Frog & Toad next time you visit Kent 

[Sherrymc]

Thanks very much - really helpful.  Still a bit stuck as lots of posts on Tripadvisor saying South Beach, Ocean Drive etc very unsafe at night so not sure there’s much point going there as we only have a few hours daytime and the evening to explore so may just head to FLL and chill around the hotel instead.  Dilemmas dilemmas - have got some time so will keep browsing the forums meanwhile.  We haven’t even got to part 2 of our holiday - what to do for the week post cruise!

[Flymia]

1 hour ago, Sherrymc said:

Thanks very much - really helpful.  Still a bit stuck as lots of posts on Tripadvisor saying South Beach, Ocean Drive etc very unsafe at night

 

Thats a bunch of rubbish. Can there be some crowds of unruly people, sure. Just like there may be after a big football (soccer) match or college football game. But dangerous in general? Absolutely not. It really depends on what you want to do. You could check out Ocean Drive during the day, the street that can get a little crazy, and then enjoy Lincoln Road in the evening, which is a great family friendly outdoor mall. 

 

You could look at options in Brickell and enjoy Miami Beach in the daylight and see Brickell at night. 

 

Or like you said, just head towards Ft. Lauderdale that has its own nice areas to visit. It is not Miami Beach or Miami, but still has plenty to offer. I highly suggest Las Olas Blvd for dinner. Tons of great choices and a nice place to walk around. 

[Sherrymc]

Thanks - it feels wrong to be so near and not visit so we probably will head there - I work in London and regularly walk around in the evening on my own - I guess you keep your wits about you and not venture off the beaten track.

Edited January 14, 2019 by Sherrymc