Miami--hotels, transportation--questions?

[luvscruzin]

I'm considering checking Priceline for a hotel near the port (have not used this before, so I'm a little hesitant). Questions---any idea how much a taxi for 3 people would be from the airport to that area? And can anyone tell me what area of Miami would be best to search for hotel near port? Miami Beach? Downtown? I have a hotel booked near the airport already and am considering cancelling it if I can get a better value overall by staying nearer the port.

7/10/04 Carnival Triumph
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Carnival Holiday 6/94
Dolphin Seabreeze 7/96 (now sunken!)
Carnival Paradise 7/99
Celebrity Century 7/02

[Catrin]

Try this site...
[url="http://www.biddingfortravel.com"]www.biddingfortravel.com[/url]

It was a wealth of info concerning Priceline and Miami.
We bid a 3* in the Downtown Miami area.. and we got the Doubletree for 45.00 for the night... a Great deal and well worth arriving the night before!
The taxi was 10.00 to the Pier... you pay for the entire cab, not per person.

There are five hotels that are considered 3* in the downtown area.. all are recommended (The Radison, the Sheraton, The Doubletree etc).

Good Luck!
Cathy

[img]http://w1.511.telia.com/~u51102888/anims/animal2/dolphin.gif[/img]
Ecstacy October 1992
Destiny October 1999
TRIUMPH May2003


Triumph May 2004
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[luvscruzin]

Catrin--What about cost of transportation from airport to any of those hotels?

7/10/04 Carnival Triumph
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2004;7;10;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Carnival Holiday 6/94
Dolphin Seabreeze 7/96 (now sunken!)
Carnival Paradise 7/99
Celebrity Century 7/02

[Cruising89143]

The last time that I took a taxi from the airport to the downtown/port area was $18.00 flat rate plus tip. For location, the Holiday Inn and Intercontinental are the best. The Holiday Inn is directly across the street from Bayside Marketplace and the Intercontinental is next door. Also in the same area is the Marriott Biscayne Bay, Doubletree and Wyndham.

Gordon

[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisingator"]http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisingator[/url]

NCL Starward-86, Starship Atlantic-91, Caribe-92, Seabreeze-93, Fantasy-93, Norway-94, Celebration-94, Sensation-95, Imagination-96, Destiny-97, Celebration-98, Triumph-99, Victory-00, Majesty of the Seas-01, Fascination-01, Carnival Pride-02, Majesty of the Seas-02, Carnival Legend-02, Fantasy 7-03, Glory 9-03, Fantasy 11-03, Triumph 3/04.

9/02/2004 Fantasy
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Navigator of the Seas 12/04/04
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[4FRCruising]

Hi,

I bid on Priceline for 2* Miami Airport Hotel. For Pre-cruise I got Fairfield Inn West for $28 + taxes/fees. They have Free Shuttle to/from Aiport (you DO have to CALL them to have it come and pick you up). AND Free Pier Shuttle (Had to go at 9 a.m. since dropping people at airport...but that just got me onboard sooner).

Post-cruise I bid for a 2* Miami Airport hotel again (hoping to get Fairfield Inn again). Memorial Day weekend plus Hip-Hop festival (I had been trying Downtown and went as high as $60 3*** and didn't get it).This time I got the Wellesley Inn for $30. They also have a shuttle that you must CALL.

Actually those 2 hotels are about maybe 7 blocks apart or so.

Not much around there but for both you can walk to Burger King or Boston Market. Also a Cuban restaurant nearby. There are restaurants that will deliver also.

Both were nice, clean hotels with Continental Breakfast (that included make your own waffles).

Post Cruise I took the Everglades tour that dropped me off at Miami Airport....so just a phone call to get free transportation to the hotel.

Hope this helps.

"Elvira"
Keep on Cruisin'
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;05;24;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500f[/img] Fascination 5/24/04

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;09;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500f[/img] Mariner of the Seas - Royal Hounds 9/19/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=191970&cdt=2005;09;17;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500f[/img] Caribbean Princess Hounds 3 Cruise 9/17/05

[img]http://www.bigotis.com/royalsmallwide.gif[/img]
[img]http://www.bigotis.com/hounds3.gif[/img]

[luvscruzin]

Thanks for all the helpful information. We may decide to check out priceline. If anyone else has ideas/thoughts, please continue to share them.

7/10/04 Carnival Triumph
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2004;7;10;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Carnival Holiday 6/94
Dolphin Seabreeze 7/96 (now sunken!)
Carnival Paradise 7/99
Celebrity Century 7/02

[PokrChick]

Don't be intimidated by PriceLine. We're also at the Doubletree pre-cruise for $42 a night. It lists for around $150 a night! I just kept reading the [url="http://p071.ezboard.com/fpricelineandexpediabiddingmiamisoflorida"]Bidding for Travel - Miami[/url] site and then gave it a try. You can also get information from [url="http://www.biddingfun.com/page2.html"]Bidding Fun (BurBunny's site)[/url], but Bidding for Travel will actually help you set up a bidding strategy for free if you need their help. I just went for it and tried the Downtown area. I started bidding at $42 based on what I had read and got it the first time. It really depends on hotel availability. You might need to go a bit higher but it will still be a fraction of what you would pay retail. You can even purchase trip insurance for $5 per room per night, so what do you have to lose? Just make sure you have your dates correct!! But, even if you mess up, you can call Priceline and plead your case. They'll give you a "one-time" cancellation. (Take it from someone who knows how that works too - OOPS!)

[scottp]

I got the Hyatt in Miami for June 18th for $45 on priceline!!

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ffff&cdt=2004;6;19;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0400[/img] Until the FUN begins on the TRIUMPH!!!

[CruiseFever]

scott- you're the big winner, the Hyatt is an awesome hotel....good for you!

Happy Cruising

Chris

[url="http://www.LifeIsCruising.com"]www.LifeIsCruising.com[/url]

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Sapphire Princess June '05
Caribbean Princess 09/17/05
Carnival Valor 10/30/05