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Courtyard by Marriott downtown-how close to Bayside


cruisegal40

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I am looking for something different for our April 2010 cruise besides HI. Can anyone tell me how close the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown is on Second Avenue is to Bayside? Can you walk? Or does the metro take you by there?

 

Any comments and/or opinions would be appreciated also.

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Google map it and you'll "see" what you want to know.:) I'd guess it's about a half mile or so from Bayside. Definitely cab it in the evenings.

 

Have you used tripadvisor or done a "search forum" here? You'll find your answers I'm sure.

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Yes and yes. Now I am worried. Looks like it can be a sketch walk at night. There is me, DH and two teenage boys. Maybe have to go back to HI. Just wanted something different and close. I was not sure how close it actually is.

 

I wanted to stay in Coconut Grove, but DH wants to stay near the "port"

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Yes and yes. Now I am worried. Looks like it can be a sketch walk at night. There is me, DH and two teenage boys. Maybe have to go back to HI. Just wanted something different and close. I was not sure how close it actually is.

 

I wanted to stay in Coconut Grove, but DH wants to stay near the "port"

 

Coconut Grove is near the port. The port is an island in Biscayne Bay (Dodge Island) and Coconut Grove and downtown are both on the mainland.

 

Coconut Grove is a very lush, tropical, upscale neighborhood with lots of shops, dining, and entertainment that is very family friendly and virtually crime free. There are plenty of great waterfront places to dine.

 

Do not walk around downtown at night.

 

Edited to add that the company that owns Bayside has filed bankruptcy and it isn't being kept up as well any longer.

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That Courtyard was the HI- Downtown year ago. It changed hands and had a renovation. It's like the Hyatt Regency ok hotel, bad location

 

Definitely walkable. Not recommended for all.

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That Courtyard was the HI- Downtown year ago. It changed hands and had a renovation. It's like the Hyatt Regency ok hotel, bad location

 

Definitely walkable. Not recommended for all.

 

The Courtyard wasn't the Holiday Inn. The Holiday Inn is still there.

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I was there about 5 years ago, it was the HI Downtown Miami, it wasn't the Courtyard. I'm pretty sure about that because I would have used my points. There was no HI-POM. The HI-POM must only be there a few years. Or at least that's how I remember it.

 

BlueHerons is pretty good on Miami stuff so I may be wrong, but that's not the point here.

 

The Courtyard is about 1-2 blocks west of Buscayne and not the best location. The HI-POM is better for the Bayside crowd.

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I was there about 5 years ago, it was the HI Downtown Miami, it wasn't the Courtyard. I'm pretty sure about that because I would have used my points. There was no HI-POM. The HI-POM must only be there a few years. Or at least that's how I remember it.

 

BlueHerons is pretty good on Miami stuff so I may be wrong, but that's not the point here.

 

The Courtyard is about 1-2 blocks west of Buscayne and not the best location. The HI-POM is better for the Bayside crowd.

 

You are correct in that it was not the Courtyard. I want to say it was a Radisson or Wyndham? Someone please correct me.

 

I just don't think there were two Holiday Inns downtown.

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I'm pretty sure the one on Biscayne wasn't there. I would've stayed there.

 

Hey BlueH,

What do you think about the Doubletree Biscayne? What kind of park is it across from? We're thinking of taking the kids to Jungle Island and it looks closeby. I tried Coconut Grove and Beach hotels,but traveling as 5 has put limits on where we can stay in one room.

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Coconut Grove is near the port. The port is an island in Biscayne Bay (Dodge Island) and Coconut Grove and downtown are both on the mainland.

 

Coconut Grove is a very lush, tropical, upscale neighborhood with lots of shops, dining, and entertainment that is very family friendly and virtually crime free. There are plenty of great waterfront places to dine.

 

Do not walk around downtown at night. I agree with this other than HI since it is right across the street from Bayside and seemed okay. But just a block or two away from there we had a somewhat scary situation and that was in the middle of the day! :eek:

 

Edited to add that the company that owns Bayside has filed bankruptcy and it isn't being kept up as well any longer.

 

I went to your website - wow great site! But its going to take me a while to look at all that information. CG sounds nice but have a couple of questions if you can help. We stayed at the HI-POM last year which the hotel was okay but the location right across the street from Bayside was great. Next Jan DH and I are going with DM and DSis. Mom can't do a lot of walking so I really like the idea of HI since location to Bayside is so handy. Bayside I think would work for her because all the little shops are in close together. Do they have the something like this in CG or are they all spread out? If there is what is the name of the place and what hotel (preferably not too expensive) is closest to it? How far away from the port is CG and do any of the hotels offer a shuttle to the port?

 

Thank you for answering any of the questions that you can.

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One more question for anyone that can answer. Last year when we went to Western Carribean I booked the HI thinking I would be able to see the Pearl when I got up in the morning. I saw a few different ones (can't really remember for sure which) but no sign of any NCL ships. This year we are doing the Eastern Carribean (again on the Pearl) and would like to know if there is another hotel that would actually have a view of her? This could be anywhere either right near the port or does Coconut Grove or anywhere else have this view? I thought I had seen someone post that they could see her but can't remember which hotel. :(

 

I will probably have at least a few more questions ;) but for now this will do. :D

 

Thanks all.

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One more question for anyone that can answer. Last year when we went to Western Carribean I booked the HI thinking I would be able to see the Pearl when I got up in the morning. I saw a few different ones (can't really remember for sure which) but no sign of any NCL ships. This year we are doing the Eastern Carribean (again on the Pearl) and would like to know if there is another hotel that would actually have a view of her? This could be anywhere either right near the port or does Coconut Grove or anywhere else have this view? I thought I had seen someone post that they could see her but can't remember which hotel. :(

 

I will probably have at least a few more questions ;) but for now this will do. :D

 

Thanks all.

 

 

The issue with the NCL ships is that they are on the oceanside (past the Carnival ships). I imagine the HI has such a straight on view, you can't really see them.

 

This is from our room, which was a JR suite Bayview at the Hilton Downtown. I have highlight the two Norwegian ships, the back one is the Jewel, and I think the Dawn is the one in front. Whatever was going out on Sunday's last year.

 

556833277_qmTFs-XL.jpg

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I agree with Scorp. In April going from inland toward the ocean there were two RCCL, two CCL, then two NCL. I think they have docks 5 and 6. The RCCL you could see from Bayside, the rest were a bit towards the beach. Now if you stayed on the beach, you could see them all as you come back west on the Causeway.

 

As far as scary situations, I've been fortunate. Not that I want to keep testing my luck, but we are traveling as 5 and that limits the hotels that will accomodate us. There are alot of homeless downtown, this coming from a law enforcement officer in NYC. If you're not used to seeing it, it can definitely be unnerving. I'm used to dealing with some strange situation, but don't like putting myself in those situation with my family.

 

Coconut grove is pretty much out, the beach was limited as well. Downtown has the biggest selection. If the IC comes down on Easy click, I will probably go with them, they said the baby wouldn't count, so we would be 4.

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I'm pretty sure the one on Biscayne wasn't there. I would've stayed there.

 

Hey BlueH,

What do you think about the Doubletree Biscayne? What kind of park is it across from? We're thinking of taking the kids to Jungle Island and it looks closeby. I tried Coconut Grove and Beach hotels,but traveling as 5 has put limits on where we can stay in one room.

 

You could easily do the The Doubletree Coconut Grove and the Residence Inn Coconut Grove would easily work for your family. You would be in close proximity to Jungle Island and within walking distance to plenty of shops and restaurants.

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I agree with Scorp. In April going from inland toward the ocean there were two RCCL, two CCL, then two NCL. I think they have docks 5 and 6. The RCCL you could see from Bayside, the rest were a bit towards the beach. Now if you stayed on the beach, you could see them all as you come back west on the Causeway.

 

As far as scary situations, I've been fortunate. Not that I want to keep testing my luck, but we are traveling as 5 and that limits the hotels that will accomodate us. There are alot of homeless downtown, this coming from a law enforcement officer in NYC. If you're not used to seeing it, it can definitely be unnerving. I'm used to dealing with some strange situation, but don't like putting myself in those situation with my family.

 

Coconut grove is pretty much out, the beach was limited as well. Downtown has the biggest selection. If the IC comes down on Easy click, I will probably go with them, they said the baby wouldn't count, so we would be 4.

 

Also the Doubletree and Residence Inn Coconut Grove would work for your family. Plus, with the suite setup, you all wouldn't have to go to sleep when the baby goes to sleep.

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Just my 2 cents:

 

The HI POM has gone downhill. We had stayed in 2005 and returned last year. We had to have our room changed a fw times as they rooms were filthy. One room we pulled the comforter down and the bed was wet:eek: Service was horrible. It used to be such a great spot to stay but we had a bad experience. We were also staying with 4 other families and all had problems. Location to Bayside is the only thing it has going for it. We now stay in FLL even if cruising out of MIA.

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What is the closest hotel to the shops and the "Grove" I don't want to spend all our extra money on taxis.

Pretty much they are all on top of Cocowalk. Residence Inn, Mutiny, Mayfair, Ritz-Carton, Doubletree, Sonesta.

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You could easily do the The Doubletree Coconut Grove and the Residence Inn Coconut Grove would easily work for your family. You would be in close proximity to Jungle Island and within walking distance to plenty of shops and restaurants.

 

 

I tried booking both of them online and they won't do 5 in a room. I guess I can call them and ask if the baby counts or forget :rolleyes: to include one of the kids. I don't like hassle on vacation, so I'd rather a hotel that will accomodate us.

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What is Jungle Island?

 

http://www.jungleisland.com/

 

It used to be just birds maybe even parrots years ago. Now it seems to be a whole zoo-like experience.

I went there as a kid with my parents and my mother still has a picture of my sister with a parrot on her shoulder. I'd like to go and get a picture with the oldest grandchild, my niece and give it to my mother.

 

Something to do in Miami. I'm only worried about the August heat.

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The Munity looked interesting, but I don't see anywhere that indicates whether it has a pool. Can anyone add to this? Also, out of the CG hotels which would have the best pool? Since we won't be hitting the beach, I would love to hang out by the pool for the afternoon and then walk and get a bite to eat.

 

I think I have convinced DH to go to CG. Told him about Bayside and the stories on here.

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The Munity looked interesting, but I don't see anywhere that indicates whether it has a pool. Can anyone add to this? Also, out of the CG hotels which would have the best pool? Since we won't be hitting the beach, I would love to hang out by the pool for the afternoon and then walk and get a bite to eat.

 

I think I have convinced DH to go to CG. Told him about Bayside and the stories on here.

 

The Ritz Carlton or Sonesta has the best pools.

 

If you want to go a little further inland, The Biltmore has one of the best hotel pools in Miami. For big fun, you could go to The Venetian Pool for the afternoon.

 

Links to all are in my blog.

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