BlueHerons

On 11/16/2023 at 3:20 PM, Host CJSKIDS said:

@BlueHerons great to see you back on the boards!!!  Happy almost Thanksgiving. 

 

Any word on the Hotel Maren?  

It is really nice!  We had a drink at their bar over July 4th and really enjoyed it. It is on an sparsely populated area of the beach but close enough to walk most places.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and the fam!

I like The Loews Hotel on South Beach or the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne for families.

16 hours ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

Keep in mind that there is a hotel right in the airport terminal itself; no shuttle needed. It has mixed reviews but it would be OK for one night.

 

https://www.miahotel.com/

King, this place was okey when they still had the pool because you could hang out there.  Now it is just a seedy motel.  I would not stay there if they paid me.

Take the Brightline instead.  

Uber pickup is a PIA because it isn't where other cars can go.  If the airport is busy, and it is always busy, it is a nightmare to even try and find your ride.

After being cancelled by multiple Uber, we just hop in the cab line.

On 9/23/2023 at 9:08 AM, Guera53 said:

Riverside Hotel has great restaurants and their bakery cafe facing the river is impressive.

Just a slight correction, The Boathouse is not a bakery cafe.  It is a full blown restaurant with no bakery.  Gran Forno, on Las Olas Boulevard is a bakery cafe and it is excellent.

The exec chef is a friend of mine and would be offended by that branding.😉

Trying to use Uber at FLL for arrivals is a PIA.  We have given up and now just jump in the taxi line.

Don't use AirBnB in Miami.

Renting a condo on Fisher Island would be the best place.  Also, The Mondrian South Beach.

Better yet, head to the outside Bar at Smith & Wollensky for Happy Hour.  You can almost reach out and touch the ships!

Unless you are in the Blue Lagoon area, do not walk around outside MIA hotels.  Especially carrying bags from a liquor store.

If the business has to use the word 'safe' in the name, there is a problem.  Park at the port unless you don't care about your car.

The Riverside Hotel.

For future reference, jump on the Tri Rail shuttle to the station and right into MIA.  $5 and we do this whenever we fly international because it is so easy.

On 2/27/2022 at 7:55 AM, Luke gs Daddy said:

We were looking at it more as an adventure, for the 8 of us including 5 teenagers.

 

This sounds like an absolutely miserable experience before or after a flight.  Book a cheap airport hotel.  

The absolute best place to watch the parade is at my church All Saints Episcopal Church.  It is at the beginning of the parade before the bend in The New River with out the large gaps in the parade.

$20 and all proceeds to towards the church.

FWIW, I've been in the parade and watched it all over and there really isn't a better place.

It's a LONG day if you are in the parade.

4 hours ago, mared1 said:

Flying out of Miami. 

Stay in Miami.  Good areas:  Brickell, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Midtown, downtown, and Key Biscayne.

On 2/21/2022 at 11:31 PM, SUESEABE said:

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort

1111 N Ocean Dr, Hollywood, FL

10 minute drive  (5.7 miles) to Ft. Lauderdale Airport 

Less crowded beach with Boardwalk.

That is a 30+ drive.  The only way you are making that distance in ten minutes is by helicopter.

It's South Florida.  The ride shares will be really busy after midnight.  People don't go out to popular restaurants to eat until after 9PM.

Not a lot around Dania Beach hotels.

If you can I would take a look at the Hyatt Centric on Las Olas and dine at Eddie Vs or Salt 7.  Two excellent restaurants.

Also, depending on your dates, you may be in town for the Winterfest Boat Parade or one of the tree lightings.

Where are you flying out of?  That is where I'd stay.

You have a decent amount of time but that is peak season and traffic will be horrific.

Wave height will vary according to whether the wind is out of the north, south, east, or west.  

The temps will be hot and sunny with decent humidity.  Think mid 80s and up.

12 minutes ago, MarEll1 said:

It does look wonderful. Have you stayed there?

No I haven't stayed there because I'm a local and live up the street but was in the lobby Monday.  It is really stunning.  You shouldn't have any worries.

It is a stunning hotel.  Brand new build, luxury building.

I think you'll be very happy,  the pool deck looks incredible, lobby is gorgeous!

Please do a little research on Miami and Miami Beach.  They are two different towns and very expensive.  Midtown Manhattan expensive.

You aren't going to find a $79 Hampton Inn in the Miami area or if you do chances are you'll be in a very seedy, crime ridden neighborhood.

I'd suggest a moderate hotel downtown like the Hampton Inn Brickell and a nice Cuban restaurant for dinner.

Avoid the area directly around the airport.  It's horrible.

On 2/3/2022 at 7:39 AM, JohninDC said:

OP is looking to get from FLL to Miami for a cruise - not to MIA for a flight.  Tri-Rail is great to MIA but then you are a $25-30 cab ride from downtown hotels and the port.  Better IMHO to use Uber or Lyft straight from FLL to your downtown Miami hotel or POM.

You get off the Tri Rail at the Metro Rail Transfer Station and it drops you off right downtown.  No need to take the Tri Rail all the way to the airport.

On 2/3/2022 at 7:41 AM, JohninDC said:

HMMMM? Even if the shuttles are free (or built into the cost of your ticket) it's still a shuttle, a train ride, and another shuttle compared to door to door service using Uber or Lyft.  The train might be fun, but IMHO a ride share to POM or your downtown hotel is the better option.

If you book your Brightline ticket two hours in advance, they now have a free pick up and drop off service.  There is no difference in the price of the ticket, they are the same as they were before Covid shut them down.  The vehicles are Teslas, busses, and large golf carts depending on where you are going.

A large group of us took Brightline to Miami for the Sunday Drag Brunch at R House in Wynwood and they drove us to the restaurant and picked us up afterwards for the train ride home.

Free of charge.  It is an amazing addition to Brightline.  They just started this when they opened back up from Covid in November 2021.  It's literally door to door from the station.  It's also SO MUCH more pleasant than the death ride on I95.

Favorite new Hotel:

Hotel Maren - Gorgeous and brand new!  Across the street from the beach but unobstructed views.  No buildings blocking your views.  Short walk to:

Bo's Beach - Ocean Front restaurant from Kim Bokamper who is a much beloved local retired Miami Dolphin.  He also has Bokampers everywhere and Bo's Sports Bar on Las Olas.

Holly Blue - Brand new, super cool restaurant situation between Fat Village and Flagler Village.  Excellent food and a good choice if you are staying at the Dalmar or new Marriott.

No Man's Land - Brand new, super cool cocktail lounge.  Open daily after 5PM.

Eddie Vs - Nice steakhouse on Las Olas on the same block as Hyatt Centric.

Heritage - Killer, local Italian joint.  Much loved by everyone in town.  Fat Village/Flagler Village.

Here And Now - Tapas and Craft Cocktails Fat Village.  Excellent.

And lastly but not least, always, always ALWAYS Rosies in Wilton Manor.  Happy hour M-F 11-7,  ==  Probably the best salads, burgers, sandwiches and healthy food anywhere.  The menu is hysterical and I wish they would sell the T-Shirts.

I'm now going to get kicked out of Fort Lauderdale for giving away all the good local secrets.

On 2/7/2022 at 10:49 PM, Ellaleah said:

I am going 12/26/22 and I realize that that may alter the price.  I will need 2 rooms .  I’d hope to keep them below $250 each.  Open to ideas for a place on the beach.  Thank you.

No chance you are getting two rooms on the beach Christmas Week for that amount.   Probably not anywhere Orlando South on the beach for that budget. The most expensive hotels in South Beach are the oceanfront hotels (Setai, Ritz Carlton, Delano,  Loews, etc).  

The Catalina Beach Hotel is one of my favorite bargains and values in South Beach.  It's across the street from the beach with a rooftop pool.  It has two pools.  It also provides guests with a free happy hour and free beach chairs on the beach.  You do pay a resort fee per room but every hotel in Miami charges for this.

South Beach is also an inexpensive, quick uber or cab ride to port.