Flymia

When are you going? Brightline is starting soon. They showe $79 tickets, which is not bad. They have a station close to FLL you get dropped off at Orlando Airport and you can take a shuttlle/taxi/rideshare from there. Your other options are rent a car. Fly from FLL Silver Airways, Southwest, and Spirit all have flights. From MIA (30min drive) American and Delta fly to MCO. Take a bus: There are bus services from around South Florida to Orlando. A car service will be ridiculously expensive.

There are not really beaches in Key West. From my experience you have three types of hotels. The up scale but small resort, mid-scale larger resort that is usually not in the most walkable central area of the island, though Key West is very small. Or a small bed and breakfast type place with a small pool right in the middle of Key West. Last time I was there we stayed at the 24 North Hotel. It was good, had a shuttle to downtown, and nice pool. We drove down, so having a car made some things easy as rideshare was very expensive.

I would just stick with the airport. The departure level has a decent amount of shops and places to eat to kill time. This is pre-security so you can grab you bags and then go up a level. If you don't have bags, I would still just stick with the airport, but if you arrive in the North or South Terminal don't exit the terminal and stick with the restaurants/shops post-security.

Not much time between getting your bags and ride to a 3:30 check in. Head straight to the port. No need for a shuttle, taxi will be around $30 plus tip 20-30 min drive. You can also use rideshare too, usually Uber/Lyft is a little cheaper.

Now its a $100.00 but they take reservations now, which did not for a very long time. Reservations are new. Agreed the fried chicken is fantastic, and so is the pie. Of course get stone crabs as well. To the OP see if you can make reservations. I would just take an Uber, will be much quicker and easier than a bus.

9:45 flight? Melbourne is a small airport so that helps, but you are cutting it close. Sometimes you can't get off the ship until 8am and then still need to get through customs and the drive is around 40-mins with no traffic. I don't know if you will make it to be honest. You'll need to get off the ship right away (keep your bags) and hope there is no delay in clearing the ship.

I have actually stayed there, twice, for weddings. It has been a bit, (2018) but it is a nice hotel. The location could not be better for Coral Gables. It is in a nice walkable area with lots of restaurants and shops. A few of my favorite places to eat in Miami are there. Though for a good Miami experience Versailles is a good call.

I would not be overly concerned. The area is nothing to write home about, but not known as high crime. Parking at the port is much easier, but if you get free parking I can understand why someone would want to do it. The off site lots people talk about are usually not hotels, but closer to the port and are just parking lots that you pay for. Many of those don't even exist anymore. My biggest issue with them is how horrible the shuttles are and the amount of savings IMO is not worth the extra time. Agreed, that you want to just take a rideshare to and from the port. Keep that in mind for your cost savings. Looking at about $20-$25 each way. The nice thing about port parking it is right there, easy and secure. But its not free.

Options are endless. More casual a place like Moxies or Italy North is good. Make reservations online at least a week before if on a weekend. Some other places I like: Some of the spots in Brickell I enjoy most: River Oyster Bar Edge Steak and Bar Crazy About You B Bistro + Bakery (for breakfast) In Downtown(you can walk or take Metromover) CVI.CHE 105 niu kitchen If you want off the boat seafood (uber) Garcias

3:30 won't be that bad, especially heading into Miami. Most of the traffic in the afternoon is heading away from Downtown/Brickell. I would not over think this. Even if you do get traffic so what, a 20-min delay? As for where to stay. Up to you. You could park at the port and enjoy staying in Downtown/Brickell area instead.

Your options are endless. It is really hard to just suggest any of the hundreds of hotels that are discussed here. There is zero reason to have a shuttle. Miami is not a large city in geographical size. Unless you have some large group just go with a rideshare or taxi. Hotels in Downtown and Brickell are best to pre-cruise. Very close to the port. Hampton Inn Brickell is the most popular choice.

What do they like? Depending on time of year, Everglades in the winter is great. You could also just relax around Downtown and Brickell. There is a decent science museum and modern art museum in Downtown. Head over to Little Havana for Cuban lunch and walk around a little bit.

All depends on where your hotel is. I suggest getting a hotel in Downtown or Brickell area. Go to the hotel from the airport, drop your bags off and go get a meal, explore the area. If you want you can use a Hop-On Hop-Off bus to get around to see a bit more, or just focus on the Brickell/Downtown area. An early breakfast at Bayside Marketplace is an option and walk along the Bayfront, go take a boat tour is you want etc.. Then head to your room and relax and depending on the hotel maybe use the pool. After that a nice dinner in Brickell.

Port Everglades is right next to FLL airport. Just grab a taxi or rideshare. Don't over think this.

I-395 tunnel to avoid the traffic on Biscayne. That would be the default route anyway.

There is very little difference between flying into FLL or MIA. This is like deciding to fly into JFK or LGA. So the flight has nothing to do with it. As to where to spending a few nights. Up to you. But you can easily fly into FLL and rideshare to Brickell. It is a 30-45 min drive (other than morning rush hour). Fort Lauderdale is great, but I would give my preference to Brickell/Miami. Better spot, especially if you don't plan on renting a car.

It would be insane to do that with 3 kids to save a few bucks. Get an Uber XL and get to the hotel. If you really want to do it to have fun, maybe one of your kids enjoys trains? That is the only reason I would even think about it, take the Brightline. It won't save you any money, but will be much more comfortable and easier, and a much cooler train.

There is a Shake Shack very close by. Also Burger King and McDonalds near by. There are also quick eat type places near by too such as wraps, pizza, medeteriain food etc.. The options are endless, the hotel is in the most dense part of the city.

Unless there is an accident traffic should be fine. 30-40 mins.

Very few hotels offer shuttles. Anything in Downtown Miami or Brickell is a short ride to the port.

Unless staying at one of the larger resorts, as a local, I don't recommend South Beach anymore, unless beach time is the priority. Brickell, Coconut Grove, and other areas on the mainland have much more to offer.

Taxi or Uber at the airport. UberXL from hotel to port. No reason to reserve anything.

From my understanding the lot premier uses is an enclosed garage in Downtown. It is fine, and your car will be fine. The horror stories we used to hear about cars being driven around, or stolen, and broken into are not that common anymore. For two reasons, one people just park at the port, and second, there is just not a lot of empty lots near the port anymore like there was in the 90s and 2000s. Miami is built up. That being said, look at google. The reviews are terrible and for the thousands you are spending on a cruise, I would rather just park at the port. I have never heard a good thing about off site parking, especially dealing with the shuttle getting to and from the port that can take hours, even though it is 10-mins drive. I guess you could Uber.

Intercontinental and Doubletree are the best known for the views. Of course making sure you get a room with a view. Intercontinental is a better location. YVE and Holiday Inn will have views too, on high floors facing East. Though not sure how much long the Holiday Inn will be standing.

2:30 p.m. means getting there around 12:30, honestly not much time. Maybe there is a quick excursion bus tour that the cruise line will offer that drops you off at MIA. Otherwise, I would just head to the airport. Hopefully you are flying out of the South or North Terminal (what airline?) where there are decent spots to eat and even shop. Taxi is easy and around $30 or so plus tip. Uber will be a bit cheaper with an UberX and likely better service/driver from my experience.