Flymia

Do you want a place to stay the night before and be able to walk to dinner and very close to the port, some bars to grab a drink: Downtown Miami/Brickell area.

Want the touristy center of the city, nightlife, retail stores open late, beach near by: Miami Beach. Collins Ave between 25th street and 15th street is the best bet.

It all depends on how tight your hotel budget is. If you want a place to hang out Thursday night and an easy drive to the port to try to find something in the Downtown Miami area or Brickell area. You will have a good area to stay in, and then be able to have a very quick and cheap Uber ride to the port from there. The Port is right next to/in Downtown Miami.

The airport hotels that offer a shuttle (usually only one-way to the port) are what they are, airport hotels. The area around the airport, as with most cities, is not a nice walkable area, and not that far from the area there are some un-safe areas. No matter where you stay by the airport you will be near the airport, which means a place to spend the night, maybe a restaurant in the hotel if its a larger one, and nothing else.

Downtown Miami gives you a lot of options for things to do and a very easy and cheap ride to the port. An Uber from most Downtown hotels won't cost more than $7.00

Tripadivisor ratings tend to be pretty good, and very accurate IMO. If you want to be in South Beach its a decent location. It is on Collins right next to Ocean Drive. Think of that as Miami's "time square" a place everyone wants to see, but its very touristy. No locals would ever get a meal around there. But you also have the beach right there, which its a great beach.

I prefer locations a bit more north in Miami Beach closer to 17th street. If you don't want to go to the beach and you are looking for more of an urban spot, such as a place to eat/drink walk around, I would look into a Brickell hotel. I once saved over $350.00 booking a hotel on hotels.com after a rate for a room I booked plummeted a few weeks later.

As for the pay upfront issue. I typically book hotels with hotels.com if you find a cheaper rate, anywhere before check-in they will refund you the difference from the rate you paid to the rate you found advertised.

There is always an UberXL Price should be around $70 I think. You can go online and estimate it. If you don't have many bags, as in only carry on sized bags, you can fit it all in a normal Uber price would be around $30-$35

Any reason you're leaning towards the later flight?

17th and Collins is a more central location, but 8th and Collins is fine as well. I like the 17th street because its much closer to Lincoln Road, which is a great place to take a walk and enjoy in the evening. South Beach is more touristy than Brickell, has more choices for places to sit down and enjoy the evening, specifically sidewalk cafe type places. You can also have more shops and see Ocean Drive. If you come in early you can enjoy the beach of course, and head over to South Point Park and watch any cruises that leave that date pull out of the port.

Brickell is a bit less touristy, and is closer to the port for the next day. It has a lot of options for dinner/drinks and IMO higher quality options though less in quantity,

I'm seeing reports of people being overcharged or double charged. Unfortunately, the negative reports typically don't say what city, so I have no idea if it's Ft. Lauderdale, New York City, Chicago or wherever. I realize it's going to vary from city to city. I'm hoping none of the bad reviews I've read are from FLL or Miami.

I don't see how that is possible. I have taken Uber probably 50 times by now all around the U.S. I have never been overcharged. The only problem I ever had was once a driver canceling on me and I was charged $5.00. I clicked a few buttons and Uber automatically gave me a $5.00 credit for the issue after I said it was the drivers fault not mine. That was in NYC.

Uber also only uses credit cards, if you get overcharged or double charged you can dispute it with your CC company. Uber also has in-app dispute system which generally see the customer as always being right and they will give you free credit for any issues.

I would give the Uber a shot. Never had an issue ever, anywhere, be it Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Chicago, LA, NYC etc..

Take an Uber. I've never had an issue with them. Sure, some drivers are not as great, but its almost always better than a taxi and a lot cheaper than a taxi or other private car options. You should be fine with using Uber or Lyft, not sure what reviews you are reading. Most people who complain, especially about Uber only post when its bad, when its good you don't hear about it, because no one takes time out of their day to say things are great.

Take the Uber. What concerns do you have?

3401 N Miami Ave in Midtown Miami development.

The W Hotel is a SPG property which used to be the Viceroy.

 

As Flymia has already listed some of the Marriott properties. All of them will be around the same price to taxi or uber to the port. Courtyard Marriott would be my last choice as it needs a renovation.

If the OP looks at the W keep in mind there is no pool there right now, major renovations on the pool deck, which means lower prices for an otherwise nice hotel in a great location.

As long as all you are looking for is a cheap place to sleep and nothing else it seems like a decent place, close to the airport. Never seen it mentioned before.

Just good Marriott Downtown Miami, there are multiple properties. Anything in Downtown Miami or Brickell is close to the port, non offer shuttles because its so close.

JW Marriott, JW Marriott Marquis, Courtyard Marriott Downtown, Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay.

First poster had it right. It all depends what you want out of the stay. Given that you are going on a Caribbean cruise, maybe being by the beach is not a priority. If that is the case Downtown Miami/Brickell area is the place to stay. Its easy to get around walking or using the free metromover system. Tons of options for drinks and restaurants around there plus its a hub for the tour buses, and two new museums in downtown, along with other things to do such as Bayside Market Place and Brickell City Centre.

Miami Beach is another option, but with that price point in December you might not get a hotel with a nice pool, but the beach is always near by. Coconut Grove is also a good suggestion, its a nice walkable area of town, its sort of like a small "downtown" with some things to do.

I always say, unless going to the beach or nightlife is the #1 priority, downtown Miami or Brickell is the place to stay. You can always take a quick Uber or bus ride over to Miami Beach.

Things to do: Do have latin food somewhere, and ask for suggestions from locals. If its a nice day take a tour boat ride of Biscayne Bay. Do go to Lincoln Road at some point in the evening to walk around, grab a drink or dessert. if you enjoy art Wynwood is a must.

Uber would have been half the price. Those who can, its always best to chose Uber over a taxi in South Florida, always.

Agreed with the 2:00pm or later. Yes, buy your tickets before and sooner than later. There won't be any discounts you are missing out on and the lines to buy tickets can get long, also, soarin will certainly be out of fast passes the day of, you need to book the fast passes early.

As for the weather, depends on the time of year, but usually they don't last more than an hour.

Uberx is around $40.00 Quickest way to get to FLL by far.

Thanks for the responses. Ended up booking a courtyard on 15th street in south beach for about 50 dollars more than the hotels at the airport. Seems like there will be a lot more to do and see. And closer to the port too.

 

 

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Good choice! Enjoy your trip in Miami as well. Make sure to check out Lincoln Road, Yardbird is a great place to grab dinner, just make sure to make reservations. Havana 1957 for Cuban food.

Don't worry about it, almost all the cruises leave from a line of terminals that go down the same road. A sign will tell you which one is yours, its a very simple process the Miami Port while very busy, is not that big nor confusing.

I would do St. Louis to south of Atlanta the first day. Leave early, its going to be a LONG day. Then a few options.

Another LONG day and do Atlanta area to Ft. Lauderdale, a long but not ("LONG") day going to a place like Ft. Pierce or Vero Beach. Or a more doable day going to Orlando, staying in Orlando for the night and then do a 4 hour drive to Port Everglades the day of your cruise. Keep in mind, if for some reason you had car trouble etc.. you could miss the cruise. It would be best to get on the road very early again to give yourself lots of time.

I've been meeting with their PR people and fares will be around $12 per person between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, less than that for locals and even less for commuters. Tri Rail is currently a little over $5.

Not sure about FLL-PBI but MIami Service won't start until mid September. Just took a tour and presentation with them yesterday. Orlando won't happen for at least another two years.

Does not make sense given how far it is to the Airport and even farther to the port. Make sure to look into the added cost of transportation. There are tons of hotels near the airport.

What did you put in as "South Beach" for the directions. The park is in South Beach. Now the park is "South of 5th" which is more residential with condos and apartments, and some upper scale restaurants. Ocean Drive, the Ocean Drive where the hotel and bars in art deco buildings are is right there, about 10-15 min walk. Get a drink somewhere but do not eat there. Lots of better options in other parts of Miami Beach. Miami Beach is not very big, very easy to then walk over to Lincoln Road after strolling down Ocean Drive.

Like literally across the street? Couple minute walk?

 

 

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The Bayside Bars are all in the same "mall"

The Brickell Bars are all near each other, some are across the street, others are a 3-5 min walk. South Miami Ave you will be walking by a different bar/restaurant every 100feet. Mary Brickell Village, a complex there has bars too all next to on another.

A few options, but for a bunch in a small area the two options would be Bayside or Mary Brickell area.

Bayside is more touristy, has the frozen drink type bars, often live music, you can take a seat and enjoy the view of the marina. There are also often night cruises around the bay and they will have cash bars on the boats.

Brickell is more like a strip of bars you would find in a city. Tons of options, primarily along S. Miami Ave. You can take the metromover there from College/Bayside Station to either 8th Street or 10th street station in Brickell. 8th street station allows you to stop at Brickell City Centre and go to Sugar, its on the roof top, amazing views, get there early or lines will be LONG. Other bars should be fine to walk in and out of. Blackbird Ordinary is one of the most popular bars in towns for locals. Not sure what time it opens, but it gets busy around 12am. Most places won't be too busy until about 11:30pm-12am with the exception of the few roof top bars.

I am down there next month. Where is the mary brickell area?

In the Brickell area, just south of Downtown Miami. Not sure how else to explain it. Google map Mary Brickell Village or Brickell and you will see it. Its very close to the port.

Unless staying near the airport is about getting a cheap room, I would suggest looking for a place in the Downtown or Brickell area. There are still rooms there are good prices too. You get in at a decent time, I would rather go out and see the city and have options for dinner than staying at the airport hotel.

If you have done Miami before, or really just want to be there, I would go with the embassy.