Flymia

Are you planning on driving around Miami for the day or just using the car to get to the hotel?

If just to get to the hotel unless you are a large group just use an Uber.

If driving around Miami, you won't see many tolls if any other than the drive to the airport which you could avoid tolls. $11.00 a day is a rip off. You won't have that high of tolls, unless you want to use the express lanes during heavy use times.

That should not be a problem. Just load up the route on Google Maps prior to leaving to make sure traffic is clear. Google will always re-direct you to the fastest route. Has saved me an hour on some drives.

Are you even sure the travel insurance will protect you? Travel insurance usually protects you for illness, terrorist events preventing travel, illness of an immediate family member or pet, weather preventing the travel etc..

Here you would have booked a cruise, the cruise would leave with no issue. It would be your flight, that you booked to get to the cruise that would create the issue. I would be sure to follow up and make sure you are protected.

I would say the hotels in June in Florida won't be expensive, unless you are staying near Disney. You could fine something for less than $150.00 that would be just fine. Its just not worth it. You are looking forward to this cruise so much that you are planning it over a year in advance and you want one little mechanical issue or one thunderstorm to not allow you to do the cruise?

If you do end up flying in the same day make sure to get the earliest flight possible. Anyway its WAY WAY to early to book a flight. And you might find cheaper flights the day before. Also, besides for the small chance of the flight not making it, flying in the same day makes the whole first half of the day very stressful. Why not have a relaxing vacation?

How many people? if its 4 or less, and not a ton of luggage just use an Uber. POM to Lauderdale area will be around $40.00, most shuttles are $15-$20 a person. The savings, if any with a shuttle are nominal, and the Uber will be quicker and much easier to use.

There is no need to stress over this. You have plenty of transportation options (taxi, Uber, etc.) since it will probably be too late for a shuttle. Miami is a huge place and you will be able to find a ride where ever you need to go at any hour of the day. I would find a hotel you are happy with and then determine your transportation situation. I'm not sure why so many people are adamant on finding a hotel with a free shuttle. After you have spent thousands on airfare and cruise, it's much easier and more convenient IMO to spend the $20 to Uber and stay where ever you want. Your choices without a shuttle are far greater than those that do offer one.

Exactly. Especially when the hotels in Downtown and Brickell its a $7.00 Uber ride to the port.

Agree. That is why people not familiar with the South Florida area should get suggestions from locals prior to booking such an accommodation, especially one that is non-refundable. Hopefully this particular AirBnB is on the east side of N Miami Ave and closer to Midtown.

I went on BnB and saw the "Wynwood" options, a lot of them are actually in Midtown Miami development, which is odd, I would think short term rentals are not allowed in those condos. Anyway, they call them Wynwood to get more people to book. Hopefully that is where the OP is staying, because if not, the other options are in Wynwood, and while the homes/apartments look nice, there are not many blocks in Wynwood I would feel safe walking around at night, unless its a busy event going on.

To the OP and others who read this thread, the big issue with AirBnB in Miami is many of the condos that you are renting do not allow short term rentals. The owners try to sneak people in illegally. Happened in my building for some time and they cracked down on it. Tourist were stuck with no place to go as the building refused these people entry. Smaller apartments are less strict, but large condos with pools, views etc.. very rarely allow AirBnB type rentals. Also, Miami is a very easy hit and miss city, just two or three blocks can be the difference between busy and safe to, you won't want to walk there at night.

You likely won't run into any tolls. The only tolls I can think of that you would have are the Broad Causeway in Bay Harbor/Bal Harbor and the Venetian Causeway. But neither of those bridges are must cross, there are many alternative and those are more of the lesser used causeways. The only other tolls are for I-95 Express. I don't see why you would need to travel on the 826 or 836 expressway nor the turnpike. There are no other tolls in the areas other than what is listed above.

100% of the tolls are cashless and each car rental agency has a different way in how they charge you tolls. The daily $13.50 a day is a rip off for Miami. We are not a city like NYC where there are $8.00 tolls to cross a bridge.

I live down in Downtown Miami so I am not up by the Ft. Lauderdale area much, except for work once in a while during the day, but I went to the 15th Street Fisheries a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Its a true Florida menu, great options, nice location, but very laid back too. Its what Florida dinning is all about I think. That would be my suggestion.

Typically then you would want to stay in the Miami area. Port Miami is directly located in downtown Miami, where there are tons of hotel options and things to do and see.

First, call Delta. If they changed your flight more than a certain amount of time, usually 30mins you can either get a refund or you can ask to be placed on another flight with no fees.

As for the hotels. With so little time, the best would be to just stay in the airport area. There is actually a hotel in the airport if you want it to be very easy for you. Tons of options around. Some offer port shuttles. But an Uber to the port will only be about $20.00

As the other poster stated it all depends on what you want out of the departure city and also which port you are leaving from of course. Ft. Lauderdale is a bit more laid back type of place, its pretty much a "suburb city" of Miami. While Miami is the dense, nightlife, business center with endless options of restaurants, bars, etc.. They both have plenty to do. It really depends what you want to do.

Airfare is typically cheaper at FLL but it varies. FLL has JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Allegiant and Southwest, all that make the flights cheaper there, as MIA only has Frontier for low cost carriers. But for June flights should not be very expensive, but its WAY too early to look at air fares. For June I would not start looking until about 6 months out the earliest.

What port are you leaving from?

Unless you are renting a car (extra cost) staying by the airport will add cost to traveling back and forth. There is nothing by the airport other than the airport, hotels and dolphin mall. Staying in Downtown/Brickell or Miami Beach is well worth the extra cost. You won't need to rent a car (less expenses) and/or won't need to take taxi/uber around as much.

Dolphin Mall. Uber.

Wynwood can be very hit and miss. Hopefully by Wynwood its more in the Midtown-Miami development then actually in Wynwood.

An uber will be slightly more than a shuttl, but also quicker and easier. $40 range. Is not, plenty of recoomendations on the boards.

Unless you have have a large group just uber. Überx will be $40.

Thanks for the additional updates

Is the Metromover the one with the CVS near there?

The Metromover is the free automated peoplemover system in downtown, many stations all around downtown. As for CVS/Walgreens there are tons in the area. Never more than 3-4 blocks away from one.

Its a good location and I have heard good things about the hotel. Great rooftop bar and restaurant in the lobby. Vero Italian is right near by and its a great Italian choice if you are looking for that. Tons of places to eat or grab a drink near by.

Only negative is at night there is a bit of a homeless population in the area, not dangerous, just an annoyance with all the begging, panhandling.

Just me and DH.. Flying in day of the cruise... thanks :)

Just call with an Uber then, should be around $40.00, by far the best way to get there.

Park at the Port. The time and safety of your car is worth the extra $10.00 a day. Its $20.00 a day, which is really not bad, and its makes getting there and getting out much much easier.

The hotel is slightly outside of the downtown core. You could walk to the metromover (free) or take a $5-$7 Uber ride into the downtown core or Brickell where your dinning options are literally endless. There are also near by options along Biscayne Blvd and behind the Hilton at the Grand Double Tree.

Its fairly simple and there are signs all around, just drive slowly once you get in the port and you will be fine. Parking is paid when you leave, can use cash or credit.

As for dropping off passengers or parking first, whatever you are more comfortable with. Parking is right next to the terminals.

Almost all the sites and attractions are south in the South Beach, Downtown Miami, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables area. North Beach is fairly local other than the hotels on the beach. What are you looking to do? The beach is the beach, so that is an easy suggestion. Does not really matter where you are, the beaches are all the same, other than what is next to the beach. The beaches on North Beach will be less crowded usually.

Are you looking for places to eat grab a drink? The reason there is info on places more south is because that is the center of the city where all the activity is.

How many people? Once you are over one person the price between and shuttle and Uber is nominal and the Uber will be easier, more comfortable, more reliable and quicker. Uber from MIA to Port Everglades should be around $40.00

You are flying in the day of the cruise?

"I see Simon is back amongst us."

 

 

I've never been away!, its just since you retired I never get a chance to reply!!:D:D;););)

 

The only thing I'd add is that using the coach or train can depend on where you are going. Going to LHR, use the coach as there is no direct train. Going to Waterloo area use the train; going to Victoria area, use the coach or the train (assuming Southern aren't still on strike!!). When you know where you are going, we can help a bit more.

 

Simon

Well I already have my hotels booked. Again both trips to and from Southampton are on Saturdays, and we will likely not have much luggage.

The night before the cruise we are staying at The Grand at Trafalgar Square so we will be departing from there Saturday morning to Southampton. Then we are staying the the night we get back into the U.K. at the Crowne Plaza London-London City.

My first thoughts were to take an uber/taxi to the train and just take the train over to Southampton, it seems the best way to make the most of our short time in the area. Especially on the return as I really want to use that Saturday afternoon for time to see London. I have not been to London in over 10 years and it will be my wife's first time there. We arrive around 9:00am on Friday morning, so planning on spending Friday and Friday night to take a look around as well.