Advice on the Best Western Marina Inn in Fort Lauderdale

[sblahars]

We will be staying one night before we sail at the Best Western that supposedly right on Port Everglades. I would appreciate any feedback for anyone who has stayed there? I see that there are water taxis to get to places for dinner, are they easy to use?

And can you really see the port from the hotel?

 

Thanks

[Iwanicki]

We have stayed there twice, the most recent being in November 2004. The proximity to the cruise port is its biggest asset for us. When you get up in the morning, you can see the cruise ships in port. We have sailed on Princess, and both times the ship was right across the intercoastal (sp?) waterway from the hotel. Not all of the rooms look across the water though, so if you don't get a waterview room, you won't be able to see the ship from your room, but you can just walk around the building. The best pictures are from the top floor, as you need to get above the boats docked at the marina.

 

The port is fairly long, so your ship may not be docked as close. In our experience, other cruise lines dock farther south, so can't be viewed as easily from the hotel. We have seen some Royal Caribbean and Holland America ships in port at the same time, but they were probably up to 3/4 mile away.

 

The hotel itself isn't what I would call nice. The rooms are ok, but somewhat old and could use some refurbishment, especially some water damage in the bathroom. There is a nice bar in the courtyard by the pool.

 

We had no luck in finding any close restaraunts within walking distance, and the hotel staff said there really weren't any other than the hotel restaurant. We wound up ordering pizza from a local place whose menu we got from the bartender (pizza was very good). I have no info on a water taxi, as we didn't see one, and didn't know enough to ask about one.

 

The hotel provides a free shuttle to the cruise ships in the morning. To the Princess ships it is only about a 10 minute ride. Be sure to sign up when you check in. If you wait until the next morning, you may not get to the ship until mid-afternoon.