Transportation to Sawgrass Mill mall in FLL?

[DaveNetMan]

I'll have several hours kill in Fort Lauderdale after our upcoming Carnival Freedom cruise. A friend recommended going to the Sawgrass Mill shopping mall. Can someone recommend some transportation options for getting from the cruise port to the mall, then the mall to the airport? How far away is that? We prefer to not rent a car.

 

Thanks in advance!

DaveNetMan

[kdawg954]

First off, the most convenient way for people with flights later in the day is to rent a car. You can store your bags in the trunk and be on your own schedule. If traffic is normal, you can be there in 20 minutes from any Airport Car Rental place. It's will more than likely be the cheapest way as well (unless you plan on hauling around your bags on a 2 hour each way city bus trip).

 

There have been attempts to get a shuttle going from Port Everglades/FLL to the Sawgrass Mall but it hasn't really worked out yet. They had a shuttle going from certain beach hotels in Fort Lauderdale, that may be something to look into, although I've heard they may be out of business as well. Either way it's much more expensive than a car rental as they were charging like $30 R/T PP, plus you still didn't have anywhere for your bags so throw in an extra $20 P/P for Luggage Valet.

 

Unless you don't have a license, rent the car. It really isn't nearly the inconvenience people may think it is because it is literally all highway to the Sawgrass Mills Mall.

[royalcruz]

Sawgrass Mills is in the city of Sunrise quite west of Fort Lauderdale. By highway it takes about 30 minutes each way and can take a while to park and walk to and from the stores. Also figure in the time it takes to get and return a rental car and you'll probably want to stop for lunch at the mall too. A taxi would cost over $100 for the 2 rides. Your ship might offer an excursion there that ends at the airport.

[Apple5]

This is what we did a couple of weeks ago. Picked up a car from Budget on 17th St after leaving Royal Princess, then drove to Sawgrass Mills. Shopped, had lunch, then when done, drove over to the beach for an hour before heading to Miami airport and dropping off the car, which was very straightforward.

 

For the mid SUV we hired, it was approx $100 including petrol and insurance and provided luggage storage and freedom for the day.

 

Renting a car might be the easiest option and may save time and money.

[BlueHerons]

Shopping at Sawgrass is grueling but worth it. I can't imagine trying to dick around with public transportation and then trying to shop at Sawgrass.

 

I think Sawgrass is a do not miss. Rent a car, you'll be glad you did.

Edited March 27, 2014 by BlueHerons

[kdawg954]

This is what we did a couple of weeks ago. Picked up a car from Budget on 17th St after leaving Royal Princess, then drove to Sawgrass Mills. Shopped, had lunch, then when done, drove over to the beach for an hour before heading to Miami airport and dropping off the car, which was very straightforward.

 

For the mid SUV we hired, it was approx $100 including petrol and insurance and provided luggage storage and freedom for the day.

 

Renting a car might be the easiest option and may save time and money.

 

Wow you had a wild day going from east to west to east to west, but $100 for essentially a Fort Lauderdale/Miami excursion for a family is a solid deal. Shows you how essential having a car down here is . . . Everything is reachable . . . but public transportation is nothing like the other big cities across the country because of the many things to do in the western area of the accessible parts of Broward and Miami-Dade.

 

That cab fare would of been triple that, maybe more after tip, and you still would of had to deal with your luggage . . . ugh.

Edited March 28, 2014 by kdawg954