Off topic - Miami Dolphins game

[Arizona Travelers]

Duffys does have the Dolphins Express. Is it a day game? If the game starts at noon, the buses are going to leave really early.

 

http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/w3q3re

 

It is a day game, 1 pm. That's the issue I was having with the other packages. Bus leaves at 8:30 am and I can't be sure I will be off the ship, through customs, etc. in time, especially when most were leaving from Ft. Lauderdale.

 

I might research if there are any hotels near the stadium. I can cancel my Aloft reservation, I booked it using SPG points. Maybe then I can make it work?

[Lois R]

It is a day game, 1 pm. That's the issue I was having with the other packages. Bus leaves at 8:30 am and I can't be sure I will be off the ship, through customs, etc. in time, especially when most were leaving from Ft. Lauderdale.

 

I might research if there are any hotels near the stadium. I can cancel my Aloft reservation, I booked it using SPG points. Maybe then I can make it work?

 

Yes, there are hotels near the stadium. Try The Holiday Inn at

Calder.......not sure if it is still a Holiday Inn but I know there is hotel

at Calder (it is a horsetrack near the stadium). Or try hotels in Miramar

and/or Pembroke Pines. Those places are close enough that you

can take a cab from the hotel to the stadium.

[Arizona Travelers]

Yes, there are hotels near the stadium. Try The Holiday Inn at

Calder.......not sure if it is still a Holiday Inn but I know there is hotel

at Calder (it is a horsetrack near the stadium). Or try hotels in Miramar

and/or Pembroke Pines. Those places are close enough that you

can take a cab from the hotel to the stadium.

 

Thank you! I'll check into that. I wonder if taxis aren't available after the game if I could use Uber? Just trying to think everything through to make sure it will work.

[brunello22]

Thank you! I'll check into that. I wonder if taxis aren't available after the game if I could use Uber? Just trying to think everything through to make sure it will work.

 

NO, DO NOT stay at a hotel near the stadium. The stadium is not in a very desirable area, nor around Calder racetrack. You could look into hotels to the east in Aventura / Sunny Isles Beach or to the north in Plantation (Renaissance).

Edited August 8, 2014 by brunello22

[BlueHerons]

Yes, there are hotels near the stadium. Try The Holiday Inn at

Calder.......not sure if it is still a Holiday Inn but I know there is hotel

at Calder (it is a horsetrack near the stadium). Or try hotels in Miramar

and/or Pembroke Pines. Those places are close enough that you

can take a cab from the hotel to the stadium.

 

Are you talking about the El Palacio? http://www.miamielpalaciosportshotel.com/

 

It is the closest to the stadium and the racetrack in Miami Gardens but it is a tad bit seedy or something. Every time I drive by it is kind of skeeves me out.

 

I've had zero experience with this hotel.

 

There is a Hampton Inn in Pembroke Pines.

[Arizona Travelers]

Are you talking about the El Palacio? http://www.miamielpalaciosportshotel.com/

 

It is the closest to the stadium and the racetrack in Miami Gardens but it is a tad bit seedy or something. Every time I drive by it is kind of skeeves me out.

 

I've had zero experience with this hotel.

 

There is a Hampton Inn in Pembroke Pines.

 

I agree, I wasn't impressed by the El Palacio. What about Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood? Is that too far as well? My thought is there we would have something to do for the evening after the game (dinner, casino, etc.). Although I do not know if this solves my problem because we would still need a taxi between the port and the hotel and back to the port the next morning as we leave on a second cruise. I wish I could get to the bottom of why DH doesn't want to drive there. I know he hated it when we were there in 2009 but there wasn't any specific event or anything that would have caused him never to want to drive there again.

[Lois R]

I haven't stayed there in a long time....so thank you for that local

information. Years ago there was a nice Holiday Inn near County

Line Road and Calder.....so I am guessing it is gone.

 

I know where the stadium is located....199th...University Drive is near

there....I mentioned Miramar and Pemroke Pines because I thought

there were hotels in those areas. If I am wrong, then sorry I gave out

misinformation:eek:.

 

The poster asking for information....going north I know there are more

places...you could stay in Hollywood (lots of hotels) and pay a car

service to take you to the stadium.

Edited August 8, 2014 by Lois R

[Arizona Travelers]

I haven't stayed there in a long time....so thank you for that local

information. Years ago there was a nice Holiday Inn near County

Line Road and Calder.....so I am guessing it is gone.

 

I know where the stadium is located....199th...University Drive is near

there....I mentioned Miramar and Pemroke Pines because I thought

there were hotels in those areas. If I am wrong, then sorry I gave out

misinformation:eek:.

 

The poster asking for information....going north I know there are more

places...you could stay in Hollywood (lots of hotels) and pay a car

service to take you to the stadium.

 

Thank you! I think that's what I'm leaning towards.

[kdawg954]

The El Palacio over looking Calder has been raided some many times over the years. Drugs and Prostitution. Apparently it has gotten slowly better but I wouldn't stay there. Man that thing hasn't been the Holiday Inn since like the 90's. The location can't be beat though.

 

Hard Rock is probably the best located hotel for traveling to SunLife stadium because it is situated right off the Turnpike making it a very easy drive. It can be expensive to stay there, that would be the only drawback.

 

Still not understanding why no car. South Florida pretty much demands it, unless you are in downtown Miami. Public transportation just isn't very good and cabs get expensive. Would strong suggest reconsidering one . . . tailgating is more fun with one also.

[Lois R]

OK...I had my timing off. I knew it was a Holiday Inn at one point in

time. I lived down there in the late 80s/early 90s..:rolleyes:.

 

Whenever I sail from FLL I now always stay East......Las Olas or

17th Street.......

 

From the postings, I see that area near the stadium has changed.

So again, I did not mean to give out BAD information......

[kdawg954]

OK...I had my timing off. I knew it was a Holiday Inn at one point in

time. I lived down there in the late 80s/early 90s..:rolleyes:.

 

Whenever I sail from FLL I now always stay East......Las Olas or

17th Street.......

 

From the postings, I see that area near the stadium has changed.

So again, I did not mean to give out BAD information......

 

Don't sweat it, just more busting chops than anything else ;)

[Arizona Travelers]

The El Palacio over looking Calder has been raided some many times over the years. Drugs and Prostitution. Apparently it has gotten slowly better but I wouldn't stay there. Man that thing hasn't been the Holiday Inn since like the 90's. The location can't be beat though.

 

Hard Rock is probably the best located hotel for traveling to SunLife stadium because it is situated right off the Turnpike making it a very easy drive. It can be expensive to stay there, that would be the only drawback.

 

Still not understanding why no car. South Florida pretty much demands it, unless you are in downtown Miami. Public transportation just isn't very good and cabs get expensive. Would strong suggest reconsidering one . . . tailgating is more fun with one also.

 

Thank you. Since it's a Sunday night, the price isn't too bad ($229). I will have to look to see where the Westin in Hollywood is, I can stay there for free (using SPG points) so that may also be an option since Hollywood isn't terribly far.

 

I think part of the no car deal is that neither one of us want to be the designated driver. We go through this all the time, I say it's my team/event, I should be able to have a few drinks. DH says he's the one that has to go do something he doesn't want to, he should be able to have a few drinks (to tolerate whatever we are doing). :rolleyes: And I know when I'm on vacation, the last thing I want to have to worry about is directions, getting lost, traffic, etc. When I booked everything initially before I knew about the game, we purposely chose a hotel near the port, etc. so we didn't need a car because having one the last time we were in town was a hassle. So as I try to plan for the game, I guess I can decide what's better, telling him I'll drive and enjoy the game without drinking or pulling my hair out trying to make this work some other way, which I've been trying unsuccessfully so far.

[BlueHerons]

Thank you. Since it's a Sunday night, the price isn't too bad ($229). I will have to look to see where the Westin in Hollywood is, I can stay there for free (using SPG points) so that may also be an option since Hollywood isn't terribly far.

 

I think part of the no car deal is that neither one of us want to be the designated driver. We go through this all the time, I say it's my team/event, I should be able to have a few drinks. DH says he's the one that has to go do something he doesn't want to, he should be able to have a few drinks (to tolerate whatever we are doing). :rolleyes: And I know when I'm on vacation, the last thing I want to have to worry about is directions, getting lost, traffic, etc. When I booked everything initially before I knew about the game, we purposely chose a hotel near the port, etc. so we didn't need a car because having one the last time we were in town was a hassle. So as I try to plan for the game, I guess I can decide what's better, telling him I'll drive and enjoy the game without drinking or pulling my hair out trying to make this work some other way, which I've been trying unsuccessfully so far.

 

Aha! Well that is certainly smart!

 

I'd make a reservation with a car service. It should be less expensive because you are traveling on a Sunday around airport cruise times and you will not have to worry about finding a cab after the game.

[Arizona Travelers]

Aha! Well that is certainly smart!

 

I'd make a reservation with a car service. It should be less expensive because you are traveling on a Sunday around airport cruise times and you will not have to worry about finding a cab after the game.

 

Thank you for your help and advice!

[firemedic1560]

You can take the metro rail train to the tri rail train and a bus from the Golden Glades tri rail station to the stadium. Check out this link:

 

http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/PRESS-RELEASE-Dolphins-Offer-Free-Shuttles-From-Tri-Rail-To-Sun-Life-Stadium/93ccca6c-6c32-414c-bafc-dad8bc653245

 

I don't know the cost but if you don't want to rent a car and pay for parking this could be an option. The press release is a couple years old so you may want to call the number and confirm.

[Arizona Travelers]

You can take the metro rail train to the tri rail train and a bus from the Golden Glades tri rail station to the stadium. Check out this link:

 

http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/press-releases/article-1/PRESS-RELEASE-Dolphins-Offer-Free-Shuttles-From-Tri-Rail-To-Sun-Life-Stadium/93ccca6c-6c32-414c-bafc-dad8bc653245

 

I don't know the cost but if you don't want to rent a car and pay for parking this could be an option. The press release is a couple years old so you may want to call the number and confirm.

 

Thank you, I'll look into it. This sounds like just what we need!

[firemedic1560]

I hope it works out. I grew up near the stadium and I would agree that you don't want to stay nearby. Good luck!

[BlueHerons]

Thank you, I'll look into it. This sounds like just what we need!

Does anyone know which stop you get off and transfer on?

[Arizona Travelers]

I hope it works out. I grew up near the stadium and I would agree that you don't want to stay nearby. Good luck!

 

Thank you! I'm leaning towards keeping my reservation at Aloft - Brickell. I have a quote from Larry's Limo for a sedan to and from the game that's reasonable. Deciding between that or trying Uber. I've only used them once in Dallas and it was a good experience. It looks like they are new to the Miami area so I may keep an eye on it for a while to see if there's any additional feedback on them. I also found a Dolphins Bowl Bus that's $30 pp round trip that leaves at 9:15 am. Most likely will not take that option as we don't want to have to rush off the ship or take the chance of missing it. Lastly, I need ticket prices to come down and I'll be all set! :)

[Arizona Travelers]

Does anyone know which stop you get off and transfer on?

 

It didn't look like that was an option for games this season based on my research.

[Doggielover68]

NO, no, no, NO not a taxi! It will cost you at least $200. My husband works near the stadium and we live about two miles from the port and it take him 40 minutes and 30 miles to get to work and he works very close to the stadium.

 

Also, there will not be cabs after the game. Pembroke Pines is such a suburb that there is no public transportation.

 

Seriously, rent a car.

 

 

My husband and I will also be on the Splendor, disembarking on December 7. You seem to be familiar with the area. How is game day traffic on 95? We have a somewhat early flight out of FLL just after noon. Do you think we will be okay?

[firemedic1560]

You will be fine getting to FLL on a Sunday. It will take less than an hour from the port to FLL, probably much less. Even if there is a big accident you should be fine. There are two expressway options and multiple other smaller roads you can use to get from the port to the airport.

[fishywood]

You will be fine getting to FLL on a Sunday. It will take less than an hour from the port to FLL, probably much less. Even if there is a big accident you should be fine. There are two expressway options and multiple other smaller roads you can use to get from the port to the airport.

 

Well since the OP was asking about his cruise in December 2014 I imagine all went well. :rolleyes:

[BlueHerons]

I wonder what they ended up doing?

 

Funny, I just bought tickets today for preseason Tampa Bay Bucs/Dolphins game.

 

Yay!