FLL Hotels or Hollywood

[chrismch]

We've booked a cruise in Jan 2006 which we board in Ft Laud. Looking for a good hotel that is near or at the beach. If it has a free shuttle that's great, if not We can always get our own. I've seen suggestions for Hollywood and would love some info on good choices. What's more important to us is the hotel and its closeness to water and places you can feel safe walking around. Prefer at least a 3 star. Any suggestions?:p

[TrentS]

Both Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale beaches are perfectly safe, none of the beach hotels have shuttles though.

 

Hollywood Beach...

 

Hollywood Beach Marriott (only a couple of months old)... http://www.hollywoodbeachmarriott.com/

 

Westin Diplomat... http://www.diplomatresort.com/

 

Fort Lauderdale Beach...

 

Harbor Beach Marriott... http://www.marriottharborbeach.com/

 

Lago Mar... http://www.lagomar.com/

 

Pelican Beach (make sure you're in the NEW tower)... http://www.pelicanbeach.com/

[Tania]

test

[chrismch]

TrentS...I have a feeling you live in the FT Laud area. We looked into the 2 Marriots online. We want to enjoy the time we have there. Do you think one is better than the other? If they don't have a shuttle, that's ok, we can easily pick up a cab. Or is there anything like paid port shuttles? I've taken shuttles from hotels in the past to port as well as cabs.

[TrentS]

Both Harbor Beach Marriott and Hollywood Beach Marriott are very nice. Hollywood Beach Marriott is brand new, and Harbor Beach Marriott was extensively remodeled a couple of years ago. Harbor Beach is closer to the airport and Port Everglades and is a larger hotel on the nicest part of Fort Lauderdale Beach. Harbor Beach is most likely more expensive than Hollywood Beach, but it's a spectacular resort with a spa, and you can also walk to the Water Taxi from there... http://www.watertaxi.com/FortLauderdale/FLLHome.Asp

 

Neither one has a shuttle, but neither is really all that far from FLL or the port. I would just grab a taxi, but if you want a shuttle Tri-County Transportation has a shared van service operating out of FLL... http://www.floridalimo.com/

[papillons4u]

Hi there! I put a bid on priceline for $160 and they gave me the Holiday Inn Fort Lauderdale Beach ???? It is a three star. Is anyone familiar with it? Last year we stayed at the Mariott Marina which was AWESOME! Got that for $120 a night. This Holiday Inn does not look to be very nice? Has anyone stayed there??

 

 

Joyce

[TrentS]

The big yellow Holiday Inn at Sunrise Blvd? Personally I think 3-star would be a stretch for that place. It's okay, but old and nothing special. It's nowhere near as nice as Marina Marriott.

[serene56]

Hi there! I put a bid on priceline for $160 and they gave me the Holiday Inn Fort Lauderdale Beach ???? It is a three star. Is anyone familiar with it? Last year we stayed at the Mariott Marina which was AWESOME! Got that for $120 a night. This Holiday Inn does not look to be very nice? Has anyone stayed there??Joyce

 

Holy crap Joyce- are you serious>??? oh mi gawd. I have never bid that high using priceline. Did you use www.biddingfortravel.com before you used priceline??

 

the Marriot Marina is in Downtown area. sounds like you bid on FLL beach area. Very big difference.

those 3 star hotels in that area are going for under 50 bucks. Can you call priceline and tell them there is aproblem here.

[TrentS]

Yes, if you're going to bid 3-star bid "downtown Fort Lauderdale", if you bid "beach" stick with 4-star as the places they call 3-star on the beach aren't that nice, and even though prices are way up this winter/spring, $160 is way too much for that Holiday Inn. That's pretty much their full rack rate.

[serene56]

My cruise is in February. I think its too soon to try priceline. I am seeing the Hyatt Pier 66 if going for 80 bucks. I dont mind 80 bucks. ALl im gonna use it for is to sleep. Plane gets in after 11pm anyways/.

 

I see the marriot marina-- beatuiful place it is...good reviews but they wasnt over 300 a night. LOL no thnaks

[TrentS]

Hyatt Pier 66 is going for under $100 NOW on Priceline for the next couple of months, but I highly doubt you're going to get it for those prices in Feburary. The prices for this winter/spring are through the roof (beyond insane in some cases!) and many dates are already sold out. Several people are having trouble finding anything on some Feburary dates. Tourism in South Florida is booming and the King Tut exhibit is in Fort Lauderdale from December 15 to April 23. If I were you I'd book something I could live with now and cancel later if I got lucky on Priceline.

[serene56]

. If I were you I'd book something I could live with now and cancel later if I got lucky on Priceline.

 

thats the problem-- I am not finding anything even within a reasonable amount. I can not see paying hundreds of dollars when I will be spending less then 10 hours.. mostly sleeping. I am thinking of Miami maybe

[TrentS]

Try Holiday Inn Express... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hd/fllcc

 

Or Extended Stay America... http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/hotels/fort-lauderdale-convention-center-marina.html

 

Those 2 are about the cheapest... AmeriSuites will possibly be cheaper through Valuetrips, but I don't believe they'll be putting out their 2006 prices until next month... http://www.valuetrips.com/AMS/FL/F17.htm

 

All 3 of those hotels are along SE 17th Street, 10 minutes from FLL and just outside the entrance to Port Everglades. If you're flying into FLL and cruising from Port Everglades, but stay in Miami that night before you'll spend whatever you save on transportation back and forth.

[papillons4u]

Trent,

 

Did I read right? 37 cruises? WOW! I am impressed! Do you hav a favorite line? Or special ship that has been your favorite? I imagine your very first? When and what was that?

 

 

Joyce

[TrentS]

Yeah, 37 with 2 more booked for this fall... I'm addicted! :eek:

 

My first was Song of America in 1986. I've never had a bad cruise, and I love them all, but my favorite ships are QE2 (although I liked it a lot better before Carnival bought Cunard) and Canberra... http://www.sscanberra.com/

 

Currently my favorite lines are Crystal and Silversea, but they're a bit too pricey to go on as much as I'd like. :( Of the mainstream lines, I like Celebrity's Millennium class ships, RCI's Voyager and Radiance class ships, and NCL's newest ships (Star, Dawn, Jewel), but the best kept secret of the less expensive ships has to be MSC, they're wonderful!

[papillons4u]

I have not heard much on the MSC. I am a new agent (certified last Oct.) My goal to be "Just like YOU!" I want to do all the lines and different types of ships so I can give my clients as much info as they would like. I am excited to try the Princess Star this coming Feb. and I am on a conference cruise on the Carnival Conquest this Oct. So far I have only sailed RCCL and Celebrity, loving the Explorer of the Seas the most of all! I know Princess will be a great cruise because I have a large group of great people going. I don't believe there is a BAD cruise out there. Just have to make the best time possible. I live to make memories!

 

Thank you for your info! I will have to check further into MSC.

 

Joyce

[serene56]

Joyce-- do you live by a cruise port?? Sometimes cruises allow same day tours. even cruises to nowhere help you get a feel of a ship.

(also reading these baords helps a great deal too)

[serene56]

Thanks Trent. I called the holiday Express and the Ameriasuites. Both are booked for our weekend. (itsvalentines day weekend- not Presidents weekend)

[MissConduct]

We are staying at the Atlantic Sands in Hollywood Beach because it is during the International Boat Show in FLL and couldn't get a decent rate anywhere near the pier. It sounds nice, has a web site. I think it is Atlantic Sands in Hollywood. The reviews on Epinions.com were good....I'll try and remember to write a review when we return.

[TrentS]

Thanks Trent. I called the holiday Express and the Ameriasuites. Both are booked for our weekend. (itsvalentines day weekend- not Presidents weekend)

That's odd, I saw your list of upcoming cruises and assumed you were looking for a room for February 11, 2006? - The night before your Liberty cruise?

 

Anyway, both the Holiday Inn Express-Convention Center on SE 17th Street and the Extended Stay America next door are showing rooms available on that date for $128/nt. I just checked again and they both still show availability. :confused:

[CA Cruiser]

Hey Trent, We only got the Bahia Mar Beach Resort from Priceline for $80. We were trying for a 4* but it is Thanksgiving week so we had to go down to 3*+. How is this hotel? We decided to just use our Gov't rate for the Hyatt afterwards. I'm sure it's a great place. Do either have shuttles to and from the port and airport? Thanks for the info.

[TrentS]

Hey Trent, We only got the Bahia Mar Beach Resort from Priceline for $80. We were trying for a 4* but it is Thanksgiving week so we had to go down to 3*+. How is this hotel? We decided to just use our Gov't rate for the Hyatt afterwards. I'm sure it's a great place. Do either have shuttles to and from the port and airport? Thanks for the info.

Bahia Mar is fine, it's across the street from the beach. You can walk to a few restaurants along the beach from there, or it also has a Water Taxi stop for easy access to either SE 17th Street (Marina Marriott stop) or Las Olas Blvd. (Riverside Hotel stop).

 

Hyatt Pier 66 is a very nice hotel... Neither one have shuttles, but the Hyatt is about 10-12 minutes from the airport and just across the bridge from the north entrance to Port Everglades. Bahia Mar is only 2-3 minutes or so farther up the street from the Hyatt.

[CA Cruiser]

Thanks Trent for the info.

[MizzouMary]

Bahia Mar is fine, it's across the street from the beach. You can walk to a few restaurants along the beach from there, or it also has a Water Taxi stop for easy access to either SE 17th Street (Marina Marriott stop) or Las Olas Blvd. (Riverside Hotel stop).

 

Hyatt Pier 66 is a very nice hotel... Neither one have shuttles, but the Hyatt is about 10-12 minutes from the airport and just across the bridge from the north entrance to Port Everglades. Bahia Mar is only 2-3 minutes or so farther up the street from the Hyatt.

 

Hi TrentS. I am hoping you can help me. We got the Bahia Mar for $42.00/night on Priceline. We are staying two nights. I don't know much about the hotel (only what I have read on Trip Advisor) or the area. We were going to rent a car for a day but since we got this hotel, we are thinking we will just take the water taxi around the area. We want to buy some liquor, soda and water for the cruise. Are there any liquor stores close to the hotel that we could either walk to or take a short taxi ride to?

 

Any recommendations for restaurants on the water taxi route would be appreciated, as well.

 

Thanks!!

 

Mary

[TrentS]

There's a liquor store a few blocks north of Bahia Mar at Las Olas Blvd... You could take the Water Taxi over to the Marina Marriott and walk down SE 17th Street to Publix (behind Embassy Suites) or Crown Liquors (across the street from Embassy Suites, behind the Chevron station), but that's at least a 6-8 block walk.

 

You can take the Water Taxi to the Riverside hotel stop and walk down Las Olas Blvd. east from downtown Fort Lauderdale. There are many nice shops and restaurants along Las Olas... http://www.lasolasboulevard.com/

 

15th Street Fisheries... http://www.15streetfisheries.com/

 

And Shirttail Charlie's are both popular restaurants along the Water Taxi route... http://www.shirttailcharlies.com/