Several FLL hotel questions and Priceline

[flagger]

A while back I posted this thread:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=150102

 

Now I am trying to book a hotel in FLL. We do not have a car and are coming in on January 7th for our cruise on the 8th. We don't need anything fancy, just transportation from airport and to pier the next morning if possible.

 

We tried the Embassy Suites on 17th ST but there is no availability on those dates. We would love to be close to some type of shopping for sodas, etc. the night before. I have no idea of streets or addresses close to the pier. I would even consider the Marriott in the above thread, but not sure of the address.

 

What area of town do I put in for Priceline if I go that route?

Coral Springs

Downtown Ft Lauderdale

Ft Lauderdale Airport (FLL)

Ft Lauderdale Beach Area

Ft Lauderdale North

Hollywood

Miramar

Pompano Beach

West Ft. Lauderdale - Plantation

[TrentS]

Fort Lauderdale "downtown" is the SE 17th Street area on Priceline... That's where you want to be. It's a very nice, safe area just outside the entrance to Port Everglades and with everything you could possibly want within easy walking distance.

 

Hotels in that area are:

 

Renaissance... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/FLLBR

 

Embassy Suites... http://www.embassysuites.com/en/es/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=FLLSOES

 

Marina Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/FLLFL

 

AmeriSuites... http://amerisuites.com/reservations/locationdetail.asp?facid=3929

 

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

 

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

 

Prices are up considerably this winter/spring though as tourism is booming in South Florida and the King Tut exhibit is in Fort Lauderdale from December 15 to April 23. I wouldn't worry about shuttles as those hotels are all less than 10 minutes from the airport and just outside the entrance to Port Everglades. Taxis are plentiful and quite inexpensive.

[flagger]

What star should I consider or does it really matter?

[flagger]

Am having a heck of a time finding any room on those particular dates. Can you recommend others outside the search ring? Would love to be close to grocery store or at least a shuttle, but can do cabs if need be. Heck even the Hampton Inn at the airport was not available.

[OceanSide]

Having been to Fort Lauderdale numerous times, I suggest the Days Inn Bahia Cabana (3001 Harbor Drive (A1A) Ft Lauderdale, FL, 33316 US 954-524-1555) pre or post cruise. They do not provide transportation but a taxi ride is less than 5 miles. Fort Lauderdale has a water taxi system available at a very low cost that can transport you to Las Olas Boulevard or to the shopping mall and the taxi stop is located within steps to the hotel. The beach is across the street, the touristy shops are within walking distance, and there is also a convience store within walking distance.

 

Check out the Days Inn website for more details. This hotel is not far from the Marriott and I have stayed there as well.

 

Hope this helps. Enjoy your cruise!

[TrentS]

Holiday Inn Express ($128), Extended Stay America ($128.99), and Renaissance ($399) all 3 show rooms available on January 7th. Those are all 3 in EXCELLENT locations with everything within easy walking distance.

 

As that's a very heavily booked time I doubt you're going to have much luck with Priceline, but if you want to try AmeriSuites is 2.5-star, Marina Marriott is 3-star - but already sold out for that date, and Renaissance is 4-star. The others don't come up on Priceline.

 

Personally I would go with Holiday Inn Express at $128. It's a very nice newer budget hotel, they have a free shuttle from FLL, you can walk to grocery/drug/liquor stores as well as many shops and restaurants and they have a $6 shuttle to Port Everglades, or a taxi from there to the port would most likely be cheaper.

[nspm_1956]

Hi: We booked Best Western Yaht and Harbor for next March for $149. This includes free shuttle from airport to hotel and to port. We also booked Sleep Inn and Suites for $159 which is a one bedroom suite..2 queens and separate living area with pull out couch. We plan on staying there after the cruise. It also provides free shuttle service. We booked with hotelmotelnow.com. They had the best prices. Hope this helps.

[TrentS]

You may want to change that Best Western Marina reservation, do a little research on here and elsewhere about that dump. It's beyond NASTY! :eek:

 

The Sleep Inn is okay, but there's nothing around it but a Walgreens and Publix. There are no restaurants other than take away Chinese and pizza, so you may want to rent a car if you stay in that area.

[flagger]

Thanks for your information Trent. I went ahead and booked the HI Express.

 

Thank you very much.

[Bequia]

Trent, once again you beat me to it. :p I'd never heard it referred to as Best Western Yacht and Harbor. Sure enough it comes up close to that , Best Western Marina Inn And Yacht Harbor .

 

NSPM.....Run, far, far, away. You would be better off pitching a tent in the parking lot, its a lot cleaner. :eek:

[TrentS]

No problem flagger, that's a nice pre-cruise hotel. There's a Walgreens a block to the east, and a new Publix grocery store in a new strip mall a couple of blocks west and a block south, behind the large mustard yellow Embassy Suites. There are several restaurants scattered throughout the area.

 

Yeah Bequia, the name was close enough it HAD to be that "place". Personally I'd much rather sleep in the parking lot than inside. I can't imagine paying $149/nt. for THAT! I wouldn't spend a night there if they paid ME $149!!! :eek:

[flagger]

Thanks again for the info. Honestly with the price of the cruise and airfare, I could have stayed at a motel 6 and been happy. I am quite used to that having done tons of dogs shows and all rooms look the same when one is asleep. If it gives me a place to rest after a day of flying from the WC to EC and not have to worry about making my cruise or not by flying in the day OF, it is worth it.

 

Being close to grocery also will be nice, and we are used to walking!

[MTinGA]

Trent: You and Bequia should start charging for your invaluable service!! It is almost a full time job for you guys answering our questions! I thank you for it!

[flagger]

I am bumping this because I am wondering if it would be easier to take the HI Express Shuttle to Port EverGlades or have a cab called? Also what time for Infinity should I plan on leaving the hotel. I am not sure when Celebrity starts boarding in FLL. I also wonder how the HI Express faired through the hurricanes this summer?

[TrentS]

I believe the Holiday Inn Express charges $6 per person for their port shuttle. Unless you're going alone I'd take a cab to the port, it'll be cheaper than $12 for a couple, etc. Probably about $5-7 per cab from the Holiday Inn Express to Celebrity terminal.

 

Typically boarding begins somewhere between 11am & noon, but there are no guarantees. If there are Customs & Immigration or other delays and it takes a lot longer than normal to get the previous pax off it will obviously delay boarding as well.

[flagger]

Thanks for the quick response and your willingness to help everyone on this board. I saw another one of your posts and was wondering what directions from the HI Express I should give to the taxicab driver so I don't get extra charges by going the long way, extra security, construction delays, etc.

[TrentS]

From Holiday Inn Express on SE 17th Street it's real quick and easy to get to Port Everglades - turn right out of the parking lot onto SE 17th, go a long block east to Eisenhower Blvd., which is the first street you come to (at the Walgreens), then turn right into the port. That's the easiest entrance as far as security, etc. It usually always has the shortest lines.

 

If you're staying in one of the SE 17th Street or Fort Lauderdale Beach hotels you'll want to use the SE 17th Street entrance to the port.

[Jdleong]

I still have the reservations for Sheraton Cypress Creek( because we have 5 in our room and I got it using Airmiles) , rented the Mini van from E-Z Car Rental, and the baseball team isn't playing on March 8th. So instead, where is the best shopping for my teenage daughter, the closest liquor store for the parents, and how long will it take to get to Bubbba Gumps for dinner on a Wednesday night?

 

also, can you give me an idea of how long it will take to drop off the family at the dock,return the car and get back by taxi? Do you know of a rental company that shuttles to the port, or would it be better to just take a cab?

 

Thanks for all you great imformation, you are a wealth of knowledge...

Jan

[TrentS]

Well first of all I don't know where there are any liquor stores in the Cypress Creek area, sorry.

 

Bubba Gumps is at Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami. On a weekday evening if you're trying to go down there from Cypress Creek it can take 2 hours! "Rush hour" starts in early afternoon and runs well into the evening. I would save Bubba Gumps for sometime when I was cruising out of and staying in downtown Miami... Quite frankly though it's lousy food, on a par with Red Lobster. :(

 

For shopping you would probably love Sawgrass Mills, one of the largest outlet malls in the country. It's about a 30 minute drive from Cypress Creek... http://www.sawgrassmillsmall.com/

 

The port and airport are adjacent. The major rental car companies are in the airport's "Car Rental Center", but I can't place E-Z car rental and I don't know if they're in there or not, but I don't recall seeing them. Normally it would take roughly 30 minutes to return a car and get back to the port, but with that company I have no idea. I believe Thrifty will shuttle you back to the port from their facility at the midport entrance. And I think Budget will do the same from their SE 17th Street location. If you're returning to the airport though it's quickest/easiest to just take a taxi back.

[Jdleong]

Would you recommend Quarterback Seafood Bar??? Better than Bubba Gumps?

[Bequia]

Would you recommend Quarterback Seafood Bar??? Better than Bubba Gumps?

 

Did you mean Quarterdeck Seafood Bar? http://www.quarterdeckrestaurant.com/ take a pass.

If you like Bennigans, Chilis, TGI Fridays, Bubba Gumps it's the same cookie cutter type restaurant a derivative of Flanagans it does not reflect the best that Ft Lauderdale has to offer.

If your looking for good, down to earth, no nonsense seafood in Ft Lauderdale, eat where the locals eat...Rustic Inn http://www.rusticinn.com/. ;)

[TrentS]

I agree with Bequia... Quarterdeck is just a local copy of TGI Fridays/Bennigans. It's edible if you're starving, but I wouldn't go two blocks out of my way for one. There are just so many far far better places to go in Fort Lauderdale.

 

If you want seafood, Rustic Inn would be an EXCELLENT choice! It's a local institution and a favorite of locals. It's just west of FLL airport, very easy to get to from Cypress Creek. They don't take reservations, and there are frequently lines, but it's well worth waiting for.

 

For some reason Bubba Gump is popular with many, but it's just a tourist trap. I'm not a big seafood lover, but I do love good shrimp & lobster, and IMO their shrimp is horrible! Next time you're in downtown Miami I'd walk through that one if you wanted to see it, but I'd eat elsewhere. There are a lot of great seafood restaurants in South Florida.

[Jdleong]

It sounds good,but I can't pull up the dinner menu..

In Fort Lauderdale do they sell liquor at the grocery stores? What's a good liquor store? Are the prices all the same, or are there sales or bargain stores.

Any other dinner suggestions....we have been to Bubba Gumps and had alot of fun, but mostly looking for good shrimp and seafood...

Thanks Jan

[TrentS]

Publix grocery stores sell beer & wine. I have no idea who has the best prices though, I'm not much of a drinker. There are many many liquor stores all over South Florida.

Here are a couple of local chains...

 

Crown Wine & Spirits... http://crownliquors.com/

 

67 Wine & Spirits... http://www.67wineandspiritsfla.com/

 

You may have to turn off you pop-up blocker for the menu at Rustic Inn to work... Otherwise, just try closing it and reloading the site. Hopefully that will work for you.

 

Here are some other popular seafood restaurants...

 

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

 

Blue Moon Fish Co... http://www.bluemoonfishco.com/

 

Charlie's Crab... http://www.muer.com/locations/chcrab-ftlaud/chcrab-ftlaud.html

 

Shirttail Charlie's... http://www.shirttailcharlies.com/

 

This one is new, I haven't been there yet... FISH... http://www.fish-fl.com/

[Jdleong]

a beer and wine store is all I need, I just don't want to fly with bottles in the suit case...so I can get it at Publix. I am sad though that I can't see a spring training game. Oh well..Orioles aren't playing that day

Thanks again