Precruise hotel Miami, March 31

[jswrpw83]

Hi cruise fans:

Hoping someone has advice for precruise hotel in Miami. It is during spring break, so prices are up. Would like somewhere with a restaurant or walking distance to restaurants, and a pool for the kids. Doesn't have to be fancy, just clean. Free shuttle would be great, too, since there are nine of us! :)

By the way--this is my first cruise, and you guys that respond are absolutely terrific! I'm really looking forward to this experience after reading all your advice.

Thanks, Joan

[suezyq50]

Do a search on these boards for Holiday Inn Airport. Another place is www.tripadvisor.com

 

We stayed there in April. They do free 24 hour shuttle from airport to hotel. Than free shuttle from hotel to port.

[TrentS]

I wouldn't recommend the airport Holiday Inn. :eek: There's nothing to walk to but fast food. I wouldn't recommend walking around in that neighborhood either.

 

You would be best off staying in downtown Miami. None of the hotels have shuttles, but taxis are about $20, or you could take SuperShuttle or hire a limo.

 

Many on here like the Holiday Inn across from Bayside Marketplace... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/miabb

 

Bayside Marketplace is an open air downtown mall with many restaurants... http://www.baysidemarketplace.com/

 

Marriott Courtyard is another downtown budget hotel... http://www.miamicourtyard.com/

 

In downtown Miami I prefer the JW Marriott, it's very nice, and has great AAA rates if you're a member... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/miajw

 

Intercontinental is next door to Bayside Marketplace... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic/1/en/hd/miaha?irs=null

 

Biscayne Bay Marriott has the best views of the port and ships... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/miabb

 

Hyatt Regency comes up frequently at bargain basement prices on Priceline... http://miamiregency.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

 

Many people use Priceline, if you're not familiar how read: http://www.biddingfortravel.com/

 

and http://www.betterbidding.com/

[jerseygirl3]

We've stayed at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami (across the street from Bayside Market, which has lots of restaurants and little shops) many times. The hotel is quite nice and has a pool. It's showing rates of $112/night for double occupancy. They also have rooms that hold 5 people (two double beds and a sofabed.

 

The location is the best since you can walk out the door and directly across the street is Bayside Market. They have many good restaurants there (our kids liked Bubba Gumps and Hooters, but there are others as well). Also, in the evening they usually have live music playing there. It's a great place to get into the "cruise mood." Although no free shuttle to port, it's only a $5-$6 per taxi ride to the port.

[jswrpw83]

Anyone heard of the New Casablanca on the Ocean hotel? It's on Miami Beach with a pool beachside. I thought the kids might really like to get some sand between their toes before boarding, but would hate to be in a bad neighborhood.

[TrentS]

It's not in a bad neighborhood, but it's a long way from South Beach and a long cab ride from the port and airport. I have no idea what it's like inside, it's a very old hotel. If you want to stay on the beach I would recommend either Loews... http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/miamibeach/default.asp

 

Or the South Beach Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MIAMB

 

Those are both in much better locations, with many many shops & restaurants within easy walking distance.

[jswrpw83]

TrentS to the rescue!

Thanks again,

Joan

[arby70]

I have been reading that the downtown area where the Holiday Inn at the Port is kind of dangerous after dark. I have been considering this hotel pre-cruise if our port changes to Miami (I'm now on the ill-fated Oct. 16 NCL Sun cruise out of New Orleans). I would appreciate any suggestions for things to do and see while in Miami. I had New Orleans researched to a "t" but now it is totally devestated. SO VERY SAD!!!!! My husband and I are both in our 50's and like museums, historical sites, old mansions, neat shopping areas, theatre, and good but reasonable places to eat. We don't plan on renting a car and would love to see the art deco district, so are there good forms of public transportation to get around Miami? thanks, Trent!

[fig414]

Hi Trent

That was a very gave nice reply to the OP, so I figured I'd click the link and see how the Loews would be for my 2 night pre-cruise on 1/20-22. Only $479 per night. Let's see. $958 for 2 nights. I don't have my calculator here but lets say approx 3200 for the 7 days I would be on the Victory. These hotels can be just a tad ridiculous. I always 4* Priceline before a cruise to avoid this nonsense. But I always check the links that the nice people here anyway to see how much I will save.

Thanks anyhow,

Fig

[TrentS]

Well yes, downtown Miami isn't the safest place in the world at night, and I would avoid the side streets, but if you want to walk from the Holiday Inn across the street to Bayside Marketplace you'll be fine... http://www.baysidemarketplace.com/

 

You don't really want to take busses or Metrorail if that's what you mean by public transportation. I'd stick with taxis if you're not going to rent a car. South Beach is about 10 minutes across the MacArthur Causeway and I'm sure you would enjoy that. In addition to all the old art deco buildings there are many many unique shops and sidewalk cafes. Almost all of the old hotels along Ocean Drive between 5th & 15th Streets have sidewalk cafes and also some of the best people watching on the planet. ;)

 

While on South Beach don't miss Casa Casuarina, the former Versace mansion at 1116 Ocean Drive... http://www.casacasuarina.com/

 

You may also enjoy the Coconut Grove area. There are many nice shops, restaurants, the Cocowalk open air mall... http://www.galleryatcocowalk.com/

And the Coconut Grove Playhouse... http://www.cgplayhouse.com/

 

If you like mansions and museums you would probably like Vizcaya... http://www.vizcayamuseum.org/

 

Coconut Grove and Vizcaya are both about 10-15 minutes from downtown Miami, depending on traffic. There's also a boat tour you can get at Bayside called "Millionaires Row" tour that takes you past many of the very expensive mansions on some of the islands in the bay.

[TrentS]

Hi Trent

That was a very gave nice reply to the OP, so I figured I'd click the link and see how the Loews would be for my 2 night pre-cruise on 1/20-22. Only $479 per night. Let's see. $958 for 2 nights. I don't have my calculator here but lets say approx 3200 for the 7 days I would be on the Victory. These hotels can be just a tad ridiculous. I always 4* Priceline before a cruise to avoid this nonsense. But I always check the links that the nice people here anyway to see how much I will save.

Thanks anyhow,

Fig

Rack rate at the nicer hotels, particularly oceanfront hotels, in the heart of South Beach are very expensive in winter/spring. That's the high season, and prices are up all over compared to what they've been in the past few years (you should see what some of the Fort Lauderdale hotels well off the beach are trying to get this year :eek: ), but there are deals out there. You have to shop around, there are a lot of discount sites, packages, etc.

[arby70]

I appreciate all the suggestions you gave me. At least I have some starting points and highlights to look in to. Thanks so much.

[MauiSail]

Hi Trent. You seem to be the one to ask a question of....I noticed that you mentioned in one of your posts that one would not want to use the buses or metrorail in Miami. My husband and I were thinking of maybe doing so - can you elaborate on why we would not want to use it? Thanks!

[TrentS]

Hi Trent. You seem to be the one to ask a question of....I noticed that you mentioned in one of your posts that one would not want to use the buses or metrorail in Miami. My husband and I were thinking of maybe doing so - can you elaborate on why we would not want to use it? Thanks!

Just for personal safety reasons... You're safer renting a car or using a taxi or limo.

[mnsawyer]

We stayed at the Hyatt downtown two years ago and the hotel staff suggested we take the Metro?? No thanks since I knew people from this board suggested not to. We walked to Bayside and then took a cab back at night. If you stay at the Holiday Inn, you are steps from Bayside. You'll have no problems at night since it's so close. Any experience I've had with SB hotels is only okay. Unless you are paying $250+ per night, most aren't the best. It's all about location...we stayed post-cruise at the Holiday Inn South Beach. It's in need of updating but the location was good and the pool and beach were steps away. To me, if you are just staying one night, going to Bayside and downtown is the best deal but everyone should experience SB in their lifetime. It's unbelievable! Beware, it's very expensive too!

[TrentS]

Your comments on South Beach are dead on... The "cheap" hotels are not so nice, it's a wonderful place, but it's very expensive to do it right, and if you don't want to, or can't afford to do it right it's best to stay downtown and take a taxi over.

 

The Holiday Inn South Beach you stayed at is closing at the end of the year, to be torn down and replaced with a much more expensive W Hotel.

 

You're generally safe (with normal precautions of course) walking across the street from the Holiday Inn downtown to Bayside Marketplace, and from the Intercontinental to Bayside, but from any other hotels I would only take a taxi.

[mnsawyer]

TrentS - didn't realize the Holiday Inn South Beach was being torn down...it's prime location so am not surprised a high end hotel will go there. Thanks for the info! Glad to hear I'm not the only one who thinks SB is expensive and I don't usually complain about the cost of vacations very much!

 

We love Miami and hoping to cruise again in 2006. Our plan is to stay downtown at the Holiday Inn.

[TrentS]

Well I usually don't complain too much either, but when $400+ per night for a nice, decent, yet still rather average/mainstream hotel is the norm during the winter/spring, and the places I really like are $600-800+ per night, it's not a cheap place to stay. :eek:

[jbh1993]

Trent,

I am suppose to stay at the Radisson Miami Hotel at 1601 Biscayne Blvd. Is this a nice hotel and in a safe area? Also wanted to know about Wyndham Miami Airport hotel at 3900 NW. 21st. Any and all info would be appreciated .Thank e-mail me at jbh1993@yahoo.com

[TrentS]

Some people think it's fine for the price (it's very inexpensive), but the Radisson isn't a place I'd recommend. It's on top of a long closed shopping mall, and it's not in a safe neighborhood, but there's really nothing to walk to from there anyway.

 

I haven't been in the MIA airport Wyndham, but it's reviews are pretty bad... http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34438-d85204-Reviews-Wyndham_Miami_Airport-Miami_Florida.html

 

For an MIA airport hotel I prefer the Hilton... http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIAAHHH

 

Or the airport Hampton Inn is also nice... http://www.hamptoninnmiamiairport.com/