Miami Taxi info. - pp or per trip - value hotels

[larie]

Are there any hotels close to the port that offer a free shuttle from the airport or to the port? Any that offer a complimentary breakfast?

 

I will be traveling with 5 people total. How much will a taxi be from the airport to a hotel, such as the Holiday Inn, and then from the Holiday Inn to the port? Will the fees be per person or just a total fee for the taxi?

 

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[TrentS]

No, none of the hotels have free port shuttles, and none of the downtown hotels have airport shuttles.

 

Taxi fares are for the entire cab, from MIA to downtown Miami $24. From Holiday Inn Bayside to the Port of Miami it's just across a bridge, the cab fare will only be a few dollars.

[vvnh16a]

WE are staying at a MIA Airport hotel (Fairfield Inn). Do you know if the $24 taxi fare to the port applies also from MIA hotels to the Port?? The Super Shuttle is $50 per van and they carry 11 people....we have 10 in our group but not certain it this van can handle 10 people plus luggage!!!

 

Rich in N VA

[TrentS]

There are flat rates to/from many areas in Miami, but I'm not sure from the MIA airport hotels. There are 2 MIA airport Fairfield Inn's too, West and South. West being considerably farther from the port than South.

 

As for the van, you're right, the luggage could be a big problem unless you're all very light travelers.

[kootenaydream]

We are arriving the day before our cruise. Looking for reasonable hotel for the night, close to port/beaches. Any suggestions?

[TrentS]

Downtown Miami hotels, closest to the Port of Miami and Bayside Marketplace... http://www.baysidemarketplace.com/

 

JW Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/miajw

 

Hyatt Regency... http://miamiregency.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

 

Intercontinental... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic/1/en/hd/miaha?irs=null

 

Biscayne Bay Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/miabb

 

Conrad International... http://conradhotels.hilton.com/en/ch/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIACICI

 

Four Seasons... http://www.fourseasons.com/miami/index.html

 

Mandarin Oriental... http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/526000001.asp

 

Marriott Courtyard (budget priced)... http://www.miamicourtyard.com/

 

Holiday Inn Bayside/Port of Miami (only for the budget minded)... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/miabb

 

South Beach...

 

Hotel Victor... http://hotelvictorsouthbeach.com/

 

Loews... http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/miamibeach/default.asp

 

Royal Palm... http://www.solmelia.com/solNew/hoteles/jsp/C_Hotel_Description.jsp?codigoHotel=5964

 

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

 

Ritz-Carlton South Beach... http://www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/south_beach/default.html

 

Shore Club... http://www.shoreclub.com/

 

Delano... http://www.delano-hotel.com/

 

Raleigh Hotel... http://www.raleighhotel.com/

 

The Tides Hotel... http://www.tideshotel.com/

 

The National... http://www.nationalhotel.com/

 

Doubletree Surfcomber... http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIAOFDT

 

Marriott Courtyard South Beach (3 blocks from the beach)... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MIACB

 

The Hotel of South Beach (1 block from the beach)... http://www.thehotelofsouthbeach.com/

[kootenaydream]

Thanks for the great hotel suggestions. They all look really really....really nice. Any other suggestions where I might not have to sell my children to afford a night's stay?

[TrentS]

Well it doesn't get much cheaper than the Holiday Inn Bayside/Port of Miami... Unless you want something that also has hourly rates, resident crack ho's, drug dealers, and nightly gang shootings.

[thereuare]

Any other suggestions where I might not have to sell my children to afford a night's stay?

Priceline and/or Hotwire.

 

Both are very good in this area (stick with the higher rated properties)

[budgirl63]

We to are staying at the Fairfield Inn Miami Airport South post cruise. Was curious how much a taxi would be from the port to the hotel. They have a free shuttle to the airport from the hotel on the day we leave. Also, we were thinking of going to South Beach for the evening after the cruise. How much would a taxi be from the hotel to South Beach? Thanks for the help.

[TrentS]

Here are the flat rate taxi fares... http://www.miami-airport.com/html/taxi_and_shuttle_service.html

 

Airport area to Port of Miami is $24

 

Airport area to South Beach is $32

[nanner10]

Well it doesn't get much cheaper than the Holiday Inn Bayside/Port of Miami... Unless you want something that also has hourly rates, resident crack ho's, drug dealers, and nightly gang shootings.

 

 

Yikes!!!:eek:

We needed a budget place this trip ... Holiday Inn Bayside is sold out (1/20/06), so, we are booked at the Hampton Inn Miami Downtown/Key Biscayne. What is that area like and also are there any stores nearby that sell adult beverages!?

[TrentS]

There's NOTHING around that Hampton Inn. It's next to a freeway onramp and across from the tollbooths to the bridge to Key Biscayne. There are no stores in the area at all, just condos. You'll need a car or cab for everything.

[nanner10]

Yuck, thanks Trent ... I'll keep looking!

[VentureMan_2000]

Yikes!!!:eek:

We needed a budget place this trip ... Holiday Inn Bayside is sold out (1/20/06), so, we are booked at the Hampton Inn Miami Downtown/Key Biscayne. What is that area like and also are there any stores nearby that sell adult beverages!?

 

 

How about RIANDE BAYSIDE DOWNTOWN in MIAMI, Florida

 

in MIAMI, Florida

 

Try alpharooms.com

[Cacky1]

Exactly what location is the area you are describing Trent S.? Is it close to the port, downtown or where? Doesn't sound so good...

[signman]

In TrentS's words the Riande is "nasty". Look elsewhere.

[TrentS]

How about RIANDE BAYSIDE DOWNTOWN in MIAMI, Florida

 

in MIAMI, Florida

 

Try alpharooms.com

Yeah, that's a nasty, filthy, scary DUMP... I'd rather sleep in my car.

[TrentS]

Exactly what location is the area you are describing Trent S.? Is it close to the port, downtown or where? Doesn't sound so good...

Not exactly sure what you're referring to, but the Port of Miami and downtown Miami are the same area - The Port of Miami is in downtown Miami.

 

If you're asking about that Hampton Inn that nanner10 asked about, it's on the far south end of Brickell Avenue, past all the office buildings and condos. There's nothing at all in that area. It's an older hotel and would be okay in a pinch, but not one I would ever recommned. There are just far better/nicer/closer places to stay.

[nanner10]

I know it would be nice to stay at a better place, but, this is a last minute cruise and this time we need to keep costs down. I tried Priceline, no luck and nothing on Hotwire for downtown ... they only offer two places and one is too much $ and the other has all the markings of a dive.

 

I have spent many hours researching these boards, tripadvisor, hotwire, priceline, easyclick, individual hotels, etc. Many places are sold out, etc. so I am just about out of time and options I guess it's time to to just take the best compromise.

 

Our first choice would be downtown, for convenience. I think our second choice would be South Beach for the range of activities and dining. I guess last would the airport area, which seems to be affordable.

• This is our first time in Miami, so, we don't know our way around at all.
  
• We will arrive this Friday at MIA at around 1PM. Our ship sails Saturday so we figure that ... we will likely do a little bit of sight seeing and then dinner Friday, we will probably be in the hotel room for a total of less than twelve hours (10/11PM-9/10AM) All the same we don't want to be in a smelly, bug infested hellhole with drug dealers outside our door!
  
• We kind of like having all the travel hassles out of the way the day before sailing, so we can just be in the relaxed vacation mode on embarkation day! Wherever we end up staying we would just like it to be a reasonably pleasant drive to the pier.
  
• We are not planning to rent a car, so taxis will be the mode of transportation. We prefer to avoid being herded onto a bus to the pier, so, we have budgeting for taxis as opposed to a Hotel's free shuttles IF they were even available.
  
• We think we would prefer a place near the port as we like to get there quite early with the minimum of hassle. We completely understand we can't get on until disembarkation is complete, but what can I say, it's just a personal preference.
  
• We would like to be able to pick up some beverages.
  
• We would enjoy having someplace to spend a little time enjoying a little taste of the area in the afternoon and early evening, but, otherwise just looking for a light evening meal.
  
• It sounds like we would enjoy the South Beach scene and peoplewatching, but, we wonder if traffic can be an issue coming back to the port in the morning.

My guess, especially after reading these boards, is that there are probably many people who are seeking a similar solution. I am surprised that the cruiselines have not started to offer a ship, permanently docked at the pier just for your one or two night pre-cruise stay!!

[nanner10]

arrrgh, the evil double post strikes again!!

 

I also forgot to add my sincere thanks to TrentS and everyone for all your time and efforts to assist posters. IMO, it is the best of what these boards are all about!

[TrentS]

Nancy - South Beach is going to be the most expensive by FAR, and anything on the cheap side WILL be a DUMP... You have to be very careful with South Beach hotels as they're almost all very old. The nicer ones have been gutted and modernized. They're usually quite expensive in the winter and spring. The cheap places have not been updated and are beyond scary! You also have to be careful as many hotels that advertise themselves as being in South Beach are not in the real South Beach and are too far to walk to anything from. South Beach should never be done on the cheap, the dumps there take being a dump to a new level! :eek:

 

You might try this one in downtown Miami. It's a little off the beaten path, and there's nothing to walk to. I haven't been in it, but it's a newer place that's less than 10 minutes from the port and will be a lot nicer than the Hampton Inn... http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/hotels/miami-brickell-port-of-miami.html

 

The nice/decent MIA airport hotels are on the south side of the airport in an area called "Blue Lagoon". They're about 20 minutes from the port...

 

Hilton... http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIAAHHH

 

Hampton Inn... http://www.hamptoninnmiamiairport.com/

 

Homewood Suites... http://homewoodsuites.hilton.com/en/hw/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIABLHW

 

Summerfield Suites... http://www.summerfieldsuites.com/location_details.php?code=MIASS

 

Sofitel... http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fichehotel/gb/sof/0889/fiche_hotel.shtml

 

If you want to try South Beach here are some nice/decent South Beach hotels I like. The Courtyard and Doubletree Surfcomber are usually the least expensive...

 

Hotel Victor... http://hotelvictorsouthbeach.com/

 

Loews... http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/miamibeach/default.asp

 

Royal Palm... http://www.solmelia.com/solNew/hoteles/jsp/C_Hotel_Description.jsp?codigoHotel=5964

 

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

 

Ritz-Carlton South Beach... http://www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/south_beach/default.html

 

Shore Club... http://www.shoreclub.com/

 

Delano... http://www.delano-hotel.com/

 

Raleigh Hotel... http://www.raleighhotel.com/

 

The Tides Hotel... http://www.tideshotel.com/

 

The National... http://www.nationalhotel.com/

 

Doubletree Surfcomber... http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIAOFDT

 

Marriott Courtyard South Beach (3 blocks from the beach)... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MIACB

 

The Hotel of South Beach (1 block from the beach)... http://www.thehotelofsouthbeach.com/

[nanner10]

TrentS: Sage advice!! I reviewed the links you included for the airport hotels. Based on their facilities and prices and with some consideration to the excellent reviews on TripAdvisor I decided, and booked, Hampton Inn and Suites Miami Airport/Blue Lagoon. I feel comfortable that this hotel will suit our needs quite well for this trip. I can't thank you enough, we'll offer a toast to you at the pool bar ... now off to finish packing!

[TrentS]

That Hampton Inn Blue Lagoon is a wonderful, brand new hotel. You'll like that one a lot! There's a Publix grocery store and a liquor store in a strip mall just across the street where you can pick up some stuff too.

 

Navigator is my favorite ship, you'll also love it! ;)

[Cacky1]

Trent,

What do you know about the Hyatt Regency Miami? Is it in a good location and is it clean? Also someone told me to stay away from the Blue Moon on South Beach, would you agree? Thanks for your help.

Cathy