Motel 6 Dania or other FLL ???

[berryberry]

I am having a real tough time booking a room pre-cruise on march 17th. Have been trying on Priceline since December with no luck.

 

Most rates are highway robbery.

 

Best I can find right now (staying away from State Rd 84) is

 

Motel 6

DANIA BEACH

825 E DANIA BEACH BLVD

I-95 AT STIRLING RD, EXIT #22

 

For $82

 

The Best Western Marina Inn & Yacht Harbor for $125 (but I recall reading some bad reviews about this place last time we cruised)

 

Then we jump to over $175 for things like the Holiday Inn Conv Center, the la Quinta , Comfort Suites, Hampton, etc

 

I don't need anything fancy - just safe, close and relatively clean. Any thoughts / suggestions?

 

How far from the port is The Dania Beach Motel 6. it doesn't look too far from the airport?

 

And has the Best Western marina improved at all?

 

Thanks

[berryberry]

OK, I just found a few more options after searching thru a number of sites.

 

1. La Quinta Airport - for $117

2. Amerisuites Airport for $99 (had tried to book via valuetrips about 5 days ago but just heard back now)

 

So - out of those 2 or

 

3. Motel 6 Dania Beach $82

4. Best Western Marina Inn & Yacht Harbor for $125

 

What is my best bet - for nothing fancy, just safe, close, relatively clean (of course - at least an airport shuttle wouldn't be bad nor would continental brekafast - LOL )

[Martita B.]

I too searched for a couple of months for a reasonbly priced hotel in Ft. Laud for middle of March......finally gave up and reserved rooms for us at the Airport Sheraton for $299 per night. We usually pay around $139......this year the hotel rates are out of sight!

MB

[lowpsa]

Booked one night on 3/17/2006 via Vauletrips for $99.00 +tax

 

Asked for resevation on Jan 9th -They reponded on Jan 12 with conformed room for one night -You have to wait a few days for response.

 

They do have breakfast and Shuttle from airport and to ship from hotel---

we are going on Carnival Liberty the 18th

A Taxi is real cheap if need be -I think around $5 to $10

Hope this helps -Stayed there before -No problems kinda nice

[TrentS]

BW Marina Inn gets WORSE every day. It's the biggest DUMP in Fort Lauderdale, the place is very dirty, run down and falling apart. Avoid it at all cost!!!

 

Comfort Suites is NOT a nice place either.

 

The Motel 6 in Dania Beach looks okay for a Motel 6, and seems to be full all the time, at least the parking lot is full of cars. I've never been inside of it though... It's about 10 minutes from FLL, but is in a very isolated area. There's nothing around it, nothing to walk to.

 

Did you try Extended Stay America on SE 17th Street? It's the nicest of the budget hotels, and frequently has the best rates. It's right on SE 17th Street, a block from the port, and surrounded by everything you could possibly want.

 

Yes, prices are up over past years, but you get what you pay for! I'd go with any of these, they're usually the least expensive, and are all decent places...

 

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

 

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

 

Hampton Inn downtown/City Center... http://www.hamptoninnftlauderdale.com/

 

Marriott Courtyard Dania Beach... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/FLLHT

 

Holiday Inn Hollywood... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/fllas

 

La Quinta Hollywood... http://www.lq.com/lq/properties/propertyProfile.do?ident=LQ985

[berryberry]

Thanks all.

 

Trent - thanks for the BW info - I kind of thought that would be the case but wanted to be sure. I did try the Extended Stay America - but it is fully booked.

 

The Holiday Inn, Marriott Courtyard and Hampton are all over $175.

 

I am not real picky - and since we don't arrive until 9pm, I don't need a place that has a bunch of amenities or restaurants close by.

 

Ideally if the place is relatively safe, convenient, cheap (yes, I am a cheap SOB or as I prefer, a bargain hunter - LOL), has an airport shuttle (we will likely take a taxii to the port beause my expereince is those shuttles to the port in the AM are packed), and is close to a grocery store I can walk to to pick up a couple six packs of softdrinks and a bottle of wine to bring along with us - then I will be happy.

 

Given your input and what I have seen on some other threads here, it appears my best choices for these are in this order

 

1. Amerisuites at $99 (I know there have been some mixed reviews - but most of the concerns expressed don't worry me).

 

2. La Quinta at $117 - (seems like better reviews than Amerisuites - but a bit more costly and no grocery store close by)

 

3. Motel 6 Dania Beach - $82 - (per your notes, isolated so there goes my grocery store stop- and my guess the highest cab fare to the port - so ther goes the savings)

 

Do you disagree?

 

Also Trent - for a post cruise stay - 3 nights Sun - Wed at the end of March - what are would you recommend (keeping in mind I am cheap - LOL). We have stayed at FLL Beach before - but I am flexible for anywhere from Hollywood beach north to Palm Beach or Boca Raton. We will probably visit some friends north of FLL for a day and spend the rest at the beach. main criteria for this would be bargain priced, nice place to relax, away from rowdy spring break college kids (now I myself wouldn't mind seeing young nubile college girls in skimpy bikinis - but the wife and 12 y/o daughter probably wouldn't appreciate it - LOL)

 

Thanks

[Jdleong]

Why are the hotel so expensive this year? King Tut? I luckily have reservations at the Airport Sheraton using a certificate but with out it the cost for two rooms would be more than 1 person's cruise...not quite but close. If the airlines were more reliable, it would sure be cheaper than spending $299 plus taxes per room for an 8 hour sleep. The red eye lets you sleep for nothing...

Jan

[TrentS]

Of those 3 the La Quinta is definitely the nicest, but the grocery store is a problem with that one. There is however a K-Mart that's at the opposite end of the strip mall next door, a bit of a walk, but definitely walkable.

 

Motel 6 Dania Beach has a grocery store between Federal Hwy. and the motel, a bit too far/dangerous to walk (not dangerous because of crime, but because of it being a fairly busy, not well lit street, missing sidewalks in some areas, and it would be a long walk).

 

AmeriSuites is in the best location, closest to the port, airport, and has a grocery store right next door. I don't know what to tell you about that one anymore though. It's always been one of those places that people either love or hate. I've been in it a few times and it was clean, just a bit worn around the edges. They were replacing carpeting the last time I was in it last spring. It is a very popular place that's full every night and obviously they were overwhelmed on the weekend that several people were complaining about recently. I think the biggest problem people have with it though is expectation, as someone else put it, you can't expect 5-star service in a 2-star hotel.

 

The college Spring Break crowd has moved on, there are very few here anymore, it's mostly families now. You may like Hollywood Beach, it's a very nice family beach, and a bit quieter and less expensive than Fort Lauderdale Beach. I'm not personally familiar with them, but there are some older, quite reasonably priced "mom & pop" motels on Hollywood Beach that come highly recommended by some people on here. If I remember correctly one of them is the Greenbriar... http://www.greenbriarbc.com/

 

It seems to me there are some others as well, but their names escape me at the moment, but try doing a search or post a question to Bequia, who's more familiar with Hollywood Beach.

 

On Fort Lauderdale Beach Bahia Mar is usually a pretty reasonably priced decent place just across the street from the beach, and close to the port and airport... http://www.bahiamarhotel.com/

 

While a bit on the old & worn side, the Sheraton Yankee Clipper (on the beach), and the Sheraton Yankee Trader (across the street from the beach) are also usually quite reasonably priced.

 

Yankee Clipper... http://www.sheratonclipper.com/

 

Yankee Trader... http://www.sheratontrader.com/

 

Ireland Inn is a bit farther north, and with nothing in walking distance, but it's an older, usually reasonably priced hotel directly on the beach that gets very good reviews... http://www.irelands.com/

 

Keep in mind that March is THE most expensive time of year down here, but the weather is also the nicest of the year! :)

[TrentS]

Why are the hotel so expensive this year? King Tut? I luckily have reservations at the Airport Sheraton using a certificate but with out it the cost for two rooms would be more than 1 person's cruise...not quite but close. If the airlines were more reliable, it would sure be cheaper than spending $299 plus taxes per room for an 8 hour sleep. The red eye lets you sleep for nothing...

Jan

The King Tut exhibit has a lot to do with the high prices, but also just more people than ever before are traveling. Not only are the prices through the roof this year, but many dates have been sold out for months! A LOT of people are suffering from "sticker shock" this year! ;)

[wellsea]

We are sailing 2/19/06. We have researched hotel prices. Tried Priceline recently. On the first try, got

the Marriott Renaissainse(sp) for $85 for 2/18/06

a Sat. night. Just thought I'd pass the info. along.

[berryberry]

Trent - great, thanks for the help !!!

[Jdleong]

Trent - great, thanks for the help !!!

"Ditto" Trent you are such a source of knowledge..