Miami hotels with shuttles and maybe some shopping...

[Albinroo]

I need help! First time cruising from Miami and this time we won't be able to rent a car since we are 6 people including 3 children that would all need child car seats. We are flying into Miami airport 2 nights before the cruise at end of October and would like to stay at a hotel with pool that works without having a car. That means shuttle available from airport and to cruise port. But since we will have 1 full day before the cruise it would be nice if there was something to do around the hotel area that we could safely walk to, with kids, or even better, a shuttle to a shopping mall? 

[JohninDC]

Stay downtown, where you will find lots of local shopping and dining options. Hampton inn or other hotels in the Mary Brickell area should be perfect; Holiday Inn close to POM is another option. Only hotels close to the airport will offer shuttles - best option there would be the Blue Lagoon neighborhood ( Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn, etc.).

 

Bringing your own seats will open up many more transportation options and the airline will check them for free if you don't use them on the flight. Check with Super Shuttle, QLS, and South FL Limo for transportation.

[Noxequifans]

Agree ... stay downtown. 

[goneclear]

Downtown hotels are more expensive than airport area hotels (generally).

Downtown mall , Brickell City Center has some very high end stores and expensive.

You can stay at the Miami airport Marriott. There are three hotels on the one site so

you have options to compare prices.

A Marriott, A courtyard Marriott and a Residence inn. They offer airport shuttles about every

20 minutes. The Marriott also offers a rate that includes transport to the port. Decent pool on site.

About 20 minutes away is the huge Dolphin Mall. They also have a shuttle that collects people at

the Marriott.