hooked on cruzin Posted March 20, 2007 #1 Share Posted March 20, 2007 just booked a harbour view room. hotel also gave us taxi mini van # to call for pick up. (reasonable rate from fll). what is within walking distance from hotel and how is the area? also how are the rooms i have read mixed reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruise2live Posted March 20, 2007 #2 Share Posted March 20, 2007 We stayed there in Jan. before our Radiance cruise. The rooms were fine. Our room had a king size bed and was clean. We were on the ground floor in one of the wings, so we did hear the traffic, but it was not enough to keep you awake. The hotel was undergoing construction when we were there, but it did not interfere with our stay in any way. There is a Walgreen's close by and several restaurants as well. We walked about 2-3 blocks and ate at Outback Steak House. Don't worry you will be fine. I felt very safe walking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coiran Posted March 20, 2007 #3 Share Posted March 20, 2007 The harbour view is really a view of the west end of the 17th street bridge. On the other side of the bridge is the harbour. It is more of a view of the parking lot. Bimini Boatyard and Bravos Italian are only a few blocks to the west. Both good eating places. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldensrule Posted March 20, 2007 #4 Share Posted March 20, 2007 We stayed in a harbor view room 2 weeks ago. We were on the fifth floor overlooking boats -- no parking lot! The tower is not expected to be open until May. Our room was clean and comortable. We walked to Bravo for dinner, a great little french bakery for breakfast (right up the street), Walgreen's and Total Wine for cruise essentials. We took the Sun Trolley back from Total Wine (50 cents):) . We will definitely stay there again. We read the negatives on this board about the hotel and were pleasantly surprised. P.S. we also had lunch by the pool. good sandwiches and salads but typically hotel pricey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willum UK Posted March 22, 2007 #5 Share Posted March 22, 2007 I was thinking of booking this hotel myself for a pre-cruise night in November. The rate quoted was around £95, say $180. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trvlr37 Posted March 23, 2007 #6 Share Posted March 23, 2007 We stayed at this hotel when it was the Marriott Marina a few years back and like it the best of all hotels we had stayed in Fort Lauderdale (I just love a room with a balcony). We're going back again in a few weeks and I'm sure it will be just fine. Thanks for posting about the Sun Trolley as we plan to use it to go to Outback and Total Wine to pick up some cruise essentials! The Sun Trolley will be a nice addition to the Water Taxi - sure can't beat having both available at the same hotel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldensrule Posted March 23, 2007 #7 Share Posted March 23, 2007 We stayed at this hotel when it was the Marriott Marina a few years back and like it the best of all hotels we had stayed in Fort Lauderdale (I just love a room with a balcony). We're going back again in a few weeks and I'm sure it will be just fine. Thanks for posting about the Sun Trolley as we plan to use it to go to Outback and Total Wine to pick up some cruise essentials! The Sun Trolley will be a nice addition to the Water Taxi - sure can't beat having both available at the same hotel! We actually went past the hotel on the Sun Trolley (to avoid crossing the street/bridge with our wine) and took the loop around the beach area and got dropped off right in front of the hotel. We loved our balcony. It was very quiet. We had a glass of wine before dinner out there and watched a few boats come in. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hevuk Posted March 23, 2007 #8 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Did you check out the hotels own website?I,m staying here in a couple of weeks and i got it for $139 there.It was the cheapest rate i could find and boy did i serch plenty of sites.I know the dates are different but it might be worth a try.Good luck:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trvlr37 Posted March 23, 2007 #9 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I am on the same cruise with William UK in November - the rate is much higher then. I figure we got the lower rate in the Spring due to the construction. However, last year they did run some specials throughout the year - so keep watching! ;) Goldensrule - do you remember where you went for breakfast (name or place)? We'll be looking for something in the morning. I know there is a Starbucks in the hotel for just something fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumofsons Posted March 23, 2007 #10 Share Posted March 23, 2007 We stayed there Feb 19th of this year - this is a part of my review of the Carnival Legend We stayed at Ft. Lauderdale Grande and Yacht Club which we got by bidding on Priceline. Our room was clean and the bed was great. We had a really good view of the boats. I didn't notice much construction going on since it was President's Day. We walked down to the water taxi spot and waited for an hour without any coming so we decided to walk over the causeway to see what was over the other side and as soon as we walked away too far to go back we saw two water taxi's at the same. Nothing seemed to be open so we walked back over the causeway and headed to Walgreens and got some drinks and snacks for the room. We also went to the front desk and I can tell you that the staff are not friendly at all - don't know if this was because we were priceline or not. They do not do the free shuttle to the port anymore (this could be because we booked on priceline as well, although other people were getting taxi's to the port the next morning. It was a bit chilly that day so the pool bar and grill was not open for snacks and we went into the patio bar and we each had a drink - I had a salad and DH had a burger and it was over $40 - crazy - bad service and not very good food. We walked overt a local place called the Shipwreck food was good and plentiful - it was not busy at all and they said it was because it was President's Day. Would I stay there again? No - I would stay at the Hampton Inn which alot of the people we met on the cruise stayed the night before and said it was quite nice. I suppose it is all what you are wanting. I am really looking for a decent room and maybe continental breakie in the morning although Einstein's bagels is just a five minute walk from the Grande. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendelle from Canada Posted March 24, 2007 #11 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Fort Lauderdale Grand Resort Our Balcony Views My Favorite Premium Cigar shop FT Lauerdale driving around. GPS guiding us I want one. We stayed in November 2006, room was large, clean and great balcony, close to everything, hopefully the pics will display! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldensrule Posted March 24, 2007 #12 Share Posted March 24, 2007 I am on the same cruise with William UK in November - the rate is much higher then. I figure we got the lower rate in the Spring due to the construction. However, last year they did run some specials throughout the year - so keep watching! ;) Goldensrule - do you remember where you went for breakfast (name or place)? We'll be looking for something in the morning. I know there is a Starbucks in the hotel for just something fast. I don't remember the name of the bakery, but, if you walk from the hotel toward Bravo, it's in the same shopping plaza. It's in the back, past the Renaissance hotel. There are sandwich board signs on the street for the french bakery. You can't miss the signs. Great coffee and ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trvlr37 Posted March 24, 2007 #13 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Wendelle - thanks sooo much for the photos! Hotel room looks fine (pretty much as I remember) and the bed looks comfy. I loved the views we had last time we stayed and found it to be very relaxing. Am looking forward to staying there again. I guess it's all what you like. Goldensrule - thanks for the directions to the French Bakery - sounds like a perfect way to start a cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bequia Posted March 24, 2007 #14 Share Posted March 24, 2007 what is within walking distance from hotel and how is the area? Within walking distance: Tara Steak & Lobster is right next door to Extended Stay America... http://www.tarasteakandlobsterhouse.com/ Carlos and Pepe's (Mexican) & Durty Harry's (bar with food) are in the same shopping center as Tara. There's also a small diner in that strip mall that I've been told has an excellent breakfast. Einstein Bros. Bagels is across the street from Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America... http://www.einsteinbros.com/ Bimini Boatyard and Bravo (great Italian restaurant) are both across the street from Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America, and about a block east, opposite the Renaissance Hotel... http://www.bravoitaliano.com/ Jack Jackson's new restaurant FISH is across the street from the Renaissance hotel, attached to the Convention Center complex at the entrance to Port Everglades... http://www.fish-fl.com/ Chuck's Steakhouse... http://www.chucksflorida.com/ And Waxy O'Connors are both across the street from Embassy Suites, a long block west of Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America... http://www.waxys.com/ Outback Steakhouse and Del Rio Tex Mex are just west of Embassy Suites, and Quarterdeck is across the street and a block north of Embassy Suites on Cordova Road, just beyond Winn-Dixie... http://www.quarterdeckrestaurant.com/ Kelly's Landing is a great New England style seafood place in a strip mall on Cordova Road, across the street from Winn-Dixie. If you want some excellent ice cream, Aspen Ice Cream is next door to Office Depot, in the large yellow strip mall across the street from Tara and Carlos and Pepe's... http://www.aspenicecream.com/ There are 3 large strip malls around Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America - More or less across the street, next door, and behind, as well as several smaller ones. There are at least a dozen other small restaurants scattered throughout those strip malls, plus a number of fast food and carry-out places in the area as well... You'll never go hungry along that section of SE 17th Street, there's something for every taste and budget. Publix grocery store is in the large strip mall a block south on Cordova Road, behind Embassy Suites. Publix sell beer & wine as well as being very large, very nice grocery stores. Barnie's Coffee & Tea is in the same strip mall as Publix, a few stores to the west, next to Carvel Ice Cream... http://www.barniescoffee.com/ Crown Wine and Spirits is across the street from Embassy Suites, behind the Chevron station, and 67 Wine & Spirits is across the street from Crown. Winn-Dixie grocery store is next door to Crown, and there's a CVS drug store in the same strip mall as 67 Wine & Spirits. Walgreens drug store is a block east of Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America, across the street from the Renaissance hotel. The restaurants above are just those that you can easily walk to. If you take the Water Taxi you can easily get to dozens more. The nearest Water Taxi stop is 2 long blocks east, under the SE 17th Street Bridge, in front of the Marina Marriott hotel... http://www.watertaxi.com/FortLauderdale/FLLHome.Asp Some popular places easily accessible by Water Taxi are... 15th Street Fisheries... http://www.15streetfisheries.com/ Jackson's Steakhouse... http://www.jacksonssteakhouse.com/ Shirttail Charlie's... http://www.shirttailcharlies.com/ Fort Lauderdale Riverhouse... http://www.ftlauderdaleriverhouse.com/ Downtowner Saloon... http://www.downtownersaloon.com/ Shooter's Waterfront Cafe, and at the same stop Taverna Opa... http://tavernaoparestaurant.com/ Charlie's Crab... http://www.muer.com/locations/chcrab...ab-ftlaud.html The many many restaurants and shops along beautiful Las Olas Blvd... http://www.lasolasboulevard.com/ And Las Olas Riverfront... http://www.riverfrontfl.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trvlr37 Posted March 24, 2007 #15 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Thank, Bequia! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popcorngal Posted March 24, 2007 #16 Share Posted March 24, 2007 We stayed there in late January and had to pay a ridiculous rate since it was the weekend before Super Bowl. We had what was called a Harbor View, but it amounted to nothing more than a Causeway view. Until the Tower is reopened, the great views of the cruise ships are going to be few and far between. Yes, the beds were great, and the grounds very pretty, but when we were there, the outdoor food was not available (too windy they said), and the food inside was super expensive and mediocre at best. I will say though, they do have a very nice breakfast buffet in the bar/restaurant area. It too was pricey, but quite good. We had stayed there several years ago when it was the Marriott and they had a real restaurant. Now, if you want something other than sandwiches, they have a very limited room service menu for that. I had loved the place the last time we stayed there, but now I doubt that we would go there again. For us, it's just not what it used to be... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooked on cruzin Posted March 24, 2007 Author #17 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Within walking distance: thank you very much Bequia for taking the time to provide so much valuable information. it sounds like a great safe area with lots of options around us. the reno will be over by the time we get there so hopefully we will also have a fab view of port everglades. sounds like we will have lots to do day before our cruise in a safe area....again thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonna go cruising Posted March 25, 2007 #18 Share Posted March 25, 2007 We stayed there pre and post cruise this month. The beds are so comfortable! Loved it. Go Priceline and pay less. Still under renovations but served our purpose well especially with the fabulous beds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratherBcruizin' Posted March 26, 2007 #19 Share Posted March 26, 2007 We're staying here in May. The pics look great. Got a decent rate thru hotwire. I'll report back to let everyone know what we thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvj811 Posted March 27, 2007 #20 Share Posted March 27, 2007 We stayed there pre and post cruise this month. The beds are so comfortable! Loved it. Go Priceline and pay less. Still under renovations but served our purpose well especially with the fabulous beds. What rate did you get through Priceline? Did you bid on a 3* downtown? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugger Posted March 28, 2007 #21 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Extended Stay America Suites? Is this the only hotel that is a 3 star downtown with Priceline? I've been trying to figure this out on biddingfortravel.com. It's not to clear though. Does anyone know if you can park your car here over night or do they charge you to park? Is there an additional resort charge like at the Pier 66?I've been trying for months to get the Renaissance with Priceline - NO luck though :( THANKS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coiran Posted March 28, 2007 #22 Share Posted March 28, 2007 The Grande charges $22 per night for parking. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugger Posted March 28, 2007 #23 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Have you stayed at this hotel in the past few months? If so wondering what you thought of it. We seem to think somewhat alike on things from reading your past posts. Maybe it's because we are all from MI (orginally for us). We've lived in FL for about 15 yrs now. Although, I must say I'm starting to miss the lifestyle of MI. Don't miss that terrible "white stuff" though :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coiran Posted March 28, 2007 #24 Share Posted March 28, 2007 We stayed there just two weeks ago. A nice hotel if you can get it for less than $150. We had a $139 special they were running a few months ago. Their parking rates are ridiculous which is why the parking lot is usually empty. We prefer the Renaissance a few blocks west but couldn't get it on priceline or hotwire for the dates we needed. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugger Posted March 28, 2007 #25 Share Posted March 28, 2007 We are renting a car from Budget to drive down to Lauderdale. We must drop it at Quay Shopping Center on 17th St. I take it that is quite close to the hotel. I guess we could just drop the car early and not worry about parking at all. OR, if it's close enough we could park the car in their parking lot :) I to have been trying for months to get the Renaissance with Priceline no luck yet though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.