Ft. Lauderdale pre-cruise vs. Miami - any recommendations

[kichan]

Trying to decide if it is easier to fly from New York to Miami, or Ft. Lauderdale for a cruise in April '05. We'll be flying in the night before the cruise, and Ft. Lauderdale might be less expensive, but how far is it from the pier in Miami? I will be booking a hotel (probably through Priceline), and renting a car if we fly into Ft. Lauderdale. If we fly into Miami, can anyone recommend a decent hotel that is close to the pier?

[thereuare]

Use Priceline in either area.

 

Check the difference between fares and weigh your options.

 

FLL is just under an hour from MIA and a cab (if you don't want to rent a car) is about $65. If you do rent a car, consider one that has a car rental drop-off at or close to your hotel (you don't want to travel to MIA airport to drop the car off).

 

I would choose to stay in Downtown MIA if that's where my ship left from. I always prefer to stay as close to the pier as possible, as it makes things less stressful the next day if you have to travel a shorter distance (ie - no worries about car trouble, accidents, traffic, forgetting something back at the hotel, etc, etc)

 

Priceline in Downtown Miami is one of the best values in the entire Priceline system... the hotels generally get very good reviews and the prices are very inexpensive.