Hotels In Fort Lauderdale?

[advocado]

Taking Maasdam on January 25th for Panama Canal. Plan to stay in Fort Lauderdale for a few days before embarkation. Looking for a nice hotel. Don't care about ocean front (I'll get plently of that on the cruise). Cost not the most important consideration. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[TrojanCruiser]

Taking Maasdam on January 25th for Panama Canal. Plan to stay in Fort Lauderdale for a few days before embarkation. Looking for a nice hotel. Don't care about ocean front (I'll get plently of that on the cruise). Cost not the most important consideration. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

 

We're staying at the Lago Mar for one night pre-cruise on the Zuiderdam. I've read mostly good reviews- also a few not so good... I'll let you know our experience when we get back...

[Pilot70D]

Let me recommend two hotels to you. I have stayed in both on many occasions.

 

First is the Embassy Suites on AIA which is also 17th Street. This hotel is literally around the corner from one entrance to Port Everglades. There are many good restaurants near by and shopping is also convenient. Travel time from Ft. Lauderdale International is no more than eight to ten minutes.

 

The other is the Marriott North which is north of Cypress Creek. This hotel has always provided an exceptional level of comfort and service. When I fly to Ft. Lauderdale I leave the plane at Ft. Lauderdale Executive and stay at the Marriott North because it happens to be no more than half a mile from this airport. Travel time to this Marriott from Ft. Lauderdale International is fifteen to twenty minutes.

 

Hope this is helpful information. Enjoy that next cruise. BTW while in Ft. Lauderdale go to Ernie's on Route 1 for lunch. Best conch chowder anywhere. Not a fancy restaurant but super good chowder. Ernie's is located on the west side of Route 1 and is almost equidistant between SR84 and A1A.

[GraceNWill]

Another great restaurant (not a chain) not far from Pt Everglades is the Tropical Acres. It has been there since 1949, I believe. I think it is owned by the same people all those years. Just an old fashioned place with great food and service. They have the best cheesecake with cherry topping that I have ever had!

 

I guess you would call it a steakhouse but they serve seafood and other things.

 

It is west of I-95 (just) and on Griffin Road.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have stayed many times at the Embassy Suites both pre and post cruise. It is so close to many things including the new Harbor Shops.

[kelmac]

This section of CC will give you loads of information:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=415

 

I would look at using Priceline, Hotwire or Easyclick. Four star hotels tend to be the best bargin. Winter prices are higher compared to summer.

Good luck!

 

Kel

[cusyl]

January will be high season in FLL, so you would be much better off to use priceline dot com as others have stated. The Rennaisance on 17th Street is very close to the pier and if you ask for a high floor facing the port you can see the cruise ships. As I recall, I chose a 3 star hotel downtown and was given Rennaisance, which is a 4 star hotel.

[terrydtx]

When we cruise out of Pt Everglades we always fly in the night before and have found the Ramada Inn Fort Lauderdale located 5 mins from the port and the airport to be a very nice and affordable place to stay. It is on Marina Mile Road and the phone number is 954 584-4000. We are booked there the night before our Volendam cruise next month for $85 for a king room, booked through Ramada web site. The hotel has an on site restaurant and a full hot breakfast is included in the rate. Several nice restaurants are within walking distance as well. They also have free airport pick up and free shuttle to the pier. The last time we stayed there were a lot of pre cruise people at the hotel. I almost forgot they have a very nice outside Tiki bar by the pool. Most other places that are nice in FLL are well over a $100 per night.

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

We always stay at the Hollywood Beach Marriott. It is a little pricey and about a 10 minute drive from the airport & 5 minute drive to the port, but it is located on the broadwalk, has an outdoor tiki lounge, restaurant, pretty & spacious rooms, and has a gorgeous beach.

[jbhcw]

We just stayed at the Embassy Suites in September and enjoyed our time there. We could see our ship from our balcony, there are stores near by and the Manager's Reception and full breakfast were nice. The food in the restaurant was not that good but there are restaurants nearby.

 

Unfortunately rates there for our upcoming Feb cruise on the Zuiderdam are over $300 per night. I've made reservations at a Hyatt Place nearby, it was formerly an Amerisuites. Hoping we made a good choice:) The East Coast Depatures Board has loads of great infomation.

 

Terrydtx, thanks for the info on the Ramada, may check that out as we're still open to another hotel, keep wishing the ES would come down a little:D

[sail7seas]

A Poster named Bequia posted this list of FLL hotels on this Board a short while ago.

 

Lots of links to research:

 

 

SE 17th Street (closest to Port Everglades and FLL)...

 

Renaissance... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/FLLBR

 

Embassy Suites... http://www.embassysuites.com/en/es/...ctyhocn=FLLSOES

 

Ft Lauderdale Grande... http://www.fortlauderdalegrande.com

 

Extended Stay America... http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/...ter-marina.html

 

AmeriSuites... http://amerisuites.com/reservations....asp?facid=3929

 

Comfort Inn & Suites….http://www.choicehotels.com

 

Holiday Inn Express…http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hotel/fllcc?_requestid=681519

 

Fort LauderdaleBeach...

 

Lago Mar... http://www.lagomar.com/

 

HarborBeach Marriott... http://www.marriottharborbeach.com/

 

Pelican Beach Resort (only the NEW tower)... http://www.pelicanbeach.com/

 

St.Regis….http://www.starwoodhotels.com/stregi...ew/index.html?

 

 

 

HollywoodBeach...

 

HollywoodBeach Marriott... http://www.hollywoodbeachmarriott.com/

 

Westin Diplomat... http://www.diplomatresort.com/

 

Dania

 

Sleep Inn…http://www.choicehotels.com/ires/en-US/html/HotelInfo?hotel=FL664

 

Marriott Courtyard Airport/Cruiseport…http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/FLLHT

 

 

Airport

 

LaQuinta Inn & Suites…http://www.lq.com/lq/properties/propertyProfile.do?ident=LQ985&propId=985

 

Holiday Inn…http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/fllas?_requestid=682206

 

Hampton Inn…http://www.hamptoninnftlauderdaleairport.com/

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[mindydaile]

Let me recommend two hotels to you. I have stayed in both on many occasions.

 

First is the Embassy Suites on AIA which is also 17th Street. This hotel is literally around the corner from one entrance to Port Everglades.

 

 

Right around the corner, like walking distance? Or take a cab distance?

[DedeM]

Right around the corner, like walking distance? Or take a cab distance?

Definitely take a cab - don't walk. It's very close, but you don't want to walk there. Port Everglades is huge and industrial. :)

[sail7seas]

Especially if you are toting luggage with you.

 

[Harry1954]

hotels such as Embassy Suites, Marriott, etc are great .. we stayed at Lago Mar on a cruise out of FFL a couple of years ago and it was absolutely awful so I hate to say that but this was our experience.

harry

[joedebnh]

Hotels in FLL in January are expensive. We always use Priceline or Hotwire and have saved as much as 50%. What we do is make a backup reservation that can be easily canceled and then start bidding about 30-45 days before the trip.

 

To get suggestions on how to bid, try betterbidding.com.

[Roz]

I stayed at the Hampton Inn in Plantation. They picked me up at the airport and took me to the cruise terminal in the morning. I don't need beachfront property (and prices) when my only reason for being there is to get in a day ahead of the cruise.

 

Roz

[karen&kevin]

Last December we stayed at the Hyatt Pier 66 with a great rate from Priceline. When we arrived at the hotel pre-cruise, we upgraded for $30 to a tower room with a huge balcony overlooking the cruiseport.

 

It was a fabulous way to start our cruise - our evening eating dinner on the balcony, watching the ships depart was one of the best nights of my life. The pools are heavenly and we ate lunch at a fabulous restaurant called Bimini Boatyard. It was a bit of a long walk but totally worth it!

 

It was also a quick cab ride from the airport and to the cruiseport. I would definitely recommend this hotel, but try to get a tower room instead of the lanai/garden rooms. The hotel isn't cheap but we had success getting a better rate on Priceline.

 

Good luck with your decision!

Karen

[sail7seas]

We have stayed at Pier 66 dozens of times through the years. We always loved that hotel but our last stay was a little disappointing. There seemed to have been changes. We have not been to FLL for over a year (unusual for us) but we are returning in November and are booked to try Pier 66 again. We SO hope it is like we always enjoyed as we have great memories of many wonderful stays there.

 

I'll post comments when we return about our experience there.

 

[mindydaile]

I stayed at the Hampton Inn in Plantation. They picked me up at the airport and took me to the cruise terminal in the morning.

 

Is this transportation included in the cost of the room, or is it an additional charge?

[Pilot70D]

Right around the corner, like walking distance? Or take a cab distance?

 

This Embassy Suites Hotel is truly within easy walking distance of restaurants and the port itself.

 

There are restaurants within 500 yards or so of the hotel's front door. The port is between and a half a mile away which I would equate to an easy ten minute stroll. This gets you to the gate and security checkpoint near AIA. Please bear in mind that Port Everglades is a reasonably big port with many different terminals for the various cruise lines. Your ship could be docked at one of the terminals near the gate. If not the furtherest terminals are approx. 3/4 of a mile from this gate. Vehicular traffic is quite heavy within the port with ship reprovisioning, passengers returning, passengers departing, etc.

 

Ernie's is an easy cab ride from the Embassy Suites and well worth it. I would climb a tall mountain and then slide down a three foot long razor blade into a glass of alcohol to get to their conch chowder.

 

Everyone have a great day out there. :-)

[DedeM]

I still wouldn't walk there, no way.

[sail7seas]

I agree. Walking (especially with luggage) is not a good idea. It is such a short ride, a taxi cannot cost very much. For sure it is under $10.

 

[Oceanwench]

I've never seen anyone walking along those roads into the port.

[Roz]

Mindy, the shuttle was included in the price of the Plantation Hampton Inn room. I tipped the driver both times.

 

There are restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. It's a very clean, nicely decorated and landscaped Hampton Inn.

 

Roz