Best Western Marina Inn at Ft. Lauderdale

[lauren0309]

I just booked a room for February for the Best Western Marina Inn at Ft. Lauderdale. Has anyone stayed there? I got varied opinions, good and bad about the hotel at epinions.com
Also they have a free shuttle pick up service from the airport to the hotel. Do you call them once your flight arrives or do you let them know in advance when you will be coming?

Majesty of the Seas 3/02
Monarch of the Seas 2/03
Serenade of the Seas 11/03

Till the Enchantment!
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[Karenlee]

Yes, we have stayed there and are staying there again next week, mainly because of the convenience. The rooms are just very average, but if you stay on the water side of the hotel on an upper floor (I think there are 4) you can see the cruise ships sitting there. They have a nice outdoor bar and patio where you can eat dinner. We did not bother with their shuttle, just took a cab to and from. Many people are lined up for the shuttle to get to the ship and it's only 5 minutes away or so by cab.
Also, if you have the time, you can walk over and take the water taxis to cruise around Ft. Lauderdale up to the shopping and restaurants which was really fun. If I see any major changes in the place when we go next week, I will post them. Karen

[Johanna7]

The Best Western Marina hotel is on the water taxi stop. It is a whistle stop but they do check to see if anyone is waiting at the stop. The water bus (taxi) is a great way to see the intercoastal waterway and is only $5 per day person and you can get on and off as many times as you like.

There are 2 routes and some of the stops are the same so you can switch from the north and the south route.

There are many interesting places at the stops, including Las Olas but lots of others too and many restaurants as well.

Be sure to ask the people at the desk for a schedule of the Water Bus (used to be called Water Taxi).

[Cruising89143]

[url="http://www.watertaxi.com/FortLauderdale/FLLHome.Asp"]http://www.watertaxi.com/FortLauderdale/FLLHome.Asp[/url]

Here is the link to the water taxi.

Gordon

[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisingator"]http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisingator[/url]

NCL Starward-86, Starship Atlantic-91, Caribe-92, Seabreeze-93, Fantasy-93, Norway-94, Celebration-94, Sensation-95, Imagination-96, Destiny-97, Celebration-98, Triumph-99, Victory-00, Majesty of the Seas-01, Fascination-01, Carnival Pride-02, Majesty of the Seas-02, Carnival Legend-02, Fantasy 7-03, Glory 9-03, Fantasy 11-03, Triumph 3/04.

Navigator of the Seas
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[cujosmom]

We booked the Best Western Marina in December for the following reasons:
1. Shuttle service to/from airport/pier
2. Free breakfast
3. Water taxi stop

When our ship arrived in Ft Lauderdale, I tried calling and calling but kept getting a busy signal. Finally got a taxi.... never once saw their van picking anyone up at the pier. The desk told us they were having telephone problems. I think they probably had their phone off the hook.

When we got to check-in desk, it was a zoo. There were no rooms available yet and they wanted us to just "leave our suitcases in the lobby" and "someone would get them later"....yeah right....we were just going to leave them in the lobby???? We had to wait at least a 1/2 hour until someone showed up who would take them to a secure location.

Then we went out to where the "whistle stop" water taxi was located. After waiting at least 45 minutes, we finally gave up and walked over to another location as the boat never came over to our side. The button you were supposed to push was not working. After our day riding the water taxi we were dropped off there, but the water taxi guy said they normally did not do that.

We were not able to get breakfast the next morning as it did not open until 7 AM and we had to leave before then

The rooms were only "OK" (and we did have one of the top floor ones where you could see the ships)

We could have gotten a better hotel and price at the Marriott or Hyatt Regency had we used Priceline....which is what we will do next time.

Personally I do not recommend this hotel.

P.S. They didn't even credit our Best Western frequent room stay even though I gave them my card at check-in.

Until we set sail to Alaska on the Serenade of The Seas
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[Cruising89143]

I have to say that I saw the Best Western when walking over the bridge and the outside of the building would be enough to turn me off from staying there. I stayed at the Marriott and it was great. Had a balcony room that overlooked the port and was able to watch all of the ships come in. Catching the water taxi was also a breeze.

Gordon

[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisingator"]http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisingator[/url]

NCL Starward-86, Starship Atlantic-91, Caribe-92, Seabreeze-93, Fantasy-93, Norway-94, Celebration-94, Sensation-95, Imagination-96, Destiny-97, Celebration-98, Triumph-99, Victory-00, Majesty of the Seas-01, Fascination-01, Carnival Pride-02, Majesty of the Seas-02, Carnival Legend-02, Fantasy 7-03, Glory 9-03, Fantasy 11-03, Triumph 3/04.

Navigator of the Seas 12/04/04
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[dolfan1949]

Stayed at the Best Western in 2002 and would not stay their again. Our mediocre room overlooked the outside bar by the pool and was noisy till 11Pm. After the band finished playing, all night the tarp that surrounded the bar kept hitting up against the pole it was attached to. Needless to say, we had a sleepless night. This past February, we stayed at the Renaissance on the other side of the bridge and it was less expensive and just as close to the port. Go to Priceline.com

[Bru92]

I stayed at the BW Marina Inn and Yacht Club in Jan 2003 and drove past in Jan. 2004. I will not stay there again.

The rooms were clean but old and looked like a mid '50s Holiday Inn or HoJo. Also noisy as all rooms have lots of glass to the outdoor walkway.

Don't count on the free transportation, either. When arriving at FLL, I used the courtesy phone to call the hotel for pickup and was told I would have to wait 3 hours for a pickup. I paid the $12 cab ride instead.

The next day, cruise day, my wife wouldn't finish the free breakfast telling me the dining room didn't very clean. Then we assembled with about 200 people waiting for the free shuttle to the pier. With one minivan running, about 6 people went per run. We again took a cab with our luggage.

In Jan. 2004, there appeared to be construction at the north end of the building, nearest the causeway. Maybe still going on, maybe not.

No... not for me... never again.

Mike in Ohio

[lauren0309]

If I cancel I can't get a refund. I guess we'll have to suffer for one night. Maybe since they were doing construction in January 2004 they are working on updating it. Positive thinking [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

Till the Enchantment!
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[RM]

We stayed there last December. It's not fancy but it was sufficient for an over night stay. Nothing special but clean.

Up next Mariner of the Seas
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Then Jewel of the Seas
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