Ft. Lauderdale Q&A/FAQ

[bedajema]

We will be flying into Ft. Lauderdale the day before our cruise departs. What would be a decent hotel near the cruise ports? We are a family of 4 and would like budget friendly. We are primarily flying in the day before so we have a relaxed departure day. Not looking for a lot of sight seeing.

 

Thanks for your help. :D

[royalcruz]

We will be flying into Ft. Lauderdale the day before our cruise departs. What would be a decent hotel near the cruise ports? We are a family of 4 and would like budget friendly. We are primarily flying in the day before so we have a relaxed departure day. Not looking for a lot of sight seeing.

 

Thanks for your help. :D

Rates can very from $80 to $200 depending on the time of year at these....Hyatt Place Convention Center (try Valuetrips), Holiday Inn Express Convention Center or airport, Hampton Inn airport north, Best Western airport/cruiseport, Extended Stay. If these are not in your budget also look at Sleep Inn Dania and LaQuinta Hollywood, a little further away.

[marsda]

We will be flying into Ft. Lauderdale the day before our cruise departs. What would be a decent hotel near the cruise ports? We are a family of 4 and would like budget friendly. We are primarily flying in the day before so we have a relaxed departure day. Not looking for a lot of sight seeing.

 

Thanks for your help. :D

We stayed 2 different places pre and post cruise. Pre was Hampton Inn and Suites, but we felt it was a pretty "tired property" and we were uncomfortable walking to restaurants in the immediate area. Post cruise we were in Embassy suites....which was perfect for us. Our view from our room window was of the Oasis docked., easy walking to restaurants, free happy hour in the evening, free made to order breakfast in the morning. Love that each room is a suite so the kids have their own TV in a separate room with sofa. The rate is a little more than Hampton, but soooo worth it.

[chellecruise12]

Also just booked Embassy Suites 17th St for our before cruise stay.. Love that its close to airport & port, happy hour drinks, & breakfast.. Not sure when you are traveling, but thought we good a good price for next May. :)

[wmac]

Where is the best place to get a good rate for the Embassy Suites?

[chellecruise12]

Where is the best place to get a good rate for the Embassy Suites?

 

I just booked thru their website..Booked it for 109.00 a night.. but I think May is considered off season..

[wmac]

We get to come down a day early! :) My husband and I will be flying down a day before our daughter and her friend.

We were going to stay at the hyatt airport, but I am wondering now if we should stay someplace else, since the 2 of us will get to spend a full day in FLL.

 

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. This is for July 17th.

Should we try priceline?

[royalcruz]

Where is the best place to get a good rate for the Embassy Suites?

Some people have reported getting better rates on hiltonfamilymvp. You have to sign in with a Hilton HHonors account.

[royalcruz]

We get to come down a day early! :) My husband and I will be flying down a day before our daughter and her friend.

We were going to stay at the hyatt airport, but I am wondering now if we should stay someplace else, since the 2 of us will get to spend a full day in FLL.

 

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. This is for July 17th.

Should we try priceline?

I don't see the point of staying near the airport, as it's inexpensive to stay in Fort Lauderdale in July. If you use Priceline use the downtown or beach areas. If you like to get out and walk around, some decent affordably priced hotels are Riverside (downtown), Bahia Mar (beach), and Courtyard Beach.

[FionaMG]

Some people have reported getting better rates on hiltonfamilymvp. You have to sign in with a Hilton HHonors account.

 

I got what I think is a pretty good rate for the ES with this programme. Two nights in December for a total of 246 USD, that's including tax.

[girlscruise2011]

Royalcruz, I have a Fort Lauderdale non cruise question I'm hoping you don't mind helping me with. I am coming down to Lago Mar in October for a long weekend to celebrate a friends milestone birthday. We would like to have some balloons delivered to her while we are there. I already called Lago Mar and unfortunately, they can't do it for me or have any suggestions on who to use in the area. I googled and found a few but the one that interests me the most is in North Fort Lauderdale and will charge me $20 to deliver.

 

Do you know of any party places, florists or balloon businesses in the area closer to the Lago Mar? I'm open to suggestions if you know of anything else that may make this a more special weekend for my good friend.

 

As always, thank you for the great help you give us here on the boards and have a happy & safe 4th of July :)

Edited July 4, 2013 by girlscruise2011

[royalcruz]

Royalcruz, I have a Fort Lauderdale non cruise question I'm hoping you don't mind helping me with. I am coming down to Lago Mar in October for a long weekend to celebrate a friends milestone birthday. We would like to have some balloons delivered to her while we are there. I already called Lago Mar and unfortunately, they can't do it for me or have any suggestions on who to use in the area. I googled and found a few but the one that interests me the most is in North Fort Lauderdale and will charge me $20 to deliver.

 

Do you know of any party places, florists or balloon businesses in the area closer to the Lago Mar? I'm open to suggestions if you know of anything else that may make this a more special weekend for my good friend.

 

As always, thank you for the great help you give us here on the boards and have a happy & safe 4th of July :)

I've never ordered a balloon delivery. The closest balloon specialist that I know of is Balloon Bazaar on N. Andrews Ave. Adam & Eve Florists (SE 17th St), Flowers & Found Objects (Las Olas), and Ann's Florist (Las Olas) are well-established florists that are closest to the hotel.

[taxlady214]

I am trying to do some very advanced planning. We are hoping to take a cruise in January of 2015 that leaves out of Miami. We like to fly Southwest and they only go to Ft. Lauderdale. We will fly in the day before our cruise and would like to know the most economical way to get from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami. Would I be better off going directy to Miami and stay in a hotel there or would it be cheaper to stay in Ft. Lauderdale and travel to the port the following morning? We are a party of two. Would the bus, van or whatever pick us up where we stay or would we have to meet it at a particular location? If anyone has had experience with this, please share your good and bad experiences with specific companies. It is good to know who to avoid as well as who to contact.

 

Thank you in advance for you help. I am trying to decide if the trip is worth the price so I need to know what all the extra expenses will be.

 

Linda

[royalcruz]

I am trying to do some very advanced planning. We are hoping to take a cruise in January of 2015 that leaves out of Miami. We like to fly Southwest and they only go to Ft. Lauderdale. We will fly in the day before our cruise and would like to know the most economical way to get from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami. Would I be better off going directy to Miami and stay in a hotel there or would it be cheaper to stay in Ft. Lauderdale and travel to the port the following morning? We are a party of two. Would the bus, van or whatever pick us up where we stay or would we have to meet it at a particular location? If anyone has had experience with this, please share your good and bad experiences with specific companies. It is good to know who to avoid as well as who to contact.

 

Thank you in advance for you help. I am trying to decide if the trip is worth the price so I need to know what all the extra expenses will be.

 

Linda

SAS is the most popular low-fee shuttle company mentioned here, to Port Miami. They should be able to pick you up from the airport area hotels late morning of your cruise for $15pp if you book in advance by reserving through their website. If you book private car service or a taxi it will cost about 3 times this fee. Ft. Lauderdale hotels are usually less expensive than Miami hotels, so a lot of people do this.

 

Unless you book your hotel through Priceline, you need to figure about $200 for a decent 2.5 to 3 star hotel in Fort Lauderdale in January.

Edited July 6, 2013 by royalcruz

[cruising_family]

I am cruising out of Ft. Lauderdale in Jan 2014. We are driving down and will need to park our car while on the cruise. Anybody know of any decent hotels in the general vicinity of the port that offers a park and cruise setup. We could park at the port for 120 or so but if we can get a decent price with this option at a hotel (given it's the peak season), it would be wonderful.

 

Our other option would be to stay away from the beach for a better hotel price and pay for parking at the port. Thoughts/input please?

 

Thanks.

[royalcruz]

I am cruising out of Ft. Lauderdale in Jan 2014. We are driving down and will need to park our car while on the cruise. Anybody know of any decent hotels in the general vicinity of the port that offers a park and cruise setup. We could park at the port for 120 or so but if we can get a decent price with this option at a hotel (given it's the peak season), it would be wonderful.

 

Our other option would be to stay away from the beach for a better hotel price and pay for parking at the port. Thoughts/input please?

 

Thanks.

None of the beach hotels offer free cruise parking.

 

 

Check out these hotels that have offered free cruise parking in the regular rates (check if currently offered):

Fairfield Inn

Homewood Suites

LaQuinta Hollywood

Springhill Suites(I think they'll even take you to the port for free)

 

There are also lots of hotels that offer a park & cruise package.

[girlscruise2011]

I've never ordered a balloon delivery. The closest balloon specialist that I know of is Balloon Bazaar on N. Andrews Ave. Adam & Eve Florists (SE 17th St), Flowers & Found Objects (Las Olas), and Ann's Florist (Las Olas) are well-established florists that are closest to the hotel.

 

Thank you royalcruz. I will definately check them all out.

[taxlady214]

SAS is the most popular low-fee shuttle company mentioned here, to Port Miami. They should be able to pick you up from the airport area hotels late morning of your cruise for $15pp if you book in advance by reserving through their website. If you book private car service or a taxi it will cost about 3 times this fee. Ft. Lauderdale hotels are usually less expensive than Miami hotels, so a lot of people do this.

 

Unless you book your hotel through Priceline, you need to figure about $200 for a decent 2.5 to 3 star hotel in Fort Lauderdale in January.

 

Thank you for your prompt response. I have never booked a hotel through Priceline and am afraid of getting a bad deal. Any suggestions on parameters for a search that will get me a decent hotel where the shuttle will pick me up?

[royalcruz]

Thank you for your prompt response. I have never booked a hotel through Priceline and am afraid of getting a bad deal. Any suggestions on parameters for a search that will get me a decent hotel where the shuttle will pick me up?

 

It is easiest to get a shuttle to pick you up from the airport area or port area hotels; go with 3 stars and up. You could get the Riverside, though, and I'm not sure if SAS picks up from there. I don't use Priceline because I prefer to pay for choice. LMT(last minute travel) will show you pictures of the hotel and will even show you the name if you pretend to rent a car with the hotel. You could book Hyatt Place near the cruiseport for $169 on valuetrips...the shuttles pick up from there too.

Edited July 7, 2013 by royalcruz

[cruising_family]

Thanks Royalcruz. I had a feeling that was the case. Since we have our car, we may opt for a hotel a bit more inland for the parking issue. I used to very close to Ft. Lauderdale for years so being right on the beach is not a great desire for me. I'm opting for cost and convenience. I will check out the hotels you mentioned.

 

Thanks again.

[susibell2]

I got what I think is a pretty good rate for the ES with this programme. Two nights in December for a total of 246 USD, that's including tax.

 

Do they have free parking while your on your cruise and a shuttle to the port? Do you know how far it is from the water taxi?

[royalcruz]

Do they have free parking while your on your cruise and a shuttle to the port? Do you know how far it is from the water taxi?

Embassy Suites:

No free cruise parking.

No free port shuttle.

About a 15 minute walk to the water taxi at Hilton Marina.

Edited July 7, 2013 by royalcruz

[richardb]

Looking for a rental car near the port, but not on the airport proper so as to avoid the additional charges. Any suggestions?

[mstelly]

Looking for a rental car near the port, but not on the airport proper so as to avoid the additional charges. Any suggestions?

 

Thrifty has a location at the Port

[richardb]

Thrifty has a location at the Port

 

Thanks. I checked out the Thrifty site and it requires the car to be returned to the port rental location ONLY. I'm looking for one way rental.

Edited July 9, 2013 by richardb