Flymia

If you are more than one person, and don't have a ton of luggage use an Uber. POM-FLL and FTL-POM will be around $35.00 with no tips needed, and a shorter more relaxing drive.

How much is the shuttle? Usually $15.00 a person.

Just read the reviews, it will be clear which ones to stay clear of, the cheaper the rate, the more likely its not a good. If you give us a list of hotels you are thinking of we can let you know if any you should stay away from. The majority of the hotels are fine, just make sure to pick 3 star or better. Popular cheaper hotels are Holiday Inn Port Miami, Hampton Brickell, YVE Hotel, Courtyard Marriott Downtown Miami, the Langford.

Sorry - but another question. The directions I have to the Hampton Inn and Suites in Brickell all say to exit 95 at 1B and turn onto SW8th. BUT, the maps look like there is no southbound exit 1B, just northbound. Am I missing something major here? Or am I possibly making too much of this? I just don't want to start our vacation with "driving hatred" if you get my drift lol. Thanks so much in advance.

There is one. Its here: https://www.google.com/maps/@25.7756411,-80.199937,3a,47.8y,166.42h,91.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srGekDiw4EbaHrLukyMdiQQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for. I had seen Ball & Chain online and that looks like the kind of place we'd enjoy. Is the Hop On Hop Off bus the same thing as the trolley?

 

I found a good rate at the EPIC for disembarkation Saturday and it looks like we could easily get from POM to EPIC on the trolley to drop off our bags, and then take the trolley over to Little Havana. I feel like if we do a little people watching and walk around Calle Ocho and see the park where everyone plays dominoes we'll feel like we've accomplished a lot and then we'll be ready for dinner/drinking/dancing!

 

When you say to get to Sugar early, what time do you mean? Early means so many different things in various places.

 

I'll look up the restaurants you mentioned and see what looks good to us. Thanks!

 

 

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Forums mobile app

The Hop on Hop Off bus is a tourist bus, not sure of the price, but it has routes all over the city. The Miami Trolley Bus is good too, you can certainly use that and its free. You could always Uber/Lyft around too. The Epic is a great hotel and location, you can take the trolley or you can take an Uber which would be around $7.00

As for Sugar and early, it depends. On a weekday the bar will get busy with happy hour, so early would be 4pm-5pm. On a weekend the bar will get busy pretty quick as its very popular right now. 6pm-7pm would be "early." Not that Miami is an "early" city. Most bars, lounges, nightclubs don't start to really get busy until past 12am. But every time I walk by Sugar, even at 9pm on a weekend, there is a line to just put yourself on the list to wait in line to get in.

yes.............

Why do you say that? Its been a staple of Brickell for sometime, and is still very popular. The restaurant owns the building, which means its cheap to stay there. Also, its not a large lot, the parking lot and the building as right to the east is a city park. Sure someone could build something there, but not anything massive. I don't see any thing in City Centre taking much away from Perricones, even the food hall. There is a difference between a food hall and restaurant.

Though, I will say, there are better italian options in the downtown area.

Are there any places close to the Holiday Inn to buy two bottles of good wine to take on the cruise? Or a place to make a quick stop on the way from the airport? Thanks for the help.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Yes, Whole Foods store near by, walking distance, also several CVS, Walgreens and Liquor stores. This is Downtown Miami, you will find pretty much anything you need within walking distance.

Here is my list of more casual places in Downtown Miami/Brickell area that I like.

Pollo y Jarras

Fratelli Milano

Vero Italian Restaurant

Perricone's Marketplace & Café

Burger & Beer Joint

Crazy About You

River Oyster Bar is a good choice too.

Garcias

Havana 1957 if you want Cuban food

If you want to do a bar/club in Little Havana with latin flare go to Ball and Chain. As long as you stay on the main road SW 8th Street, Little Havana is fine during the night too. Another good spot in Brickell is Black Bird, there is also the roof top bar at the Langford Hotel in Downtown Miami and the roof top bar in Brickell City Centre, Sugar. Sugar has pretty much the best skyline views in Miami at the moment. Get there EARLY, especially on a weekend as the line gets long to go in.

As for food, I highly suggest either Drunkin Dragon or Yardbird in Miami Beach. Then walk around lincoln road and ocean drive at night.

As much as you don't want to do guided tours a great way to get around and see the main spots is the Hop On Hop Off Bus. Think about it as a mean of transit opposed to a tour. Biscayne National Park (coral reef snorkeling) is worth a look. The Everglades is fantastic, but its not pleasant there in the summer.

My favorite Pervuian food in Miami is at Pollo y Jarras in Downtown Miami, good casual place. Great everything. As for Cuban, you won't fine bad Cuban food in Miami, period. The best places are often the small kitchens in Downtown or Hialeah. Check out Enriquetas if you want something more local, lunch only. You could always also go to Versailles in Little Havana.

Red Bus and MegaBus. While driving is the easiest way, there are bus options which will be much cheaper than flying and with the time it takes to get to the airport, check the bags, security, pick up the bags etc.. flying does not save much time even though its a 30min flight.

It's Downtown Miami, your food options are endless. Tons of shopping too. You're staying in the center of one of the largest cities in the U.S.

Bayside is a nice place to check out, but your food options outside of bayside are much better. If you look at my early post history I give a list of my favorite places. Tomorrow I'll find it and post it.

If you're staying there three days, some time in Miami Beach is a must as well.

I don't even remember picking MTD for my cruise coming up next week but I got it. Early is just WAY TO EARLY, and late is fine with me. I actually enjoy the sitting with others, and hope that I get that chance with MTD next week. But if its risk it between getting early seating or take MITD I am doing MTD every time.

If its not a large group Uber/Lyft is always the way to go. There is no cheaper or easier option. Unless you are solo which then a shared shuttle will be cheaper.

i was planning on just a oneway rental...parking a rental for a week would be crazy and a waste of money in my opinion. :)

 

Thanks for all the information...it is really helpful!

Uber. Don't get a rental. You may save a little bit of money using a rental, maybe, but its not worth the extra hassle for one night in Miami. Uber, stay in a hotel in the Downtown/Brickell area and enjoy not worrying about parking or dropping off or gas etc..

To the OP, if you are not a large group, use Uber for both getting to Miami and getting to the port. Pick a hotel in the Downtown Miami or Brickell area. Tons of options.

Of course to watching the ships come in you need to up pretty early in the morning. I agree that intercontinental, Holiday Inn, and Marriott Biscayne Bay are the best options. Of course you need to actually get a room with that view.

My last cruise spent a good amount of time at the casino. Came out ahead about $400.00 Two nights I lost $100.00 two numbers up $200.00. Made the biggest gains in roulette. Won $50.00 in Blackjack, decided to join my friends and play some roulette. My favorite bet in roulette is the first 14 second 14 etc.. Pays 3-1. Hit a few. Then started using $5.00 chips, and hit a number. Had a friend put $75.00 on a number, joined him and put $10.00 on the number, and there is $375.00 right there. Pure luck.

No clue how the slots do, but the games are pretty much around the same odds as other places, but they do edge more towards the house than a casino in Vegas would.

As others have said, take the metromover, its easier. Depending on the weather the walk to Mary Brickell from that hotel is not bad either. 10-15mins or so.

The issue is there are few good parking lots, and since the port is pretty much in Downtown Miami, none of the land owners there are going to use their land or parking lots for long-term parking when they can make much more money using it for other types of uses and parking.

Any of the parking lots are not close to the port, require longer and not so reliable shuttle service, and some require you to leave your keys, which I would never do.

Parking at POM is $20.00 a day and right next to the terminal, and covered. Its not that bad of a price when parking for a few hours in some downtown Miami garages cost more than that.

Yea, well Brickell won't be too bad, maybe a little worse traffic. Though Brickell tomorrow night gets very busy with Cinco De Mayo. We got an email saying there will be no road closures other than when the concert is ending to let people leave safely.

Uber prices might go up but you could always take a taxi if the Uber price surges too much. Instead of giving yourself 10mins to get to the port give yourself 25mins to be on the safe side.

From Brickell, the safer way to avoid traffic might be to take 95 to 395. An Uber will use the quickest route, if you take a cab maybe ask them to do that.

I live in downtown, and while its going to be a big concert, it won't be like Ultra size, at least that is the way it seems. Where are you coming from? Directly from the airport to the port? If so, traffic won't be bad as you never need to get off the highway.

I don't see a reason to avoid 95, and then you will need to take the 826 and 836 which are a mess as well. Plug the address in google maps on your phone and take the way it tells you to, it will give you the best way.

Avoiding I-95 just puts you on other highways too, which IMO are just as bad if not worse. The only benefit is the drive down I-75 is not as bad a 595, but it all depends what time of time you will be in the Miami area.

The only positive for the Biscayne Bay is you might get a room with a nice view. The JW has some rooms with views too, and all the rooms will have some type of city/building view, you wont be facing a wall. The JW Marquis is fairly new, and its a Marquis so its going to be nicer. Its also in a better location to walk to Brickell for dinner. The distance to the port is not important, they are both really close.

Take an Uber. While its not exactly the worst area of town at all, it won't be a pleasant walk either.

Thank you. We would probably be most interested in seafood. Especially something local and not a big chain.

Yes, tons of great places near by both hotels. For Seafood and walking distance my choice would be Miami River Oyster Bar. If you don't mind getting in a quick Uber ride and want something really "Miami" and very casual, go to Garcias.

Both are great locations, but the Conrad will of course be a nicer hotel. There is a metromover station right near the Conrad and Regency.

YVE is right on Biscayne, some of the rooms will have nice views. Its a great location, easy walk to Bayside, easy walk to metromover station, and you can even walk to Brickell.

Courtyard is a good location too, near by metromover station in Knight Center/Miami Town. Easy walk to Brickell right across the bridge. All in all not a huge difference between the two location wise, both are very close to the port and have tons of options in walking/metromover distance.