Fort Lauderdale Questions

[cathyoo]

You folks from Fort Lauderdale are always so helpful I thought I'd seek your assistance. I'm trying to make plans for 4-6 folks cruising on the Liberty on 2-11. Our pre cruise day/night will be spent at the Holiday Express on 17th. Great deal - FREE - (points). I've read hotels are going to discontinue shuttles. But per the information here I am not concerned. But should I look into getting a private service as oppossed to cabs because there will be more than 2 of us? And some of us (not me :-) )will have a lot of luggage.

 

From what I have read there will be plenty of places for dinner and I am sure we can keep ourselves occupied that night. Should we look elsewhere for breakfast or stay at the HIEX?

 

Our flight home is 5:45 and that is where I really need some help. We took a later flight because we HATE rushing after the cruise. But the thought of dragging excessive luggage all over Fort Lauderdale is depressing. I read there were no car rentals at the port but we could get a shuttle from the car rental agencies to the airport.

 

We were thinking of renting a car at the airport and going either to the King Tut exhibition (me) or the Seminole casino (not me). Or either of these things doable. Does anyone have an idea of the time to get to the airport to pick up the rental, get to either of those activities and back to the airport? I am traveling with a couple who worry excessively. I know this is a long post but I sincerely appreciate any feedback anyone can provide. Thanks so much

Cathy

[coiran]

For transportation for six I would suggest a shuttle - One I have used before is http://www.bcsexpress.com - he is reliable and reasonable - he does not respond too well to e mail so I suggest you call to make arrangements.

 

Ron

[TrentS]

You folks from Fort Lauderdale are always so helpful I thought I'd seek your assistance. I'm trying to make plans for 4-6 folks cruising on the Liberty on 2-11. Our pre cruise day/night will be spent at the Holiday Express on 17th. Great deal - FREE - (points). I've read hotels are going to discontinue shuttles. But per the information here I am not concerned. But should I look into getting a private service as oppossed to cabs because there will be more than 2 of us? And some of us (not me :-) )will have a lot of luggage.

 

From what I have read there will be plenty of places for dinner and I am sure we can keep ourselves occupied that night. Should we look elsewhere for breakfast or stay at the HIEX?

 

Our flight home is 5:45 and that is where I really need some help. We took a later flight because we HATE rushing after the cruise. But the thought of dragging excessive luggage all over Fort Lauderdale is depressing. I read there were no car rentals at the port but we could get a shuttle from the car rental agencies to the airport.

 

We were thinking of renting a car at the airport and going either to the King Tut exhibition (me) or the Seminole casino (not me). Or either of these things doable. Does anyone have an idea of the time to get to the airport to pick up the rental, get to either of those activities and back to the airport? I am traveling with a couple who worry excessively. I know this is a long post but I sincerely appreciate any feedback anyone can provide. Thanks so much

Cathy

 

With a group your size it may be best to use a shuttle or limo as it would probably take 2 taxis to accomodate you and all the luggage. It depends a LOT if it's 4 or 6 though. Four with luggage will fit in a minivan taxi, but 6 would require 2 taxis.

 

If you want to price a shuttle I would recommend either Tri-County Transportation... http://www.floridalimo.com/

Or Larry's Limo if you want a limo... http://www.larryslimo.com/

 

They're both reliable, reputable local companies. I would also check with the Holiday Inn too though. Yes, many of the hotels are either discontinuing or charging for shuttles, but that Holiday Inn Express is one that I'm not sure of. It's only a 10 minute drive from the airport and less than 5 minutes to your ship as it's just outside the entrance to Port Everglades.

 

There are LOTS of places to eat within easy walking distance. SE 17th Street has everything you could possibly want, plus it's only a couple of blocks to the Water Taxi where you can go to the many shops and restaurants on Las Olas Blvd.

 

You would be best off renting a car for that last day in Fort Lauderdale. There are no rentals IN Port Everglades, but Port Everglades is adjacent to the airport. It's 5 minutes from the port to the airport. All of the major car rental companies are now located in a large parking garage in the center of the airport terminals so it's very convenient. It's usually easiest and much faster to just grab a taxi (minivan taxis are also usually available at the port) to get to the Car Rental Center.

 

Seminole Hard Rock is 15-20 minutes southwest of the airport. The King Tut exhibit will be in downtown Fort Lauderdale, 10-15 minutes north of the airport. Both are doable in your time frame but I would want to get off early anyway.

[Bequia]

Budget (954-563-6739)and Thrifty (877) 283-0898

still maintain rental lots on the airport perimeter road as well as in the airport. I'd contact them both to see if they offer transportation from the port to their offices. I mention these two as they should not be as busy as the airport sites, meaning easy in, easy out. If any other rental agencies offer the free transportation go for it based on best price. Either way you should do just fine.

 

If you have to hire transportation to keep the group together, I concur with Trents recommendations - Larrys Limo or Tri-County, both are favorite transporters among us "locals". ;)

[cathyoo]

Thank you so much for all your help. Would anyone happen to know the cost of a ticket to the King Tut exhibit. I tried to look on line but could find membership drive prices. Any personal recommendations for restaurants close to HIEX? Not fast food but not gourmet. I'm also thinking of checking out those car service recommendations and seeing about hiring a driver for those few hours. Driving around and getting lost may not be the way to end what I am sure is going to be a perfect vacation. If you have any suggestions for things to do for about 5 hours in Fort Lauderdale I would welcome them.

 

Thanks again and I think the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce should hire you all.

[TrentS]

According to the website tickets to King Tut go on sale in October and "we will announce the full details nearer the time". Discount tickets are $20.50 if you're a museum member, but I can't find anything about their cost if you're not. You may want to just give them a call or e-mail... http://www.moafl.org/contact.htm

 

I know Tut is coming but I haven't really paid all that much attention to the details as I saw all of that stuff in Egypt a few years ago. I really don't know how much they're bringing over, but what I saw over there was quite spectacular and I highly recommend seeing it!

 

In the Renaissance Hotel's strip mall across the street from the Holiday Inn Express is Bimini Boatyard and Bravo (Italian)... http://www.bravoitaliano.com/

 

A few blocks east are Outback, Del-Rio Tex Mex, and Chuck's Steakhouse... http://www.chucksflorida.com/

 

If you want to take the Water Taxi (at the Marina Marriott at the base of the bridge, across the street and a block to the east of the Holiday Inn Express)... http://www.watertaxi.com/FortLauderdale/FLLHome.Asp

 

You can go to 15th Street Fisheries... http://www.15streetfisheries.com/

Shirttail Charlie's... http://www.shirttailcharlies.com/

or one of the many restaurants on Las Olas Blvd... http://www.lasolasboulevard.com/

 

If you find yourself having an ice cream craving Aspen Ice Cream is excellent! It's across the street from the Holiday Inn Express in the yellow strip mall next to where Publix used to be (soon to be Office Depot)... http://www.aspenicecream.com/

[KreinKrunker]

If the Holiday Inn Express has a bell captain(call and see), check with them before the cruise to see if you can come back there, upon return, and store your luggage for a few hours. We have done this a couple of times when we had late flights out. If you can, you can cab it from there to where ever. Could also take the water taxi for a couple of hours, or just relax around their pool.

[Jim B]

Go to http://www.kingtut.org

This will give you the information about the exibit.

You can either call or e-mail your name and how many tickets you would like to have I think up to 8 tickets. ($25.00 each).

Your name then goes on the list and then in October they will call back when your number comes up. They will ask you the date, time, and how many tickets you want. We e-mailed them about 3 weeks ago and our priority number is 36,721 so who knows what it will be now.

[Cruisin' Cat Lover]

We are going on the Liberty 4/9/06 and are also looking for a place to stay. We have kids age 12 and 9 and would love to stay on the waterfront with the water taxis (never been to FL). Thanks for the info about King Tut, my kids love Egyptian history and I had no idea he was going to be in FL. THANKS

[cathyoo]

Big thanks to all of you. I appreciate all the info and the links. It would be loverly if we could leave our luggage at the HIEX after the cruise. Would surely be worth a nice tip. There is some riverboat tour that might fit perfectly into our timeframe and we get there via the water taxi.

 

Again, thanks sooo much for your help. I don't think any other pre-cruise city has such helpful folks. Although, the Tampa folks do a nice job also.

 

TrentS - the Chamber of Commerce should hire you.

[curiousjly]

I LOVE Egyptian history, artifacts and the exhibit is going to be about three weeks AFTER my cruise. :(

 

It is JUST so NOT fair.

 

Oh well, enjoy it for me will ya?!

 

Jly

[TrentS]

Jly, you can come back! ;)