Miami or FL

[Misty_Que]

We are cruising out of Miami on January 7/06 but arriving on January 2/06. There will be a group of 19 with 2 kids (8 & 11).

Just wondering if we should stay in Miami or FL. I was initially looking into Miami but I've heard that the hotels are nicer in FL and cheaper for a beachfront. We are looking to spend a day at the beach, do some shopping, and the Everglades tour. Where should we stay, Miami or FL? Hotel recommendations greatly appreciated....preferably something on the beach close to shopping, resturants, etc.

 

Thanks!

[Misty_Que]

Can anyone help me or give me their opinion????

[Bequia]

Where are you flying into, Ft Lauderdale or Miami?

[Misty_Que]

We are flying into Miami because that was our orginal intention....to spend the 5 days prior in Miami. Now one of our guests is trying to talk us in to going to FL because it is cheaper to stay on the beach (as opposed to Sobe), the hotels are nicer, and it is safer. I don't know anything about either area so I am looking for help.

[TrentS]

There's no easy answer to your question... There's a lot of shopping in both Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and there are very nice beachfront hotels in both cities, as well as in between the two. As for price, you'll have to shop around, but beachfront in January isn't exactly cheap in either location.

 

I trust that you'll have a rental car since you want to go to the Everglades and go shopping. As far as safety goes, both areas are perfectly safe!

 

I'll list my recommendations for beach hotels below, check them out and see if any appeal to you. These are all hotels I know personally to be nice places...

 

Fort Lauderdale Beach...

 

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

 

Harbor Beach Marriott... http://www.marriottharborbeach.com/

 

Pelican Beach Resort... http://www.pelicanbeach.com/

 

The Atlantic... http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1475

 

St. Regis (should be Fort Lauderdale's nicest when it opens in January)... http://www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1512

 

Hollywood Beach...

 

Hollywood Beach Marriott... http://www.hollywoodbeachmarriott.com/

 

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

 

South Beach...

 

South Beach Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MIAMB

 

Loews... http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/miamibeach/default.asp

 

Marriott Courtyard South Beach (3 blocks from the beach)... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MIACB

 

Hotel Victor... http://hotelvictorsouthbeach.com/

 

Ritz-Carlton South Beach... http://www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/south_beach/default.html

 

Miami Beach...

 

Fontainebleau... http://www.fontainebleau.com/

 

Eden Roc... http://www.edenrocresort.com/

 

Courtyard Miami Beach... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MIABH

 

Bal Harbour...

 

Sheraton Bal Harbour... http://www.sheratonbalharbourresort.com/

 

Sunny Isles Beach...

 

DoubleTree Ocean Point... http://www.oceanpointresort.com/

 

Le Meridien... http://www.lemeridien.com/usa/miami/hotel_us1840.shtml

 

Trump International Sonesta Beach... http://www.sonesta.com/SunnyIsles/

 

Key Biscayne...

 

Ritz-Carlton... http://www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/key_biscayne/

 

Sonesta... http://www.sonesta.com/keybiscayne/

 

Some area shopping malls...

 

Sawgrass Mills... http://www.sawgrassmillsmall.com/

 

Las Olas Blvd... http://www.lasolasboulevard.com/

 

Galleria... http://www.galleriamall-fl.com/

 

Broward Mall... http://www.browardmall.com/

 

Pembroke Lakes Malls... http://www.pembrokelakesmall.com/

 

Aventura Mall... http://www.shopaventuramall.com/

 

Bal Harbour Shops... http://www.balharbourshops.com/

 

Bayside Marketplace... http://www.baysidemarketplace.com/

 

Coco Walk... http://www.galleryatcocowalk.com/

 

Village of Merrick Park... http://www.villageofmerrickpark.com/

 

Dolphin Mall... http://www.shopdolphinmall.com/

 

Miami International Mall... http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=141

 

Dadeland Mall... http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=138

 

The Falls... http://www.shopthefalls.com/

 

Everglades tours...

 

Everglades Safari Park... http://www.evsafaripark.com/

 

Everglades Holiday Park... http://www.evergladesholidaypark.com/

 

Sawgrass Recreation Park... http://evergladestours.com/

 

Billie's Swamp Safari... http://www.seminoletribe.com/safari/

 

Ride the Wind (airboat tours)... http://www.ride-the-wind.com/

[Bequia]

Being that there are 19 of you I would assume you need more then 2 or 3 rooms. If that's the case I would ask whichever hotel you choose if a group rate is available. The hotel that you think is too expensive may be cheaper for the group.

 

Even if the hotels in FLL are cheaper, your going to have to consider your transportation costs. Transport from MIA to Ft Lauderdale and then to the Port of Miami is going add to up. Staying in the Miami area, even if its more then Ft Lauderdale, may be cheaper in the long run.

The 1st week in January will be tough, most schools are closed and familys have already made reservations. Many like to spend New Years at the beach. You may have trouble finding a decent hotel anywhere on the beach at this point.

For now, call around and narrow down your choices. Trents already provided a pretty extensive list to start with. When you narrow it down to a few choices we could probably give you a better idea of which one to go for.

It's a daunting task to handle the arrangements for 19 and you may be better off having an travel agent do the leg work for you. ;)

[Misty_Que]

Well, we aren't renting a car so I think our best bet is to stay in Miami. With the transportation costs it wouldn't end up being cheaper.

 

I tried getting a group rate at some of the hotels but because we have 6 arriving one day and 8 arriving another, we don't qualify as a group.

[TrentS]

Well if you're not renting cars then I would recommend SOUTH BEACH. The South Beach hotels I listed are within easy walking distance of many many restaurants and shops, as well as the closest beach hotels to the Port of Miami and MIA. I would hurry up and get something booked though, it's a little late now to be booking something for January! :eek:

[Misty_Que]

I know. I have been working with my TA but he seems to be very slow. I even went on to get the help of other TA's but I don't want to book with them until I hear back from mine. I am giving him till the end of next week and that's it. We are trying to find something under $150 per night (we are from Canada so with the exchange rates its costs us more) and it's not easy....and I don't want to stay in a dump.

 

Thanks for the help!

[TrentS]

Um, under $150 a night in January, not a dump, and beachfront? Good luck! :eek:

 

Keep in mind too that unless you stay in South Beach (below the 1700 block or so) or downtown Miami (not beachfront), you really should consider renting some minivans as transportation costs will be quite high just to go to dinner, not to mention from the airport and to the port.

[maren91]

Hello-

I am on your cruise!! The reason hotels are so expensive those days (I investigated) is because the Orange Bowl (Football) is in town. I got a room (thank goodness for Marriott Rewards) at JW Marriott but it was $245 for a second room for my sister (AAA rate). We are staying one night post cruise at the Hyatt Pier Sixty Six in FLL, I am hoping the remodeling will be done by then. I was hoping prices would be cheaper in January but not when one of the biggest football games is in town with us :)

[TrentS]

Orange Bowl, that's still holiday week, and it's just "winter" - When the temps up north go down, the hotel rates down here go up. In Fort Lauderdale the enormous popularity of the King Tut exhibit is also driving hotel rates up. Plus there are just more people travelling than in past years. Prices and occupancy are up considerably this winter and spring.