Rare JamesEM Posted May 5, 2016 #1 Share Posted May 5, 2016 For our cruise this November instead on booking a hotel on 17th St. I am considering the Riverside Hotel for our pre cruise stay, any input on this hotel and the Las Olas area would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capriccio Posted May 5, 2016 #2 Share Posted May 5, 2016 (edited) Its a very nice hotel in a wonderful location with lots to do - and will definitely give you a better feel for Fort Lauderdale than the 17th Street hotels. Check out the following websites: for nearby restaurants, boutiques, galleries and attractions: http://www.lasolasboulevard.com for the water taxi (stop is very close): http://www.watertaxi.com for the sun trolley and the water trolley (cheap transportation that will take you to the beach and a free ride across the New River): http://www.suntrolley.com for the Carrie B (excursion boat docks about 2 blocks away): http://www.carriebcruises.com Edited May 5, 2016 by capriccio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueHerons Posted May 5, 2016 #3 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Las Olas Boulevard is a much, much nicer area than 17th Street with FAR superior dining. I love the Riverside Hotel and Ryan in the lobby bar is one of my favorite bartenders in Fort Lauderdale. Lots of dining, shopping, and attractions on Las Olas plus the boulevard is so gorgeous at night. The live oak trees in the median and the palm trees that line the street are lit up at night. Lots of alfresco dining. Because rents are so astronomical on Las Olas (they start at about $100psf), the restaurants have to be excellent to survive. The Riverside is an on demand water taxi stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlorenceItaly Posted May 6, 2016 #4 Share Posted May 6, 2016 We ADORE the Riverside Hotel. It is our choice hotel. We typically use Hotwire to book, but, for our cruise in Oct. we booked directly because the price was comparable. By calling the hotel directly and asking for their best rate it saved me about $10. If the Hotwire price comes down closer to cruise, we can cancel refundable reservation. I don't see it happening as we are staying Oct. 22 and the Arts Festival is during this time. I only discovered this a few days ago, so I feel lucky to have a room. I am also thrilled to be there during the Arts Festival. Marie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eandj Posted May 6, 2016 #5 Share Posted May 6, 2016 If we don't stay on the beach, we find Las Olas Blvd. a 100% improvement over 17th St. The street is so pretty and relaxing. As opposed to 17th St. which screams, "any busy street in the U.S." Try it and you'll feel the difference too.;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlorenceItaly Posted May 6, 2016 #6 Share Posted May 6, 2016 We love to drink and dine on the Blvd. Marie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueHerons Posted May 6, 2016 #7 Share Posted May 6, 2016 If we don't stay on the beach, we find Las Olas Blvd. a 100% improvement over 17th St. The street is so pretty and relaxing. As opposed to 17th St. which screams, "any busy street in the U.S." Try it and you'll feel the difference too.;) Hahaha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JamesEM Posted May 7, 2016 Author #8 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Thanks everyone for your input, I will deftly be booking our pre cruise stay at the Riverside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
royalcruz Posted May 7, 2016 #9 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Great choice!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridedoll1026 Posted May 9, 2016 #10 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Las Olas Boulevard is a much, much nicer area than 17th Street with FAR superior dining.. Hi BlueHerons, Are you familiar with the Hampton on N. Andrews Ave in the Las Olas area? Just wondering if it is a nice area as well. Got it for $207 in March 2017. Is it near the Riverside? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
royalcruz Posted May 9, 2016 #11 Share Posted May 9, 2016 (edited) Hi BlueHerons,Are you familiar with the Hampton on N. Andrews Ave in the Las Olas area? Just wondering if it is a nice area as well. Got it for $207 in March 2017. Is it near the Riverside? Hampton Inn is walking distance from Riverside Hotel, but no, it isn't a nice area. It's not considered to be in the Las Olas area. It's in a different section of downtown adjacent to Las Olas area that only recently started developing into a nicer area; the area just west of it is what most would consider really bad (homeless, crime, drugs). I would not walk around there outside of M-F 9-5. Uber to Cheesecake Factory and walk around from there or maybe the hotel shuttle can drop you off. Edited May 9, 2016 by royalcruz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueHerons Posted May 9, 2016 #12 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Hampton Inn is walking distance from Riverside Hotel, but no, it isn't a nice area. It's not considered to be in the Las Olas area. It's in a different section of downtown adjacent to Las Olas area that only recently started developing into a nicer area; the area just west of it is what most would consider really bad (homeless, crime, drugs). I would not walk around there outside of M-F 9-5. Uber to Cheesecake Factory and walk around from there or maybe the hotel shuttle can drop you off. This. I would walk there during the day but at night it is a bad area. It's definitely transitioning but still has problems. It is a short cab or Uber ride to Las Olas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridedoll1026 Posted May 10, 2016 #13 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Hampton Inn is walking distance from Riverside Hotel, but no, it isn't a nice area. It's not considered to be in the Las Olas area. It's in a different section of downtown adjacent to Las Olas area that only recently started developing into a nicer area; the area just west of it is what most would consider really bad (homeless, crime, drugs). I would not walk around there outside of M-F 9-5. Uber to Cheesecake Factory and walk around from there or maybe the hotel shuttle can drop you off. OMG!! Thank you so much royalcruz! I think I'll cancel & start a new search! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridedoll1026 Posted May 10, 2016 #14 Share Posted May 10, 2016 This. I would walk there during the day but at night it is a bad area. It's definitely transitioning but still has problems. It is a short cab or Uber ride to Las Olas. Thank you so much for your response! I think we'll pass on this one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridedoll1026 Posted May 10, 2016 #15 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Just booked the Riverside for $218/nt!! Cancelled the Hampton. Thank you again royalcruz & BlueHerons! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
royalcruz Posted May 10, 2016 #16 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Just booked the Riverside for $218/nt!! Cancelled the Hampton. Thank you again royalcruz & BlueHerons! That's what I call an awesome $11 upgrade!!! Really the Hampton Inn itself is fine, and they give you breakfast, and I think free parking....but if for a few bucks more you can be in the heart of a really nice walking neighborhood, it's a no brainer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueHerons Posted May 11, 2016 #17 Share Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) Just booked the Riverside for $218/nt!! Cancelled the Hampton. Thank you again royalcruz & BlueHerons! That's awesome! Congrats!! The location is so fantastic and the hotel is so great, it will spoil you for anywhere else. I would not hesitate to stay at that Hampton, it is a nice hotel, the area is sketchy. With all the development around it, I'm not sure it is going to stay that way for too many more years. Edited May 11, 2016 by BlueHerons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disneygirl1972 Posted May 11, 2016 #18 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Does anyone know if the sofa in the King room opens into a bed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohioworkingmom Posted May 13, 2016 #19 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Could anyone tell me about the area around Doubletree Galleria One? Is it safe? Supposed to be staying there next month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltsnh Posted May 13, 2016 #20 Share Posted May 13, 2016 (edited) Could anyone tell me about the area around Doubletree Galleria One? Is it safe? Supposed to be staying there next month. I stayed there last year. The rooms are huge! It is next to the mall. We took the water taxi right from their dock... loved it. Not staying there this time because I like the area where the Riverside is.... and wanted to try something different. It is a lengthy ride from the airport. And there was a bike race going on so the trip back to the ship was long too. Edited May 13, 2016 by quiltsnh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
royalcruz Posted May 13, 2016 #21 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Could anyone tell me about the area around Doubletree Galleria One? Is it safe? Supposed to be staying there next month. It's very nice and very low crime. It's a commercial section of a residential neighborhood. There are several restaurants both fine dining and casual. Truluck, Blue Martini, and PF Changs have awesome happy hours with food specials (I eat dinner between these at least once a week). Within a couple of blocks are the beach, a park, a mall, grocery store, and CVS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JamesEM Posted May 13, 2016 Author #22 Share Posted May 13, 2016 I would like to thank everyone for there input, very informative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohioworkingmom Posted May 13, 2016 #23 Share Posted May 13, 2016 (edited) Thanks, just making sure, not interested in the bad parts of town!! Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk Edited May 13, 2016 by ohioworkingmom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sk84fungirl Posted May 15, 2016 #24 Share Posted May 15, 2016 What other Las Olas hotels are recommended for a pre-cruise 1 or 2 night stay other than Riverside. Group size will be 10 - 20 and looking for double rooms. More important to be close to restaurants, etc than a hotel that includes breakfast for us. Right now, considering 17th street area and have stayed their before. However, as many will be first time cruisers would like a little different experience. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capriccio Posted May 15, 2016 #25 Share Posted May 15, 2016 What other Las Olas hotels are recommended for a pre-cruise 1 or 2 night stay other than Riverside. Group size will be 10 - 20 and looking for double rooms. More important to be close to restaurants, etc than a hotel that includes breakfast for us. Right now, considering 17th street area and have stayed their before. However, as many will be first time cruisers would like a little different experience. Thank you! The Riverside is the only hotel on Las Olas. There is a Hampton Inn on Federal Highway north of Las Olas in a changing (for the better) neighborhood. It is fine during the day but you would probably want to take a taxi/uber after dark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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