Pre & post advice FLL - Miami hotels, rentals

[Needsadvice]

Hi, flying into Fort Lauderdale on Dec 17 for cruise beginning on Dec 18 at Port of Miami.

 

1. Any ideas on where to stay in FLL that has a free shuttle to the hotel -- and perhaps to the Port (we were thinking that we would have to get with Tri-county express to take us from FLL to the Port of Miami).

 

2. We return on Dec 24th and were going to rent a car and drive to Tampa and drop the car there. Budget gave us a good rate ($63) but we will have to take a taxi to Miami international airport b/c they do not have a shuttle ($20). Could go with Hertz since they have a Port of Miami location, but it is a little more expensive.

 

Any suggestions as to hotel and rental agencies? Thanks!

 

P.S. I am new to this and just submitted a post and have no idea where it went.