Going crazy picking a hotel pre-cruise in Miami

[ElvisandTracey]

I am sailing the FOS in June, and am doing a night in Miami pre-cruise-

I don't even get in until 7 at night , so it should be an easy decision, but there are too many choices.

 

I think I have narrowed it down to Marriott Miami Biscayne Bay, Raddisson Port of Miami or the Holiday Inn Miami Downtown.

 

Marriott is most expensive, and most probably nicer by far that the

other 2? Radisson in the middle, HI way cheaper, but looks kinda icky from the photos I have seen-great views from the rooms, close to marketplace, but icky building, looks old from the photos I have seen. I know HI has lots of fans, I just don't know if I will be happy there.

 

Here's what I want:

 

Close to port

2 nice rooms with great views of the port.

Decent room service.

Free shuttle to port in the morning.

In room pay movies for the kids.

Pool.

 

The cost isn't really that different between the 3, so that is not really an issue.

 

Any help would be appreciated, or other suggesations that I don't know about. I am particularly interested if anyone has stayed at 2 or 3 of these, to do a comparison.

 

Thanks, Tracey

[Bequia]

Tracey, Whatever you decide don't let a free shuttle to the port be a deal breaker. The cab ride from any of the three you mention will be under $10 anyway. Why beholden to a shuttle when you can leave when you want with no lines or jammed into a van with a bunch of strangers dropping people of at each port?

Your going on a wonderful vacation. Do it right. Go with the Marriott, it's truly the nicest of the three. The views of the port are outstanding and the hotel restaurant makes a dynamite eggs benedict for breakfast. ;)

[TrentS]

NONE of those have a free shuttle to the port, in fact NO downtown Miami hotels do, and that's not something to even worry about as the downtown Miami hotels are all so close to the port the cab fare is very inexpensive... Just grab a taxi and go.

 

The HI has it's fans because it's usually very cheap and it's directly across from Bayside Marketplace, but personally I agree with you, it's old and "icky".

 

I'm not a fan of the Radisson either, it's okay if you can get it really cheap on Priceline or something, otherwise I'd pass. It's not in a good neighborhood and is on top of a long closed shopping mall.

 

The Biscayne Bay Marriott is a very nice hotel and has the best views of the port of any hotel. Definitely go with this one! Request a high floor SE view room and you'll have a spectacular view of the Port of Miami and the entire channel. You can watch your ship come in in the morning and dock.

[ElvisandTracey]

I guess my first instinct was right-Marriott-for some reason, I always wind up in a Marriott-the last time I cruised out of Maimi in 2003 on the Navigator, I was at a Marriott, but not the Biscayne Bay property-I was closer to the airport.

 

It was a very nice, smaller property, but the traffic to the port was awful-it was (coincidentally) the day of the funeral of Celia Cruz-I am from Los Angeles, and have never in my lifetime seen traffic like that!!! The funeral was right near the port, and it took our driver over an hour to get thru the barricades and thousands of on-lookers-she was clearly very well-loved in Miami!! That's why I want to stay as close to port as possible this time-that traffic traumatized me for life!!!

 

I think I will go with the Marriott, they have never disappointed me yet!!

[cruisegirl29]

HI,

 

Just to let you know that I've stayed a couple of times at the Holiday Inn (Prior to the Holiday Inn-it was called the Best Western). It's old but we found it very clean & accomodating. Breakfast was included & very good too. It's been about 3 yrs since we've stayed there so maybe it's changed since then. This is definately the best location if your planning on walking across to Biscayne Marketplace. Great place to roam & listen to music for free.

 

I've also stayed at the Marriott Biscayne Bay-very nice too. Just cost more for just one night when your arriving after 7pm.

 

There also is the Sheraton Biscayne Bay. That was really nice too.

 

It just depends on how much your willing to spend for a few hours to sleep.

 

Good Luck!

Sue

[TrentS]

There also is the Sheraton Biscayne Bay. That was really nice too.

Sorry, Sheraton Biscayne Bay is long gone. It closed last June and the building was imploded last month. They're building condos on the land it was on.

 

These are your best bet for a downtown Miami hotel, closest to the Port of Miami and Bayside Marketplace...

http://www.baysidemarketplace.com/

 

JW Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/miajw

 

Hyatt Regency... http://miamiregency.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

 

Intercontinental... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic/1/en/hd/miaha?irs=null

 

Biscayne Bay Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/miabb

 

Conrad International... http://conradhotels.hilton.com/en/ch/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=MIACICI

 

Four Seasons... http://www.fourseasons.com/miami/index.html

 

Mandarin Oriental... http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/526000001.asp

 

Marriott Courtyard (budget priced)... http://www.miamicourtyard.com/

 

Holiday Inn Bayside/Port of Miami (only for the budget minded)... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/miabb

[TrqoisWtrs]

Agree with Cruisegirl29, we just stayed one night at the Holiday Inn across from Bayside in November, and I agree, its old, but I didn't find it 'icky.' :p Very clean, beautiful granite counter in the bathroom, view of the ships from the upper floors is great. The only complaint I did have was that you could hear the noise from the street, but it would not stop me from staying there again. Definitely can't beat the convenience of being across the street from Bayside. Just a heads up tho, our cabbie tried to charge us $18 from our hotel to the port - that is usually around the fare from the airport.

[Bequia]

There also is the Sheraton Biscayne Bay. That was really nice too.

Sue

 

Was is the right choice of words, it's gone.... :p http://www.nbc6.net/news/5373363/detail.html

[ElvisandTracey]

Was is the right choice of words, it's gone.... :p http://www.nbc6.net/news/5373363/detail.html

 

Guess the service at that Sheraton has really fallen off lately-ha ha

 

or-

 

The staff is really running it to the ground...

 

I got a million of them-I'l be here all week....thank you and good night!!

 

Cool photo, thanks!!:eek:

[jerseygirl3]

The Holiday Inn Port of Miami across from Bayside Market is one we've stayed at numerous times. I certainly wouldn't refer to it as "icky." In fact, they have refurbished the hotel, and it's actually quite nice. It's not a 4 star hotel, but I'm fairly picky about my hotel selections, and I've never had any qualms about staying here. The location is the absolute best, the convenience to Bayside Market Place across the street is well worth it. And when you wake up in the morning, you can see your ship if you request a bayside room on an upper floor.

[Bequia]

Guess the service at that Sheraton has really fallen off lately-ha ha or-The staff is really running it to the ground...

 

:D :p Too funny!!! :p :D

[ElvisandTracey]

:D :p Too funny!!! :p :D

I couldn't resist, sorry-

[signman]

You can usually get great rates at the Intercontinenal near Bayside at http://www.easyclicktravel.com Look for the 5 star off the record . It's the Intercontinental.

[Nanatravel]

Signman, thanks for the link. I am just beginning to look for a MIami hotel for 2006. The 5 star for my dates shows $204 per night, still high for my budget. Do you know what hotel the 4 1/2 star is by chance? It shows @ $125. It states is caters to Business travelers. These are both in Downtown.

[signman]

If you are looking for November, I wouldn't worry too much. Rates at Intercontinental should come down some. I was in Miami first weekend of Nov this year and rate was 105. Only wild card is the number of pax for FOS.

 

The description for the 4 1/2 star states it is miles from Downtown, and mentions views of the lagoon. There is a lagoon adjacent to the airport. My guess is that is where the property is.

[Nanatravel]

Thanks Howard, with all our cruises we have never sailed out of Miami! Getting a nice pre-cruise hotel just adds to the vacation start. I really appreciate that link, too. I might book a cancelable back-up, just in case but want to be close to the Port or Bayside. We won't be there for the beach.

Happy Holidays