Help Choose a Post Cruise Hotel

[mand75]

Hello everyone, My family of 5 is sailing on the Magic and coming back Dec 29 - I am choosing between the Windjammer or Sea Spray Inn at LBTS or wondering if I should splurge on Lago Mar or Pelican?  We won't have a car.  Flying out of Miami on the way back.  Looking for a great pool, beach time and walking to restaurants, etc.  Three kids will be 8,9 and 12.  Thanks!

[BlueHerons]

If you are flying out of Miami, I would go ahead and stay down there.

 

Take a look at The Loews Hotel in South Beach.  It is a great family hotel.  You do not need a car to stay in South Beach.  You would need a car or at least Uber at Lago Mar or Pelican.

 

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is also completely walkable but it doesn't make sense to stay so far north when you are flying out of Miami.

 

Also take a look at Margaritaville Resort in Hollywood Beach.  Good for families, walkable, and on the way to Miami.

[fun2cruise4me]

I used to live in LBTS so if you are staying there for a particular reason, those are decent choices.  LBTS is pretty small (call it "quaint").  They have a height limit so most buildings are only a few stories tall unlike the tall towers in surrounding areas.  The area you would be in is only .4 square miles so location doesn't matter as much.  On weekend nights, they close the street from car traffic and setup a nice walkable area where you can roam to different restaurants.  The only drawback is there isn't a lot for kids except the beach and ice cream/candy.  There is a neighborhood park on the other side of A1A.

 

The other two are much nicer and are in Ft. Lauderdale.  Ft. Lauderdale has a long walkable area by the beach.  Similar to LBTS it's mostly restaurants, tourist shops and bars.  The hotels have nicer pools and common areas and guest rooms are more current.  The LBTS places are more modest in furnishings and the pools are smaller.  It just depends on what kind of experience you want.  If you will spend most of your time at the beach, then your choices are just fine.  If you'd rather spend it lounging at the pool at a full fledged resort, I'd go for Lago Mar or Pelican.

 

HTH!