Fort Lauderdale Hotels

[iowaoly]

Hi Trent....I have been told you are the expert. What do you know about the Yankee Clipper?

[TrentS]

We are looking for day/night stay in Ft. Lauderdale on 3/26 post cruise. We have stayed at the Embassy Suites before and the Mariana Marriott...I'm not sure of the exact name....but right by the docks and by a bridge... and were happy with both of those. Embassy is booked. We don't want to go too high, but don't want dumpy either. A nice pool for the day would be a plus and shuttle to the airport....we could always get a taxi if needed. What do you know about the Yankee Clipper?

 

Well forget the shuttle, those are more of a problem than they're worth and most hotels have discontinued them anyway. If you stay along SE 17th Street or at the Sheraton Yankee Clipper a cab is very inexpensive and a whole lot more convenient.

 

Sheraton Yankee Clipper is an older hotel that's not "dumpy", but is a bit tired and worn. It has it's fans and is fine for a night on the beach on a budget. It's 5 minutes from Port Everglades, and a short walk to a Water Taxi stop.

[TrentS]

TrentS,

 

We are looking at Extended Stay or HIX Conv Ctr for December FLL and were wondering if restaurants/shops, etc. are within walking distance? Thanks

Everything you could possibly want is within walking distance of the Extended Stay America or Holiday Inn Express "Convention Center". They're in the very best location for cruisers to stay in, less than 10 minutes from FLL and a block from Port Everglades in a very safe neighborhood with dozens of restaurants, shops, grocery, drug & liquor stores as well as the Water Taxi all within easy walking distance.

 

Here's a list of restaurants and other places along that SE 17th Street area I've posted a few times to that same question...

 

Tara Steak & Lobster is right next door to Extended Stay America/Holiday Inn Express... http://www.tarasteakandlobsterhouse.com/

 

Carlos and Pepe's (Mexican) & Durty Harry's (bar with food) are in the same shopping center as Tara. There's also a small diner in that strip mall that I've been told has an excellent breakfast.

 

Giorgio's (Italian) and Einstein Bros. Bagels are across the street from Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America... http://www.einsteinbros.com/

 

Bimini Boatyard and Bravo (Italian) are both across the street from Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America, and about a block east, opposite the Renaissance Hotel... http://www.bravoitaliano.com/

 

Jack Jackson's new restaurant FISH is across the street from the Renaissance hotel, attached to the Convention Center complex at the entrance to Port Everglades... http://www.fish-fl.com/

 

Chuck's Steakhouse... http://www.chucksflorida.com/

 

And Waxy O'Connors are both across the street from Embassy Suites, a long block west of Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America... http://www.waxys.com/

 

Outback Steakhouse and Del Rio Tex Mex are just west of Embassy Suites, and Quarterdeck is across the street and a block north of Embassy Suites on Cordova Road, just beyond Winn-Dixie... http://www.quarterdeckrestaurant.com/

 

Kelly's Landing is a great New England style seafood place in a strip mall on Cordova Road, across the street from Winn-Dixie.

 

If you want some excellent ice cream, Aspen Ice Cream is next door to Office Depot, in the large yellow strip mall across the street from Tara and Carlos and Pepe's... http://www.aspenicecream.com/

 

There are 3 large strip malls around Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America - More or less across the street, next door, and behind, as well as several smaller ones. There are at least a dozen other small restaurants scattered throughout those strip malls, plus a number of fast food and carry-out places in the area as well... You'll never go hungry along that section of SE 17th Street, there's something for every taste and budget.

 

Publix grocery store is in the large strip mall a block south on Cordova Road, behind Embassy Suites. Publix sell beer & wine as well as being very large, very nice grocery stores.

 

Barnie's Coffee & Tea is in the same strip mall as Publix, a few stores to the west, next to Carvel Ice Cream... http://www.barniescoffee.com/

 

Chicken Grill... http://www.naturalchickengrill.com/

 

And Camille's Sidewalk Cafe are also in that same strip mall... http://www.camillescafe.com/

 

Crown Wine and Spirits is across the street from Embassy Suites, behind the Chevron station, and 67 Wine & Spirits is across the street from Crown.

 

Winn-Dixie grocery store is next door to Crown, and there's a CVS drug store in the same strip mall as 67 Wine & Spirits.

 

Walgreens drug store is a block east of Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America, across the street from the Renaissance hotel.

 

The restaurants above are just those that you can easily walk to. If you take the Water Taxi you can easily get to dozens more. The nearest Water Taxi stop is 2 long blocks east, under the SE 17th Street Bridge, in front of the Marina Marriott hotel... http://www.watertaxi.com/FortLauderdale/FLLHome.Asp

 

Some popular places easily accessible by Water Taxi are...

 

15th Street Fisheries... http://www.15streetfisheries.com/

 

Jackson's Steakhouse... http://www.jacksonssteakhouse.com/

 

Shirttail Charlie's... http://www.shirttailcharlies.com/

 

Fort Lauderdale Riverhouse... http://www.ftlauderdaleriverhouse.com/

 

Downtowner Saloon... http://www.downtownersaloon.com/

 

Shooter's Waterfront Cafe, and at the same stop Taverna Opa... http://tavernaoparestaurant.com/

 

Charlie's Crab... http://www.muer.com/locations/chcrab-ftlaud/chcrab-ftlaud.html

 

The many many restaurants and shops along beautiful Las Olas Blvd... http://www.lasolasboulevard.com/

 

And Las Olas Riverfront... http://www.riverfrontfl.com/

[viper88]

Does the Embassy Suite's shuttle take you to the port or do you need to get a taxi from the ES?

[Dalabar]

Oh my gosh, Trent, thanks so much for all the info. I'll bet you get tired of the same old questions over and over again!!!!!!

[MrsFops&FopsC5]

Trent, if you wouldn't mind do you know anything about the Renaissance in Boca Raton? It's off 95 at about Glades Road. Your help is apprecitaed.

 

Thanks

[EvilMuffins]

Trent, I really appreciate all of the information about hotels. We found that the ES is a bit pricey for us. Is there a holiday Inn or Best Western around the area or other places that house people for about $150 - $200 a night for 4 people comfortably. But first I'll go through all the hotels in the previous page to make our decision.

[cruiselifers]

Trent

Thank you for all of your help in the past. We just got back this past Friday from our 10 day Princess Sun cruise and based on your recommendation we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on 17th for a two day pre cruise, and we loved it. The staff was wonderful and we loved the room. It was very clean, with plenty of room and a microwave and a fridge that we were not expecting so that was an added bonus!!! The breakfast was nice and plentiful for us and they kept the area so clean that we never felt that we were eating after someone. Another added nice touch was that as you were leaving for the day they had small bottle waters by the door for you to take for free. They had free shuttle from the airport that was the quickest ever for us, it came in ten minutes, and the cab to the pier was only four bucks. They even called the cab for us. We will stay here again next year for sure.

Thanks again for leading us in the right direction.

[coiran]

Trent

Thank you for all of your help in the past. We just got back this past Friday from our 10 day Princess Sun cruise and based on your recommendation we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on 17th for a two day pre cruise, and we loved it. The staff was wonderful and we loved the room. It was very clean, with plenty of room and a microwave and a fridge that we were not expecting so that was an added bonus!!! The breakfast was nice and plentiful for us and they kept the area so clean that we never felt that we were eating after someone. Another added nice touch was that as you were leaving for the day they had small bottle waters by the door for you to take for free. They had free shuttle from the airport that was the quickest ever for us, it came in ten minutes, and the cab to the pier was only four bucks. They even called the cab for us. We will stay here again next year for sure.

Thanks again for leading us in the right direction.

 

Whose cab did you get for $4? Most of them start out with at least $2!

Ron

[TrentS]

Does the Embassy Suite's shuttle take you to the port or do you need to get a taxi from the ES?

I think they will, but I can't remember if they charge or not. Personally I'd just grab a taxi, Embassy Suites is only about 3 blocks from the north entrance to Port Everglades.

[TrentS]

Trent, if you wouldn't mind do you know anything about the Renaissance in Boca Raton? It's off 95 at about Glades Road. Your help is apprecitaed.

 

Thanks

I'm sorry, but I'm not really familiar with that one at all. I know where it is, but have never been inside. It's in a nice area though, just off of I-95 and a couple of blocks from Boca Town Center... http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=144

 

I trust you'll have a car if staying up there though as it's a long way from the airports.

[TrentS]

Trent, I really appreciate all of the information about hotels. We found that the ES is a bit pricey for us. Is there a holiday Inn or Best Western around the area or other places that house people for about $150 - $200 a night for 4 people comfortably. But first I'll go through all the hotels in the previous page to make our decision.

You'll want to avoid all of the BW's in South Florida except for Pelican Beach Resort, and it's just as pricey as ES. If you want a nice budget hotel in the SE 17th Street area then go with Extended Stay America, or the Holiday Inn Express "Convention Center" right next door. They're both very nice places, and have everything you could want within easy walking distance.

[TrentS]

Trent

Thank you for all of your help in the past. We just got back this past Friday from our 10 day Princess Sun cruise and based on your recommendation we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on 17th for a two day pre cruise, and we loved it. The staff was wonderful and we loved the room. It was very clean, with plenty of room and a microwave and a fridge that we were not expecting so that was an added bonus!!! The breakfast was nice and plentiful for us and they kept the area so clean that we never felt that we were eating after someone. Another added nice touch was that as you were leaving for the day they had small bottle waters by the door for you to take for free. They had free shuttle from the airport that was the quickest ever for us, it came in ten minutes, and the cab to the pier was only four bucks. They even called the cab for us. We will stay here again next year for sure.

Thanks again for leading us in the right direction.

Glad you had a good time! :)

[twinkiegrl3]

Are there any hotels/motels within walking distance to the beach and close to the airpot and pier?

[TrentS]

Are there any hotels/motels within walking distance to the beach and close to the airpot and pier?

The SE 17th Street hotels are not within walking distance to the beach, but they're a 5 minute drive either by cab, or you can even take the bus over. The Water Taxi is another option.

 

These are the beach hotels on the southern end of the beach, 5-10 minutes from the port.

 

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

 

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

 

Bahia Mar... http://www.bahiamarhotel.com/

 

Sheraton Yankee Clipper... http://www.sheratonclipper.com/

[beloum]

We are staying at the Comfort Suites Sawgrass in Tamarac the night before a cruise in late April. Any info would be extremely helpful and appreciated. Thanks

[TrentS]

We are staying at the Comfort Suites Sawgrass in Tamarac the night before a cruise in late April. Any info would be extremely helpful and appreciated. Thanks

I'm not at all familiar with that hotel, but if you're staying way out there I trust you'll have a car as cabs will kill you - It's a good 35-40 minutes from the port & airport in normal traffic.

[mii]

A big thank you Trent for the list of the restaurants along S. 17th in FLL. We are staying at the Holiday Inn Express in May and that list helped out immensly. Again a great big thanks.

 

Marilyn

[leslierx]

We are staying at Hyatt pier 66. Can you walk to any beach from this hotel?

[TrentS]

We are staying at Hyatt pier 66. Can you walk to any beach from this hotel?

You can, but it's a good long walk (not quite a mile)... You can also take the Water Taxi from the Hyatt property to a stop across the street from the beach... http://www.watertaxi.com/FortLauderdale/FLLHome.Asp

[cruiselifers]

Whose cab did you get for $4? Most of them start out with at least $2!

 

I can not remember the cab name, but the cost was actually $3.95. We gave him a ten because we felt so bad that it was such a short distance and there was literally no traffic. It was a Tuesday morning and there was only a couple of ships in port. It was the fastest we have ever gotten into the port.

[wingnut2005]

Trent

We have booked the Hamption Inn FLL Cypress Creek on eastCypress Creek Rd as our cancelable hotel option while trying to hit on priceline for March 3 2006 I know this is out of the cruise , airport & downtown area but everything seems to be booked for this date in those areas or way to pricey what I was wondering would this be a pricey cab ride from airport & then to port everglades. Or if you have any other options also looking at Hamption Inn Plantation on 6th st.or Hilton Sunrise on N University. Not having much luck on priceline have bid up to $100 so far for downtown & airport both 3 & 4 stars last April bid $50 3 star recieved the Wyndham FLL airport any help would be appreciated thanks in advance.

[bflowngs]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with this hotel. I believe it is located at 900 Ft. Lauderdale Beach Rd. We are renting a car for the day, so transportation is not an issue. However, I notice they charge $10 a day for parking. Is this normal in FLL? Can't cancel as I got this on priceline and is listed as 3 star.

[TrentS]

Trent

We have booked the Hamption Inn FLL Cypress Creek on eastCypress Creek Rd as our cancelable hotel option while trying to hit on priceline for March 3 2006 I know this is out of the cruise , airport & downtown area but everything seems to be booked for this date in those areas or way to pricey what I was wondering would this be a pricey cab ride from airport & then to port everglades. Or if you have any other options also looking at Hamption Inn Plantation on 6th st.or Hilton Sunrise on N University. Not having much luck on priceline have bid up to $100 so far for downtown & airport both 3 & 4 stars last April bid $50 3 star recieved the Wyndham FLL airport any help would be appreciated thanks in advance.

You'll want to rent a car if you stay in any of those areas. You can rent a small car for the day for less than the one way cab ride, plus you'll need a car to go to dinner, etc.

[TrentS]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with this hotel. I believe it is located at 900 Ft. Lauderdale Beach Rd. We are renting a car for the day, so transportation is not an issue. However, I notice they charge $10 a day for parking. Is this normal in FLL? Can't cancel as I got this on priceline and is listed as 3 star.

It's an older hotel across from the beach. It's a bit tired and worn, but fine for a night if you're on a budget and not expecting a Ritz-Carlton. Many hotels do charge to park your car, not just in Fort Lauderdale, but everywhere. Consider $10 cheap, many in Miami charge $20+