Baymont Inn (now La Quinta Inn?) & Miami Marathon questions

[cold in MN]

We are thinking of booking this hotel for our pre-cruise on Jan 27, 2007, however, I have a couple of questions. We are planning on running the Miami Marathon before getting on our cruise on Sunday the 28th. I'm having a REALLY tough time finding something decently priced downtown Miami where the marathon starts, so the price($129/nite) and shuttle to port this hotel offers is definitely a plus, since we'll have to get taxi's to and back from the marathon start.

 

Sooooo.... here are my quesions:

 

1. Will we be able to find a taxi at 4:30 am Sunday to get us to AA arena and then at 10-10:30am to get us back to the hotel?

 

2. About how long and how much should a taxi cost to get to the arena?

 

3. What is check-out time and has anyone ever had any luck with getting late check-out?

 

4. What time is the last shuttle to the port?

 

We hope to be headed back to the hotel by 11am, so don't know if this is cutting it too close or not.

 

Thanks for all your help!