Miami - Hotel near Airport or Downtown

[wvanfos]

Need help deciding whether to book a hotel near the airport which provides free airport transportation and then pay for a cab to the port or if it's better to book downtown and pay for cabs to the hotel and then to the port. Flight doesn't arrive until 5:45 p.m. so not looking for much else to do except have dinner and drinks. Which is better situated if we want to do something outside the hotel for meals or maybe make a quick stop for sodas before boarding?

[Bequia]

Which is better situated if we want to do something outside the hotel for meals or maybe make a quick stop for sodas before boarding?

 

Downtown is better situated for meals, that would be my choice. ;)