Help pick between 2 Fort Lauderdale hotels

[Payd]

We have investigated countless hotels in the Fort Lauderdale area. As much as we would like to stay at a hotel like the Hyatt Pier 66 is is out of our price range.

 

We are looking at:

 

Ramada Airport/Cruise port

and

Extended Stay America

 

Have any of you stayed at either? Any idea of shuttles or what cab fare would be to both the airport and the Carnival cruiseport?

 

Any other tips you might be able to share would be a big help!

 

Thanks

 

Payd:)

[reefexplorer]

We use HOTWIRE.COM and have always gotten a great deal. It lists the amenities the hotel has and the price and you pick which one you want. I always pick one with a shuttle and it usually picks you up at the airport and most take you to the port good luck

 

 

LINDA

[Bequia]

Your choices are a no-brainer. Go go with the Extended Stay America. A newer, cleaner, safer property. Located on SE 17th Street, a safe environment for the visitor. Plenty of shops and restaurants within footsteps of the hotel. Cab fare from the airport is less then $15 and to the cruiseport is less then $10. Play it safe, stay in a safe area.

[DawnCt]

Your choices are a no-brainer. Go go with the Extended Stay America. A newer, cleaner, safer property. Located on SE 17th Street, a safe environment for the visitor. Plenty of shops and restaurants within footsteps of the hotel. Cab fare from the airport is less then $15 and to the cruiseport is less then $10. Play it safe, stay in a safe area.

 

I was able to get a decent rate on Amerisuites for January 4 through 6th. It will be a Hyatt Place then and supposedly will be fully renovated. There are 4 of us, two parents and a 26 and 20 year old, so they take up space and eat. I have read some negative reviews but the since it will be a Hyatt Place, I am hoping that the trend will turn positive. We got a rate of $160/night. Any opinions?

[Bequia]

As an Amerisuites it was worn. Why replace anything when it's going to be remodeled and rebranded. So they didn't. As a Hyatt Place it should be great. Excellent location, safe area. I wouldn't hesitate staying there.

[DawnCt]

As an Amerisuites it was worn. Why replace anything when it's going to be remodeled and rebranded. So they didn't. As a Hyatt Place it should be great. Excellent location, safe area. I wouldn't hesitate staying there.

 

Awesome, thanks. DH really wants a hotel with a pool since we will be getting in at midnight on the first night and have a full day before the cruisel. It may be too chilly for the pool but for New Englanders, who knows.

[Payd]

Your choices are a no-brainer. Go go with the Extended Stay America. A newer, cleaner, safer property. Located on SE 17th Street, a safe environment for the visitor. Plenty of shops and restaurants within footsteps of the hotel. Cab fare from the airport is less then $15 and to the cruiseport is less then $10. Play it safe, stay in a safe area.

 

Thanks, it's nice to hear from a local!!

 

Payd:)

[Payd]

We use HOTWIRE.COM and have always gotten a great deal. It lists the amenities the hotel has and the price and you pick which one you want. I always pick one with a shuttle and it usually picks you up at the airport and most take you to the port good luck

 

 

LINDA

 

I'll take a peek at Hotwire and see what we can figure out.

 

Thanks

 

Payd:)

[Cruisin Beezer]

I'm looking at a deal for Amerisuites for september 22 for only $79. According to one site, its not going to be a Hyatt until October. So, I wonder, how much construction is still going on at that point? Would it be just about finished or would we be listening to buzz saws our entire stay?

 

Thanks everyone! I've been sitting here for hours with my AAA book out and multiple windows open looking for the right place. We are sailing into Miami but flying out of FLL.

B

[megr1125]

I looked at an amerisuites that morphed into an H.P in chicago...GORGEOUS!

 

It's mostly wall coverings, furniture, etc....plus the lobby gets redone......HUGE plasma TV, fluffy bed and this big,sectional sofa thing that may be a sofa bed but you could fake it with sheets, blankies and pillows.....

 

17th street is nice....i stayed in an ESA a couple years back and they had no tissues or shampoo-really a little too basic for me, but maybe they changed...

 

 

However, there are lots of places to eat, plus 2 supermarkets, a wine/beer/booze supermarket that's worth a day (lol) and even a laundromat if needed....

[willysgrandma]

I've stayed at Extended Stay. It was clean, quiet and in a great location - tons of restaurants within walking distance, a Publix around the corner to pick up last minute odds and end. The staff was very nice. The rooms are being redone and were comfortable.

 

It was $12.00 for a cab from the airport.

[Payd]

Thanks for the tips on nearby stores.

 

Would anyone like to recommend a restaurant or two? We are staying one night pre and one night post cruise.

 

Payd:)

[Bequia]

Thanks for the tips on nearby stores.

 

Would anyone like to recommend a restaurant or two? We are staying one night pre and one night post cruise.

 

Payd:)

 

There's quite a few to choose from, depends on what you like.

 

Here's a list of the SE 17th Street area Restaurants...

 

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

 

Carlos and Pepe's (Mexican) & Dirty 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.

 

Einstein Bros. Bagels is across the street from Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America... http://www.einsteinbros.com/

 

Bimini Boatyard and Bravo (great Italian restaurant) 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.

 

 

 

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.

For liquor, beer and wine…Total Wine and More http://www.totalwine.com/ is located next to Publix. This store is to booze what Home Depot is to lumber, it’s huge!!!

 

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/

 

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 River House... 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...ab-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/

[S.S.Oceanlover]

There's quite a few to choose from, depends on what you like.

 

Here's a list of the SE 17th Street area Restaurants...

 

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

 

Carlos and Pepe's (Mexican) & Dirty 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.

 

Einstein Bros. Bagels is across the street from Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America... http://www.einsteinbros.com/

 

Bimini Boatyard and Bravo (great Italian restaurant) 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.

 

 

 

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.

For liquor, beer and wine…Total Wine and More http://www.totalwine.com/ is located next to Publix. This store is to booze what Home Depot is to lumber, it’s huge!!!

 

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/

 

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 River House... 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...ab-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/

 

Great list! Just wanted to mention that we were there in June and del Rios has closed.:( We always ate there when we cruise from FLL and was really looking forward to it. we wound up at Carlos and Pepes which was very good also.:)

 

Bill

[Bequia]

Thanks for the heads up. Keeping up to date with the hotels is easy, the restaurants though come and go.

[megr1125]

it looks like you took that aspen ice cream place off too....i looked for it when i was there, and all that was there was an empty shop with the sign turned around....

 

we should get that list stickied (is that a word)....that's really helpful info....

there is also a place-i think it's past the starbucks, and near einsteind...a little italian place..i think it is giorgios....it has about 10 tables...looks like you are eating in a deli but it's kinda cute, italian, little twinkle lights and gets crowded! they have pizzas too...the prices were average to moderately high but it wasn't bad.....service for me, a solo traveler could have been better, but the server I had was payikng more attention to families and couples...one of the other servers was nice. It's bad though cause I would have eaten there a couple times had the male server paid more attention...

[Payd]

There's quite a few to choose from, depends on what you like.

 

 

Here's a list of the SE 17th Street area Restaurants...

 

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

 

Carlos and Pepe's (Mexican) & Dirty 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.

 

Einstein Bros. Bagels is across the street from Holiday Inn Express/Extended Stay America... http://www.einsteinbros.com/

 

Bimini Boatyard and Bravo (great Italian restaurant) 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.

 

 

 

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.

 

For liquor, beer and wine…Total Wine and More http://www.totalwine.com/ is located next to Publix. This store is to booze what Home Depot is to lumber, it’s huge!!!

 

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/

 

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 River House... 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...ab-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/

 

Bequia,

 

I can't thank you enough for all of the tips and hints along the way. I truly appreciate the list you have put together and can't wait to visit each website.

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

 

Payd:)

[NCTribeFan]

Is the Hyatt Place called Ft Lauderdale/Plantation now? Their website is showing $161 for Sunday, 12/16. Not sure I want to pay that much just to sleep (probably won't arrive until after 8 pm and sail on Monday).

[megr1125]

no...that hotel is still amerisuites Ft L-17th st. if you are booking, you can do so at amerisuites.com-i think it changes in november maybe....

Ft L-Plantation is a different property.

[Bequia]

Is the Hyatt Place called Ft Lauderdale/Plantation now?

 

 

The one closest to the port is called Hyatt Place Ft Lauderdale Airport-North, 1851 SE 10th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

 

http://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/place/locations/index.jsp?N=450+4294966761