5 hrs in Ft Lauderdale with car rental, what to do?

[Jeanne B]

We're going to have 4 to 5 hours to kill after our cruise next month so I booked a rental car with Alamo and I was wondering what we could do with our time? It will be DH, DD14 and I. I would LOVE to go to the Miami Zoo for 2 or 3 hours but I'm afraid we would be pushing it considering the driving time it would take to get there and back to FLL by 2 pm.

 

Any other suggestions? We'll have had enough beach time on the cruise so we probably won't have too much interest in heading to the beach.

[monicajay]

Sawgrass mills outlet shopping mall.

 

5th biggest mall in the USA and I believe the biggest outlet mall.

 

My daughter (15) could live there. Personally, I'm not a shopper but since I have to get things once and a while I might as well get them cheap:D . I was there last week and picked up all kinds of bargains.

 

There is a rainforest cafe at the mall and if you've never experienced this it is worth the vistit.

 

Mall is about 10-15 minute drive from the airport depending on traffic.

[kelmac]

Sawgrass mills outlet shopping mall.

 

5th biggest mall in the USA and I believe the biggest outlet mall.

 

My daughter (15) could live there. Personally, I'm not a shopper but since I have to get things once and a while I might as well get them cheap:D . I was there last week and picked up all kinds of bargains.

 

There is a rainforest cafe at the mall and if you've never experienced this it is worth the vistit.

 

Mall is about 10-15 minute drive from the airport depending on traffic.

 

We are not big Mall people, but this place is great. Nice restaurants and a movie theater. Perfect if you need to be entertained for 3 --4 hours before a flight home.:)

 

Kel

[Bequia]

There's plenty to keep you occupied post cruise, you can kill a whole day at Sawgrass Mills , the largest outlet center in Florida. Just west of Sawgrass Mills are two Everglades airboat operators, Everglades Holiday Park - Sightseeing Tours and Sawgrass Recreation Park .

Just minutes from the beach is the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District in downtown Fort Lauderdale, home to cultural attractions, shops, parks and restaurants. Along Riverwalk, the brick-lined meandering promenade, discover the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Museum of Discovery and Science with its Blockbuster 3D IMAX Theater, Florida Grand Opera, Old Fort Lauderdale, Stranahan House and the Museum of Art.

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino , hotel and casino complex is comparable to a Vegas shopping/casino experience.

One of the nicest beaches in SoFla is Hollywood Beach with itsHollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk , swim all day in our warm turquoise waters.

Haven't had enough cruising then hop on the Jungle Queen Riverboat or the Carrie B. Harbor Tours and see the yachts and homes of the rich and famous. Or you can just hop on the Water Taxi/Water Bus for the poor mans tour of the waterways.

Even more bargain shopping is available at the largest flea market in SoFla, the Swap Shop. Or you can spend some big bucks on our version of Rodeo Drive,Las Olas Boulevard. IKEA recently opened a store 15 minutes west of the cruiseport, great place for lunch if you have a hankerin for some Swedish meatballs...

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[Jeanne B]

Thanks so much for the replies everyone. :) Sawgrass Mills sounds like a great option (not so sure DH will be thrilled though:D ). We did an Everglades tour after our first cruise so that's out but you gave plenty of other ideas Bequia in addition to Sawgrass so I don't think we'll have a problem finding something to do.

[sunlover2]

We're going to have 4 to 5 hours to kill after our cruise next month so I booked a rental car with Alamo and I was wondering what we could do with our time? It will be DH, DD14 and I. I would LOVE to go to the Miami Zoo for 2 or 3 hours but I'm afraid we would be pushing it considering the driving time it would take to get there and back to FLL by 2 pm.

 

Any other suggestions? We'll have had enough beach time on the cruise so we probably won't have too much interest in heading to the beach.

 

You could always try to fly stand-by. Unless it's the major holidays or Spring break time we always got on an earlier flight (family of 4). Good luck

[Jeanne B]

You could always try to fly stand-by. Unless it's the major holidays or Spring break time we always got on an earlier flight (family of 4). Good luck

 

I was actually thinking of trying that. After our cruise we're headed to the Bahamas for 2 nights before flying home thanks to a good deal on Spirit but I was concerned about booking the 10:50 a.m. flight since it would be international so I went with the 4 pm flight. I hated doing that since we lose an entire afternoon at Atlantis but the early flight wouldn't do us much good if we missed it.

 

When you fly stand-by do you have to pay the current fare or are you guaranteed the fare you originally paid as long as there are seats available?

[megr1125]

I was actually thinking of trying that. After our cruise we're headed to the Bahamas for 2 nights before flying home thanks to a good deal on Spirit but I was concerned about booking the 10:50 a.m. flight since it would be international so I went with the 4 pm flight. I hated doing that since we lose an entire afternoon at Atlantis but the early flight wouldn't do us much good if we missed it.

 

When you fly stand-by do you have to pay the current fare or are you guaranteed the fare you originally paid as long as there are seats available?

 

technically they can charge you the difference in fare plus a change fee...BUT they might not....you'd have to ask.....it really depends on the type of fare you booked.