Getting out of Port of Miami

[Julie Sturgeon]

If you love challenging puzzles, this post is for you!

I have a family of five looking for a hotel in the Miami area that will do a free shuttle service FROM Port of Miami to the hotel after their cruise, and then complimentary shuttle to the airport a few days later.

I can find such an animal pre-cruise, but not post. I suspect they are dreaming on this one.

So if no one knows of such a property, how would you recommend they get from Port of Miami to a hotel? (They are very cheap.) Oh, and did I mention we're trying to find this family-friendly property with a mandatory pool ... over New Year's Eve?!

 

 

[Maria de los Angeles]

 

 

 

Hi Julie! Wow, that's a tall order, but nothing is impossible especially if you're planning ahead.  The problem here is the FREE part.  Realistically, they should budget this transportation into their vacation.

 

Hotels in downtown Miami and Brickell will be a very short cab ride and pretty much fit your bill.  South Beach will be outrageously expensive, complicated and NOT so family friendly on New Year's Eve with the crazy party scene.  It might be worth a call to these hotels to see if they at least offer port pick up or airport shuttle.

 

My first recommendation would be to contact Miami Beach 411 -- they offer great transportation solutions at decent prices for situations like this. Tell them Maria the moderator sent you. https://secure.miamibeach411.com/transportation.html

You mention they are cheap ... well there is a dirt cheap hotel in South Miami that has an airport shuttle. A lot of cruise goers stay there overnight.  It has a small pool, free continental breakfast, but is really no-frills. South Miami is a nice neighborhood but if they are looking to be near all the action, they won't find that there.  The hotel can pick them up for free at the port and drop them off at the airport for free.

 

But here's the thing -- if they are not renting a car, they will be pretty much stuck in S. Miami unless they use public transportation, which isn't that great in Miami.  The S. Miami hotel is right next to a metrorail, but it's limited in where it goes. If they take cabs to go downtown or to the beach, they might as well stay somewhere closer to all the action.

 

Here is a link to the hotel:  http://www.thebestmiamihotel.com/index.htm

 

[Julie Sturgeon]

Thank you, Maria. This gives me options to put in front of them (in addition to the ones I found, of which 90 percent involve renting a car or getting a cab, LOL). Ultimately, they'll need to decide whether it's worth it to spend this kind of money to save on gas expenses.