Fort Lauderdale Forum: Looking for Pre-Cruise Hotel for June

Hi -- For a one night pre-cruise stay, we like the hotels around 17th Street. We really like the Hilton Marina -- right across from the pier with a view of the cruise ships, beautiful pool area, the water taxi stop is right at this hotel and it is within walking distance of some good restaurants and shops.

We also found Hyatt Place FL 17th Street Convention Ctr. to be a nice surprise -- it's definitely a no-frills hotel, but clean and nicely located for a pre-cruise hotel, also within walking distance of some good restaurants and shops, free wi-fi and continental breakfast. The pool area is very basic though. They will give you a ride to the pier in the morning if you pre-book with them. It's a bit of chaos, but I think they have streamlined their shuttle process. We did not use it - we like to grab a quick cab on our own. I am sure the prices would be very reasonable for the time of year you will be there.

If you want to splurge and stay (across from) the beach further away from the pier, I highly recommend the "W Hotel"! :) It was fabulous. It is also expensive but you may be able to snag a good price in June.

Enjoy!

also consider the Embassy Suites on 17th - great hotel right near the port, walking distance to lots of dining and shops (including several drugstores for sunscreen and toiletries!!) They also run a shuttle to the pier. Great suites with kitchenettes, managers cocktail hour every night and hot breakfast every day. Great for pre-cruise.

The hotels on 17th St. are a little pricey due to their location, I have stayed at the Hyatt Place south of the airport and they even included the transfers from the hotel to the cruise port! I think I paid for a cruise package, I was there in March 2012 and paid $139 (breakfast/internet and transfers from the airport included!) The hotel is new too in the area too! Rooms were great and spacious!

The free shuttle hotels are usually great choices and reasonable for pre cruisers as long as you don't need an evening meal or any pre cruise errands. Their shuttle will take you between the airport , the cruiseport and the hotel but no where else - and there are no shops or restaurants you can walk to any where near most of them- so you end up with a taxi bill or no where to go that evening. Just be sure you can do without restaurants, shopping or entertainment. Great clean reasonable choices for those arriving late at night who just need a sleeping room and the free breakfast before the shuttle- but not in other situations. And be sure to check on arrival and see if you need to sign up for a shuttle time- some hotels require it and you'll get stuck with a bad departure time choice if you don't know to do that.

Also avoid, Rodeway Inn, Red Carpet Inn, or any Days Inn except the nicer one south of the Airport near Sheridan St in Hollywood ( the other local Days Inns are dumps) . The above are poor hotels in questionable areas who offer free shuttles to fill their inferior hotels- you'll really be in a bad situation in any of those.

The Hyatt Place on SE 10th is a great find. They include breakfast and it's near a number of restaurants. Very clean, recently remodeled!

I booked at the Holiday Inn at the Convention Center - its ranked 39 on the list of hotels. It is pricey, but I used points to pay for mine. And, the location seemed great!

The embassy suites on 17 th st is a 2 minute taxi to port and yet you can walk to all restaurants along 17thst and in the cordova shoppign mall- ie. theres starbuck, theres Gilberts for burgers in the shopping strip mall, theres a duffys sport bar.However the water taxi is too far 2 walk you will need to take a taxi to the water taxi as it stops at Bahia mar along route a1a or you can cab it to las olas and it stops behind Levinson jeweler