Expert: Linda - 3/4/2008

Question
Hi
I am going on a cruise from Miami on May 11th my question to you is we may be going down on the 10th but it is way cheaper to fly into Ft Lauderdale do you now how far it is from FT. Lauderdale to the Miami port. Or if we get a cheap enough flight into miami what is the cheapest hotel near the port and how far is the drive.
Thank you
Sharon

Answer
ok, fix a drink, this isn't a short answer.

From Ft Lauderdale to Miami via car/cab/shuttle is 45 minutes. You can get a shuttle from Ft Laud to the port and the cost is about $20 per person.  If there are 4 of you, a cab would cost about the same thing, BUT remember a cab only has ONE trunk....

OK, now if you get a cheap flight into Miami, you're about 15 min away from the port, you won't need a hotel, the shuttle will take you or (my suggestion) book thru the cruise line so u don't need to schlep bags.  There are pros and cons to this.  If there are only 2 of you, it's less expensive than a cab, if 4 of you, go for the cab, same price no matter how many...

Now, if what you're saying is you may be able to get a cheap flight to miami BEFORE the cruise date and will need a hotel, then your best bet is PRICELINE.COM.  By far your best bet,  Understand though you can't change, cancel, the reservation; once booked you own it.  With this site you "bid" on what you want to pay for the room.  If its accepted, your credit card is charged.  There are a number of hotels near the port, you would bid on "downtown" Miami.  There is a doubletree, Sheraton, Hilton, Holiday Inn.  all within 20 min of the port and all you can see from your room if you ask for a room on an upper floor.  Since you are coming after Easter, prices are less as we're now 'out of season' and the economy is slow.

I want you to get educated, so first, I want you to go to cruisecritic.com, join the group (free) go to Message Boards

choose your cruise line
then look at the posts and put in the "find" ....hotels in Miami.  You'll get lots of hits on hotels for there.  Also, many use priceline.com so you'll get ideas on what they paid.  You can also find that on priceline as well.  You should not need to pay any more than $100 for the room and I would expect closer to $80.

When we leave from anywhere outside of Fla, we arrive the day early, just cause we won't want to be stressed, don't want to worry about delayed flights, bad weather etc.  It's just I'm anal and don't like surprises.  It's your vacation and it's one time where I think it's worth not eating lunch for a few months to put the money away to insure a hassle free vacation.  the closer we get to cruise time, the cheaper I am....I want to save anything I can so I can enjoy the vacation and not worry about money.

one thing i have really saved on...I don't buy a bunch of new clothes that saves $ and no one really even looks at you.. enough of that.  I hope I've answered your question, ask away if there's something else you need to know.

Linda