Question Hi! Just wondering if you could give us an idea of a NICE hotel to stay in, in Miami, the nite before our cruise. Going in early October, 10/2 is the sail date. THankx!
Answer OK, get a glass of wine or a beer and sit down...There are LOTS of nice hotels in Miami, both on the beach and downtown..what's the difference? Distance from the pier. downtown you are just across the Bay from the Pier, it's a 10 min shuttle ride; you tell the front desk when you book that you want a bayside room and you can wake up the next morning, look out your room window and see your ship. You're on the water, you can take a cruise down the intercoastal and see where the "rich and famous" live, great restaurants, you're close to coconut grove, which is a happening place, but more artsy than South Beach and less of the 20 somethings.
If you want a night of dancing, drinking, seeing and being seen, then probably south Beach or So-Be as they call it would be the ticket. It's more expensive, boutique hotels, lots of action, terribly expensive bars, but you may see and probably will see a star or 2. It will cost you probably $20-$25 from the hotel to the pier. Most clubs charge a cover charge.
I don't know what your interests are, but I'd rather have a nice hotel, save the money on drinking for the ship and enjoy the scenery, but that's up to you.
OK, you will be here before our "season", so rooms will be more reasonable then if you came from thanksgiving to Easter. IF you are not risk-adverse, best bargain/price is going thru Priceline.com. You would choose Miami Beach when you log onto the site, then you will be asked for your * (star) preference, choose 4 *, then your price you want to pay. IF your price is accepted your card is charged at that moment and your reservation cant be changed or cancelled. You don't find out your hotel till you accept. We've done it MANY times (I used to travel a lot) and never once disappointed. If you're not quite sure, then you can try calling directly to the hotel....NOT the 800 line, or do some shopping with Hotels.com, Expedia.com.
Also suggest you join cruisecritic.com (free), then go to the message boards for carival, you'll see all kinds of threads there and will find many answers to the hotels all like in Miami...what they paid, who they booked thru. The only place I do NOT recommend as I have a feeling you and I want a NICE room and not just an "adequate" room, would be the Holiday Inn.
Intercontinental, Hilton, Mariott, Radisson, Doubletree, they're all there. You can get a shuttle for $10 from your hotel to the pier (of course since the gas hike, these things are subject to change daily)
