Expert: Linda - 2/24/2009

Question
Hello, we are cruising Carnival Imagination out of Miami in January.  We would like to stay in a hotel the night before the cruise leaves.  What would be a good choice of a close hotel?
Thanks, Dan

Answer
Dan, there are lots of hotels near the port.  Every brand you can think of.  IF you are absolutely SURE you are going, the best pricing will be found using PRICELINE.COM.  You put in MIAMI DOWNTOWN and you'll see a list of the hotels.  You can get any of them.  You enter the price you want to pay, then if Priceline accepts your price, then you get the room for tht price.  No changing dates or cancelling, your credit card is charged at that point.  I've used them over 50 times and never an issue.

Otherwise, go to cruiscritic.com, join the community...free, then go to MESSAGE BOARDS....CARNIVAL and you can sort thru the questions for where others have stayed and what they paid, or simply post your own question there.  LOTS of good answers.

Remember, you're downtown, so most places charge a parking fee.  Be sure to check for the "extra" charges.  You're smart coming in a day ahead of time with the north having a possibility of bad weather in Jan.

Also you can google Miami downtown hotels and you'll see a map of where the hotels are.  Be sure to ask for a higher floor on the ones across from the port.  If you're up early enough (4-5AM) you'll see your ship come into port from your room.  I suggest you NOT stay at the Beach.  It's expensive getting from the beach to port and back and the hotels really are overpriced unless you're into the "see and be seen thing".  south Beach will cost you an arm and leg...$12 for a drink.

Ask away if you have any more questions.

Linda