Expert: Linda - 3/24/2010

Question
Hi Linda, Itīs great to know there is a site like this one! This is our first time in a cruise, for Carnival Glory - Eastern Caribbean what hotel would you reccomend? We are traveling with our 8 years old son, it would be only for a night (saturday 27th) before departure.....

And I would like to be able to buy sneakers and jeans for our son as well! is there any option around hotels, like gap?

Answer
Hi again Carmen,

OK, for hotels, there is one I would NOT stay with and that is the Holiday Inn.  It's clean, but that's all I can say about it.

Since you know you're absolutely coming, may I suggest you go with priceline.com?  Why? cause' of the price.  You bid for a room and if your price is accepted, your charge card is billed and then you find out your hotel.  Why not be scared?  Because you would put in MIAMI DOWNTOWN for your area, then you would put in 4 * and put in a bid (I'd guess about $70) then you click submit, if accepted you'll get a confirmation number and your hotel.  Miami Downtown is right across Biscayne Bay from the Miami Port.  From most of the hotels you would ask for a higher floor number facing the port, then if you get up really early (5:00-5:30 AM ) you'll see your ship pulling into port.

OK, maybe you are not so risk tolerant...that's OK too, my next suggestion that does let you see your hotel, though maybe a bit more pricey is using valuetrips.com.  they offer good prices, and it appears it's the hot thing going on the board for people getting rooms in Miami and/or Ft Lauderdale.

For hotels one we like is Embassy suites, free coctail hour 4-6, fee cooked to order breakfast and 2 rooms plus small kitchen.(by the airport, or the LaQuinta by the airport.  We have also stated at the Marriot, and Hyatt and Hilton all in Miami, all across the bay from Miami.   

There is a shopping center a few miles away, but not suggested, too high price.  Better to shop at home.  If you had a car, there is the Lincoln mile shopping area, but haven't been there in 2 years, so don't know how the area is now.  If you were going to Ft Laud...that's a piece of cake, HUGE outlet mall.

MOST hotels offer free shuttle from airport to hotel, there are kiosks at MIA where you can call them and some even will just meet the planes they know they have guests on.  If you stay downtown, taxi is only $10-$12 as it's a quick ride.

I told you about cruisecritic, there is also an area call NORTH AMERICAN DEPARTURES and then FLORIDA DEPARTURES, that offers lots of into too.  I'm sure I've given you enough to think about for awhile!  Send another e mail if you need more info on anything.

Linda