Fort Lauderdale hotels - Miracle 2/27/08

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icemaiden

Guest
Hey there. I'm relatively new to this and have only cruised once before out of Miami. I booked the 8 day Carnival Miracle cruise for Feb 27th that leaves from Fort Lauderdale this time.

Any recommendations for a very clean, friendly, safe hotel at a reasonable price? I'm travelling alone.

I've tried priceline for the downtown and beach area and they wouldn't accept my bid of $100 for a 4*. I must be going during peak season.



First ever cruise: Carnival Triump - West Carribean - April 2005
 
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Whimsy

Guest
February is peak season so you are going to have to pay more for that same hotel. I just stayed at the 4* Renaissance that I got off of Priceline for $100 but our stay was September.

Have you looked into biddingfortravel or betterbidding.com for information on identifying properties and what properties are going for with Priceline and Hotwire? Lots of useful information on those sights, sure helped me.

Also, you can access Priceline thru this site which in turn helps this site.

Good luck!
 
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icemaiden

Guest
Thanks I will try the other website you recommended, although I have been to biddingfortravel.com.

Failing priceline (and because I always like a backup plan) can you recommend any hotels that are lower star ratings, but clean and comfortable?
 
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Whimsy

Guest
There are some who have stayed at Amerisuites on 17th street. You might be able to get it at value trips for a lesser price or try it on Priceline. Once again, try those sites for identifying. I think it may be a 2.5 star.

I have never stayed at Amerisuites but they say the area is safe, many restaurants and stores within walking distance. The hotel has had mixed reviews but it was bought out and has been undergoing remodeling. There are some from this board going on the Emerald group cruise in February that are staying there I believe. Be very careful and do your homework on locations as it seems there are some bad areas in FLL.

Seagarsmoker, who is a member here, stayed at Amerisuites this past summer and I don't remember him saying anything negative. I sailed with him last year and he seemed like a level headed guy so I would trust his opinion. You may want to try to send him a PM.
 
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Gayle V

Guest
Hello Icemaiden,

I'm one of those folks that Whimsy mentioned. We are staying at the Hyatt Place 17th Street (formerly Amerisuites) for one night prior to the Great ESCAPE (the board's group cruise on the Emerald). That leaves just three days before your cruise. And yes that is high season. Add to that, there appears to be some kind of special event occuring in Fort Lauderdale that week.

I started to suspect as much when I first tried looking for hotels for the night before the cruise. Prices for that time frame are ridiculous. Way more than we've paid at the same hotels in the past. And Hotwire seems to be offering very few options. And once you match up their offerings to the right hotel names, those the prices are almost the same as reserving directly with the hotel.

So we did end up reserving through Valuetrips. As Whimsy said, and got an OK price. More than I'd hoped to pay, but better than the going rate. (One King Bed is $182. I've priced it out directly and AAA wants $238, some sites quote as much as $384. ::eek: )

Unfortunately for your cruise dates there is this interesting foot note about the prices on the Valuetrips page : "Not valid with any other offers or discounts, during holidays, special events." They then list a bunch of dates that apparently are those holiday and special event times. "2/24-3/3" is included in the list. So you may have even more trouble finding a decent price than we did, as our stay is the day before that.

Some of the others on the Emerald cruise have chosen to stay at hotels a little farther out of the city to get better prices. You might want to read these threads to see what they have in mind:

Escape cruise hotel thread

Emerald cruise hotel thread

Good luck.
 
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icemaiden

Guest
Thanks so much for the help! I would have to travel at the exact time as some grand event :eek:

That explains alot since I've used Priceline before and had great success. I'm currently up to $125 for downtown and beach area and down to 3* and still haven't found anything. I just assumed maybe the date was too far off, but it sounds like I better book something (anything) as a backup plan. I was sort of looking for a place with a nice pool to hang out at after my cruise, and well I get my land legs back haha!

Ahhhhhh Florida sunshine.........can't wait =docdance
I'm in Canada and fall weather has arrived - rainy and getting cold.
 
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Whimsy

Guest
Have you looked at Hotwire to get an idea of what prices are for those star ratings?

Happy Thnanksgiving to you!
 
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icemaiden

Guest
Yes.

The 4* in Fort Lauderdale Beach area is $359 for Feb 26th - I assume that's the Hyatt.

The 3* for $164 in Fort Lauderdale Beach area appears to be either the Bahia Mar, Sheraton Yankee Clipper or Sheraton Yankee Trader. That's actually not THAT bad of a price but I have seen them go for $66 in low season to $100 (usually) on Priceline.
 
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Crazy for Cruising

Guest
I booked a room with 2 Double beds at LaQuinta Inn & Suites Ft Lauderdale Airport for 3/29 for $152.10 AAA rate. I just checked and you could book on 2/26 for $134.10 if you have AAA and $149 is you do not. I checked this hotel out on Tripadvisor.com and it has good reviews. They also have FREE reliable transportation to Port Everglades if you are leaving from there -- don't know about Port of Miami. The hotel is very close to Port Everglades and has lots of decent restaurants close by. They have a shuttle that picks you up from Airport. Glad to hear there is some kind of big event that week. I went crazy trying to find a decent hotel that was under $200. The LaQuinta went up $40 while I was making up my mind.
 
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icemaiden

Guest
Just got off the phone with La Quinta at the airport. I booked a King NS Room for Feb 26th for 1 night at a price of $126.60. The reviews look good except there are comments about it being away from everything. I'm okay with that since I get in late and basically was just looking for a clean bed to sleep in pre cruise. ;)

Thanks Crazy!!!

Also, through some weird fluke I went on Marriott's website today and found a room at the Rennaisance Fort Lauderdale for $161.00. I phoned the hotel and gave them the exact same details I was using and they said it would be $499 a night =? so i booked online at the $161.00.

Both these hotels can be cancelled if I find something cheaper through Priceline, but I feel alot better knowing I won't be sleeping on the beach pre and post cruise :)D
 
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cherbeth

Guest
Hi We stayed Mar 2006 at the Comfort Suites Airport & Cruise Port.
Pick us up at the airport. We stayed two days before cruising. Breakfast was included. Also we need a ride to the Las Olas Blvd they took us and brought us back (small tip for driver) The day of the cruise
droped us at cruise port.
We were in walking distance to at least 5 restaurants. We ate in trwo different ones. On the first day we used the outdoor pool. We also used AAA and the price was well worth the extras. I cannot locate our invoice but plan on staying here, we are cruising Mircle March 30 2008.

Cheryl
This is our 12th cruise and only our 2nd time going ahead. It doesn't always work for us to go ahead although I do love it.
 
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cherbeth

Guest
Icemaiden. That would be great. We actually know nothing abou the Mircle. Age? We booked because of time and itaniry.


Cheryl
 
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jkmcroot

Guest
We're going on the Liberty out of Ft. Lauderdale in March and I just booked our room at the Marriott Courtyard Airport and Cruise Port. They offer free shuttle from the airport and to the cruise port. I read some good reviews about the hotel online.

Has anyone stayed there?
 
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Brian J

Guest
Just like Cherbeth said the Comfort Suites Airport & Cruise Port is really nice pick-up and drop off at cruise and air ports!!
 
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jkmcroot

Guest
I just checked LaQuinta and I got a room with a AAA rate of $152. Much better than the Marriott rate of $255 so I switched to LaQuinta. They offer a shuttle from the airport and then to the cruise port the next day. We're staying one night precruise and one night postcruise.
 
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jkmcroot

Guest
[quote Crazy for Cruising]jkmcroot

Are you on the 3/1/08 Liberty cruise????[/quote]

No, we're on the 3/15/08 Liberty cruise to the Western Caribbean. I take it you are on the 3/1 cruise. If so, please post a review and let us know how it was. I think we have different itineraries but I'm curious about the Liberty. I have never ever been disappointed with a Carnival ship and I'm sure the Liberty will be just as great as the other ships I've been on.
 
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