Hotel at Port Canaveral

[Twofebboys]

We are headed out on Disney Magic April 14, 2014 from Port Canaveral. We are going to drive in the night before.

Do you have a recommendation on a hotel? Also, I know there are places that have shuttles from the hotel to the port. Is it better to just park at the port or take a shuttle? Also, will your car be safe at a hotel versus the port?

Thoughts? Advice?

Thank you!!

 

[dizzi]

We have done the park the car at the hotel once and I would definitely recommend this. The care is safe. Just as safe I would think as in a parking garage at the terminal. I am sure this can will be or has been debated . But I had no trouble.

The cost is less

The only bad experience we had is it was a long wait are getting off the ship for the ride back to the car. I had 3 cranky teenagers and decided to grab a cab. To go back to my car. It was still less than the parking at the terminal.

 

[su_A_ve]

I would avoid leaving the car at the hotel's lot. They are open and not secure as they make you think they are.

PC has several 'park and cruise' lots. These are secured gated lots that also has 24 hours surveillance (or so they say). They are 'better' secure than the hotels.

Both above options also require to use their shuttle service to go to the port or back. With the second, you have the option for the driver to drop the rest of the family and the luggage first and then the only one to use the shuttle. But you still are at the mercy of the the number of passengers they are working with and many have had bad experiences with wait. The hotels are good 15-20 minutes away. The lots are about 10-15 minutes away.

Best is still the port. This is definitely secure and under surveillance and you are under the roof of a garage (unless you park outside).

Finally, some hotels in the PC area participate in a port parking discount program. If you stay at one of these hotels (no need for special rate or anything for most of them) you will get a coupon good for 40% discount to park at the port. The ones I remember are Best Western, La Quinta Inn (not oceanfront), Days Inn, Fairfield Inn.

 

[RHSTigerMom]

We stayed at the Country Inn & Suites and drove right across the bridge to the port/terminal. We parked in the VIP area, which is a little more and uncovered, but is only about 100 yards from the terminal and you don't have to fool with stairs or elevators. When we disembarked, we were able to walk out, throw the luggage in the van and hit the road. The lines for the hotel shuttles were ridiculous.

 

[su_A_ve]

We stayed at the Country Inn & Suites and drove right across the bridge to the port/terminal. We parked in the VIP area, which is a little more and uncovered, but is only about 100 yards from the terminal and you don't have to fool with stairs or elevators. When we disembarked, we were able to walk out, throw the luggage in the van and hit the road. The lines for the hotel shuttles were ridiculous.

FYI - When we parked at the garage last year, we parked literally next to the bridge that goes from the garage to the Terminal.

We only dealt with escalators. Walked a bit more, but inside instead that under the hot FL sun.

Unless you have mobility issues, the VIP section is not worth the extra money.

 

[Magic3forme]

we stay at the Residence Inn (nice hot breakfast in the morning)
... it is a quick drive to the terminal.

we choose to park at the terminal. Its great to walk off the ship and go right to the car.

 

[Deb in IA]

We have always used the Radisson at the Port.

http://www.radisson.com/cape-canaveral-hotel-fl-32920/flcocoa

 

[atwood]

We stayed at best western at cocoa beach. We got a discount on parking at the terminal. It was vey nice and the people were awesome

 

[Twofebboys]

Thank you for your replies!

I found a rate of $122.61 at the Best Western in Cocoa Beach! They also give you a 40% off coupon for the port. DH did not want to leave the car at the hotel, plus deal with a shuttle. (We are never late...always on time!) That is a better rate than you get with Best Western because you have a Costco Membership!

 

[su_A_ve]

Thank you for your replies!

I found a rate of $122.61 at the Best Western in Cocoa Beach! They also give you a 40% off coupon for the port. DH did not want to leave the car at the hotel, plus deal with a shuttle. (We are never late...always on time!) That is a better rate than you get with Best Western because you have a Costco Membership!

Make sure you check the rate. Many of the hotels have a park and cruise rate, which is higher than their internet or AAA rate. This rate is meant for you to leave the car at the hotel and they will shuttle you.

We stayed last year at the La Quinta Inn and originally had a reservation for the Best Western. Then, they told us that the AAA rate would also include the coupon. Then we noticed a 'cruise special' rate which was the same as the AAA rate that mentioned the coupon - since it had the same cancellation restrictions (I think it was 48 hrs in advance of arrival) we used that to make sure.

 

[wiigirl]

We have always used the Radisson at the Port.

http://www.radisson.com/cape-canaveral-hotel-fl-32920/flcocoa

 

[Twofebboys]

Make sure you check the rate. Many of the hotels have a park and cruise rate, which is higher than their internet or AAA rate. This rate is meant for you to leave the car at the hotel and they will shuttle you.

We stayed last year at the La Quinta Inn and originally had a reservation for the Best Western. Then, they told us that the AAA rate would also include the coupon. Then we noticed a 'cruise special' rate which was the same as the AAA rate that mentioned the coupon - since it had the same cancellation restrictions (I think it was 48 hrs in advance of arrival) we used that to make sure.

You are not correct about this one. This is a 14 Day advanced purchase rate. See the pictures below. We are not parking and cruising. We are staying and using the 40% discount coupon at the port. I called to verify. It is a great rate!

 

[atwood]

Thank you for your replies!

I found a rate of $122.61 at the Best Western in Cocoa Beach! They also give you a 40% off coupon for the port. DH did not want to leave the car at the hotel, plus deal with a shuttle. (We are never late...always on time!) That is a better rate than you get with Best Western because you have a Costco Membership!

We were very happy there. We actually got there a night early and they had a room for us. Got to have a day at the beach. They were super nice and you are close to the terminal. The coupon is also a huge discount! Hope you enjoy!

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

We stayed at the Radisson the night before our 04 cruise and they shuttled us to the port. Car stayed in their lot and it was just fine when we got back a week later, just like we left it. Even had a mini Dismeet at the hotel the night before

 

[100AcreWood]

Thank you for your replies!

I found a rate of $122.61 at the Best Western in Cocoa Beach! They also give you a 40% off coupon for the port. DH did not want to leave the car at the hotel, plus deal with a shuttle. (We are never late...always on time!) That is a better rate than you get with Best Western because you have a Costco Membership!

You booked the Best Western through Costco?

 

[Twofebboys]

You booked the Best Western through Costco?

No, I looked at the rate you can get through Costco and it was not as good as this one.

 

[iloverags2]

Just adding my thoughts for anyone else who has the same question. We have stayed at a few of the hotels in the area, and have done both park and cruise and parking at the port. Here are my thoughts.

We much prefer parking at the port for a number of reasons. First and foremost is the convenience. We can drive over at our leisure, and do not have to wait on a shuttle either going to the port or returning after the cruise. Second, whether it really is more secure or not, the garage just seems more secure. I like having my car closed off from the outside world. Yes, it can still get broken into, but the odds just seem less. Lastly, while the cost to park at the port is higher, if you look for a great discount rate at one of the hotels the numbers can often be a wash. When we sailed in May 2012 and again in Oct 2012, we were able to score great discount rates that when coupled with the port parking rate we ended up paying slightly less than the best park and cruise rate we could find.

Ok, moving on to my thoughts on hotels, well of the most recent ones we have stayed at...
Country Inn & Suites = 'meh. It was clean and comfortable, but that was about it. Nothing special and nothing more than a bed to lie in for the evening. The breakfast area was a madhouse. Honestly, not a place I would choose to stay at again.
Residence Inn = great stay! We are partial to Residence Inn, so it goes without saying for me. We love their rooms which are always comfortable and clean and roomy. The living area and kitchenette are always a plus. Their hot breakfast is still great even after all these years. The rates are a little higher than others, but you can score good discounts.
La Quinta Oceanfront = nice. This is for the oceanfront location only. While the exterior isn't all that great (not to mention exterior doorways, which I loathe), this place is actually a nice stay. You cannot beat the location right on the ocean and next to the pier. The rooms are rather nice, especially for an older hotel. And the breakfast was really good! We would definitely stay again if the price is right!

Hope this all helps someone!

 

[ramkam]

We just stayed at the Four Points Sheraton. Nice surf theme. The Cocoa Beach Surf Shop is part of the complex. Ron Jon store is right across the street. We enjoyed the restaurant in the hotel and it is an easy walk to fast food and pizza. Also a short walk to the beach. Plenty of beach toy rental places. Some people staying at this hotel complain about the pool. If the pool is your main concern then this is not your hotel. However, you are a block from the beach, why are you at the pool? They have a shuttle service to the port if you need it. As for the car we just had a one way rental from MCO to Port Canaveral so we did not have a car to park. Overall our experience here was good and we would stay again.

On another note, we toured the Ron Jon Resort. It is at the port and a nice property with a nice pool area. However, I would recommend this only if you have a car as it does not look like you could easily walk to anything.

 

[magrudersmakes3]

We have stayed at the Residence Inn and the Courtyard and were happy with both. We are staying at RI next year.

We do park-n-cruise by the port. We have had great service on both visits and plan on using them next year. We paid 4.99 and 5.99 a night.

 

[100AcreWood]

No, I looked at the rate you can get through Costco and it was not as good as this one.

Sorry I read that wrong. It was getting late .

I'm leaning towards the Best Western and doing the advance purchase. I was torn between Best Western and Country Inn & Suites. But the 40% off parking at the port is helping with my decision.