Where to stay near Port night before??

[mylittleprincess]

Looking for suggestions on a hotel near Port for the night before..I would like to book soon since we are on the 8/23 cruise.

[kcashner]

It depends on what you want/need.

Free parking while cruising? Free shuttle? Free breakfast? On the beach? Great pool?

Radisson, Quality Suites, Residence Inn, Country Inn and Suites all offer free parking (I think). You don't have to book a cruise package to park free.

Quality Suites includes all except great pool--they have a decent pool. The hotel is better inside than out. Breakfast was nothing special, but adequate. Staff was totally wonderful.

Radisson pool is better but hotel is not on beach. Breakfast for 2 is included with cruise package but not regular rate (this has been reported to have breakfast free for all, but that was not my experience)

We also stayed at the Best Western when we needed a suite and didn't need parking--good breakfast, on the beach, quite decent...but more costly.

[mylittleprincess]

Originally Posted by kcashner

It depends on what you want/need.

Free parking while cruising? Free shuttle? Free breakfast? On the beach? Great pool?

Radisson, Quality Suites, Residence Inn, Country Inn and Suites all offer free parking (I think). You don't have to book a cruise package to park free.

Quality Suites includes all except great pool--they have a decent pool. The hotel is better inside than out. Breakfast was nothing special, but adequate. Staff was totally wonderful.

Radisson pool is better but hotel is not on beach. Breakfast for 2 is included with cruise package but not regular rate (this has been reported to have breakfast free for all, but that was not my experience)

We also stayed at the Best Western when we needed a suite and didn't need parking--good breakfast, on the beach, quite decent...but more costly.

We will have a rental car. We just figured on paying at the port to park the car while on the cruise. Thanks for the suggestions, it helps!

[Pennyb123]

I stay at the Residence Inn and LOVE it! Free parking, free hot breakfast, and beautiful rooms with great service! Round trip shuttle (runs on time!) is $6 per person! It starts around 10:30am.

[kerri0616]

My parents had a good experience with the Radisson at the Port. The shuttle was FREE and the hotel was nice, though it isn't actually on the beach.

We're trying them out ourselves in November. Rate (near Thanksgiving) is $129. It was only $99 when my parents went! With parking at $15/day, it seems very worthwhile.

KJ

[kcashner]

I'm curious as to why you'd pay to park a rental car at the port while you cruise (you must be getting an incredible deal!). My logic is that if you do a one way rental (MCO to Port Canaveral) and drop off the car you'll be saving at least 3 days of rental fees. The only way it makes financial sense to keep it is that you either have a great rate for a week or you must pick up and return at the same place.

I typically pay under $40 for a one way rental (one day). It just doesn't make sense for me to pay rental and parking while I'm on the ship.

That said....we loved the Radisson and the Quality Suites. Free shuttle, free parking, Quality had free breakfast.

[mylittleprincess]

Originally Posted by kcashner

I'm curious as to why you'd pay to park a rental car at the port while you cruise (you must be getting an incredible deal!). My logic is that if you do a one way rental (MCO to Port Canaveral) and drop off the car you'll be saving at least 3 days of rental fees. The only way it makes financial sense to keep it is that you either have a great rate for a week or you must pick up and return at the same place.

I typically pay under $40 for a one way rental (one day). It just doesn't make sense for me to pay rental and parking while I'm on the ship.

That said....we loved the Radisson and the Quality Suites. Free shuttle, free parking, Quality had free breakfast.

I agree with your point with the car just sitting. We are in a dilemma with that. We are actually flying into Ft. Lauderdale from Phila as we got way better airfare cost! So we reserved car there. Gonna drive to Port and just leave it as we are staying 2 extra nights in Florida after we get back from cruise.

[disney1990]

Can anybody explain to me why these hotels have a "stay and cruise" package if you don't have to book it to leave your car at the hotel? I really don't want to book without the package and then experience a problem. Thanks bunches.

[skiingwife]

We're renting a car at the airport also, staying at PC for 2 nights, and returning the car the morning of the cruise. The rental company has a shuttle to take us to and from the cruise ship. So I agree, you might want to check one way rates from Fort Lauderdale to PC, and then from PC back to Fort Lauderdale. You should find it much cheaper than the rate you have, plus you don't have to pay parking fees.

As to your original question, my family wants to stay on the beach, and I found that Trip Advisor had very good ratings for a new La Quinta right on the beach. It's on Hendry Street, or something like that. It looks nice and we got a good rate (around $100).

[mylittleprincess]

Originally Posted by disney1990

Can anybody explain to me why these hotels have a "stay and cruise" package if you don't have to book it to leave your car at the hotel? I really don't want to book without the package and then experience a problem. Thanks bunches.

My husband is nervous not getting their cruise package that we get off ship & car be towed..

[ededmd]

Originally Posted by disney1990

Can anybody explain to me why these hotels have a "stay and cruise" package if you don't have to book it to leave your car at the hotel? I really don't want to book without the package and then experience a problem. Thanks bunches.

For the same reason, they have a "rack" rate. If they can get you to pay it, why not take your money?

Originally Posted by mylittleprincess

My husband is nervous not getting their cruise package that we get off ship & car be towed..

Don't be nervous either one of you.
I stay at the Residence Inn, always book the AAA rate, always leave the car, never have a problem. They know we leave the car because we tell them, they ask for our tag number, make/model, they tell us where to park. Nothing sneaky going on.

[msmith07101]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. For one reason and one reason only...that my DH travels frequently and stays there, so we had a free nights stay. We also arrived very late and just needed a place to sleep and they have a nice free breakfast. It was nice...nothing fancy, but nice & clean. Would stay again, free or not. If I were staying in the area longer, I would probably look for something else...on or closer to the beach.

[eeyoremommy]

We stayed at the Radisson at the Port before our 12/13/08 cruise for one night. The breakfast was good, but our room was just okay. If we were staying longer, I would not have been happy. We are trying the Hampton Inn for our Thanksgiving cruise. Any experiences with it?

[mylittleprincess]

Originally Posted by eeyoremommy

We stayed at the Radisson at the Port before our 12/13/08 cruise for one night. The breakfast was good, but our room was just okay. If we were staying longer, I would not have been happy. We are trying the Hampton Inn for our Thanksgiving cruise. Any experiences with it?

We were lookin at the Radisson at the Port but hesitant based on reviews. I know it is just for one night. The Residence Inn is $169. I did not want to pay that for 1 night.

[disney1990]

Originally Posted by ededmd

For the same reason, they have a "rack" rate. If they can get you to pay it, why not take your money?



Don't be nervous either one of you.
I stay at the Residence Inn, always book the AAA rate, always leave the car, never have a problem. They know we leave the car because we tell them, they ask for our tag number, make/model, they tell us where to park. Nothing sneaky going on.

Can anybody verify that we don't need the cruise package at Country Inn and Suite? That's what we currently have booked, but we can definitely save money if we just go with a AAA or senior rate.