Hotels near Port...

[oybolshoi]

I know this question has been asked and answered numerous times, but I can't seem to find the search function.

DH and I are looking for a nice hotel near the port to spend a couple of days before our cruise. I've heard about the Radisson, but I was wondering if anyone has tried the Doubletree in Cocoa Beach?

Any suggestions / comments very welcome.

Thanks!!

Brenda

 

[mmouse37]

We stayed at the DoubleTree in Cocoa last Feb and it was fine....not super luxurious or anything but the grounds were nice and the room was decent. No hot tub, though and the pool was on the small side. We were able to get the room for $39.00 on Priceline. It was fine for our pre cruise night.

If I was staying a few days I think I would opt for a bit nicer hotel like the new Ron Jon's resort...but that is me. Here are some links to some pics of the hotel. We like the Radisson better but it is not on the beach like the Doubletree.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/118553635/118561394EGVZQW

http://community.webshots.com/photo/118553635/118561413kjUWUQ

http://community.webshots.com/photo/118553635/118561441uRLgMv

MJ

 

[oybolshoi]

Thanks for the info, MJ!

Unfortunately I can't access the pictures while I'm at work so I'll have to check them out later tonight.

I think we're going to head down to FL on Thursday, so we're looking at two nights on land before the cruise. I'd really like to stay on the beach, but I also want to stay someplace nice (I admit to being somewhat high maintenance when it comes to hotels - if it's not at least at nice as my house then why should I pay to stay there? )

Looking forward to more advice / recommendations.

Thanks again!

B.

 

[SeaSpray]

Have you seen Dave's web site that lists all of the hotels near the port, plus gives some info on them? If not, here's the link: http://www.dcltribute.com/lodging/

 

[cruiseonmagic]

if it's not at least at nice as my house then why should I pay to stay there?

I would say that if your house isn't on wheels ...

The Hilton is reopening around the first of the year when they complete the $6 mil renovation. Ron Jon's is very nice. The Inn at Cocoa Beach(theinnatcocoabeach.com), or Discovery Beach Resort are both great places.


mmouse37--me thinks the 39.00 priceline scared oybolshoi Don't let the numbers from priceline turn you off of a property. I've had Wyndham Palace at DD for 40, the Swan for 60, Mariott World Center for 48.

 

[april riddle]

We stayed at the Raddison at the Port and I was very unimpressed despite the amount of thumbs up on these boards. We had booked a king suite and when we got there they stated they only regular rooms with two double beds. We won't make the same mistake again.

 

[mmouse37]

The $39.00 price from Priceline was in comparison to the hotel's $129.00 price for the same room stated on their website at the time we booked on Priceline...so we saved quite a bit!!

MJ

 

[cruiseonmagic]

you bet! I would take that anytime. I've had some very nice hotels for very little money.

 

[oybolshoi]

Thanks everybody for your input. I, too, have had some good results with Priceline (mostly in larger, metropolitan areas - also with Wyndham hotels).

I don't really like Radisson hotels - overpriced if you ask me, but it seems like people on these boards really like the one in PC. I took Seaspray's advice and checked out Dave's website and his hotel recommendations - there are some promising possibilities listed there.

You know what my problem really is? I want to go to WDW before the cruise, but DH doesn't want to spend the money on it this time. What, oh what, am I to do?

Thanks again for your advice!

B.

 

[surfergirl64]

I have a question re: priceline....Can you request specifics on a hotel, i.e beachfront or do you have to take what they give you? I've tried checking on their site and didn't see that option.

 

[Scotsman]

I was wondering the same thing. Thats the reason I don't use Priceline. I like to pick the exact hotel not just an area.

 

[cruiseonmagic]

you can't pick the exact hotel. You can, however, get a pretty good idea of which hotels are accepting priceline bids by going to biddingfortravel.com. I look at it like this--they don't put 3 or 4* hotels in junk neighborhoods, and even though you may want to pick the exact hotel, if you haven't stayed there before, you still don't know what you are getting.

If you go on hotwire.com, you can see the amenities for the hotels, including if they are beach front. Priceline and hotwire use basically the same hotels and by using bidding4travel etc, I can get a general idea who is taking bids at that time. I go to hotwire to find out how much they have the hotel for and bid priceline accordingly. The way I look at it is I'm not going to get burned bidding 30-40 on a 3* or 50-70 on a 4* or resort hotel. The farthest that I stayed from WDW before I moved to FL was the double tree guest suites on 192 10 min from dtd. I paid 28 for a 2 br, 2 bath, with full kitchen. Was it worth the 10 min drive? Heck yeah.

 

[Scotsman]

If you don't stay at the raddison how do you get to the terminal and where do you leave your car?

I don't want to stay at the Raddison again but they have that park and shuttle service.

 

[snelsonbrown]

I wanted to let you each know that the Doubletree will officially open as of Jan 01 after suffering such a loss from the 3 hurricanes also the Hilton just opened last Thursday - as for the Radisson, anytime you have a problem, call Joe P. the General manager - he has more times than not gone over the edge in the department of pleasing the customers - during our last hurricane, we had cruisers that didn't know we were under evacuations - they were loss, scared and no way to get out of here -
Joe was a sweetie for he helped get those that needed to get out with finding them a room in Orlando, making sure they were ok - since he helped me accomplish stuff I couldn't have done by myself - to me he is a miracle worker - just a thought ok
Always
Shirley

 

[DancingBear]

If you don't stay at the raddison how do you get to the terminal and where do you leave your car?

I don't want to stay at the Raddison again but they have that park and shuttle service.

See Dave's site that SeaSpray gave the link to above. Options include: (1) buying a parking/shuttle package from your hotel (Radisson has their free shuttle but others use a service), (2) parking for $10/day at the port, (3) leaving your car at the hotel (Dave says some will allow that) and taking a taxi, or (4) if you have a rental car, returning the car to the rental agency and taking their shuttle service to the terminal.