Low cost Miami hotels?

[YawningDodo]

I'm planning my first cruise for January 2018, sailing out of Miami. Unfortunately, I've never been to Miami and the choices for hotels are a bit overwhelming. I'm spending a night there on either end of my cruise (a Saturday night and then a Friday night), and mostly I'd just like to stay somewhere clean and low-cost. Convenience to area attractions is not at all important on the night of arrival, as I'll be getting in close to midnight and will probably just hang around to eat a leisurely breakfast before heading to the port the next day. I might consider staying somewhere a little more interesting on the tail end of the trip if the cost isn't too outrageous, as I'll have however much of the afternoon remains after disembarking the ship to go shopping, find somewhere fun to eat, etc., though I'd need to be confident I could easily get to the airport by about 5 AM the next morning.

I'm really looking to keep it under $150 per night if I can.

 

[JW9DVC]

Priceline anc Hotwire are your best bets at that price point. Hilton’s and Marriott type.

 

[dolewhipdreams]

If you're open to it, there are plenty of Air BnB properties available. I'm looking around at someplace to stay before a cruise next July and I'm having the same issue. Very pricey. Air BnBs are running around $50-100 for a night for a single room.

 

[TDR32]

I haven't started the but there is a holiday inn that is downtown right across from the Port. The blue lagoon area might be worth checking into. It is just south of the airport.

 

[YawningDodo]

If you're open to it, there are plenty of Air BnB properties available. I'm looking around at someplace to stay before a cruise next July and I'm having the same issue. Very pricey. Air BnBs are running around $50-100 for a night for a single room.

We're doing an airBnB in California next week, which will be my first experience with it -- my housemate booked it but it seemed pretty straightforward when we picked the place. I'm a little nervous about going it alone on that, though, and dealing with midnight transportation to a private property.

I haven't started the but there is a holiday inn that is downtown right across from the Port. The blue lagoon area might be worth checking into. It is just south of the airport.

That's a thought...I briefly had the thought that it might be neat if I could get somewhere walkable to the port, and it looks like that one's just a mile out (I walk further than that to work, tbh), but then I remembered I'm probably going to have too much luggage. Ah well. At least it'd make for a short cab ride on that side of things.

 

[YawningDodo]

I'm thinking about doing the Miami International Airport Hotel on the way in, even though the reviews are Less Than Impressive, just because it seems worth it to be able to walk right to my hotel room without leaving the airport on that late night arrival. Don't plan on spending a lot of time there anyhow, though I suppose it might leave me with a morning before the cruise in which I'm just sort of hanging around the airport for a bit (you don't board the ship until midday, right?). If I did that I could get one of their (somewhat depressing-looking) twin bed rooms for about $130 and feel a little more comfortable paying more for a nicer hotel downtown for my return night.

 

[Dug720]

We're doing an airBnB in California next week, which will be my first experience with it -- my housemate booked it but it seemed pretty straightforward when we picked the place. I'm a little nervous about going it alone on that, though, and dealing with midnight transportation to a private property.



That's a thought...I briefly had the thought that it might be neat if I could get somewhere walkable to the port, and it looks like that one's just a mile out (I walk further than that to work, tbh), but then I remembered I'm probably going to have too much luggage. Ah well. At least it'd make for a short cab ride on that side of things.

The Port Of Miami is big and busy and you get there via an underwater tunnel. I would NOT try walking there. In April, my fathom cruise left from one terminal but returned to another and I saw more than a few people taking a taxi from our debarkation terminal to the parking area for our embarkation terminal (talking one person leaving the others with luggage) to get their cars. It’s kind of a madhouse on turnover day.

 

[YawningDodo]

The Port Of Miami is big and busy and you get there via an underwater tunnel. I would NOT try walking there. In April, my fathom cruise left from one terminal but returned to another and I saw more than a few people taking a taxi from our debarkation terminal to the parking area for our embarkation terminal (talking one person leaving the others with luggage) to get their cars. It’s kind of a madhouse on turnover day.

Oof, also good to know.

On a whim this morning I checked departure flights for debarkation day just to see whether I could avoid a second overnight in Miami, and it looks like I can get a flight out at 12:30 that day...Disney says 12:00 is the earliest they recommend for flights out of MIA, and I'm not sure how crazy it would be to make that flight. I'll almost certainly be doing late seating, so I'd be second seating for breakfast that morning. I'm looking at a United flight, though, which should mean I'd be able to have Disney handle checking my bag with the airline (edit: that's not correct; I looked again and they only offer that if the flight is after 1:30). Dunno if I want to do that. On the one hand, it'd be more relaxing not to rush straight to the airport; on the other I'm not sure how much I'd enjoy being at loose ends by myself in Miami after the cruise, and it's looking like $230+ to stay that night if I stay at any of the downtown or port hotels.

 

[Dug720]

Oof, also good to know.

On a whim this morning I checked departure flights for debarkation day just to see whether I could avoid a second overnight in Miami, and it looks like I can get a flight out at 12:30 that day...Disney says 12:00 is the earliest they recommend for flights out of MIA, and I'm not sure how crazy it would be to make that flight. I'll almost certainly be doing late seating, so I'd be second seating for breakfast that morning. I'm looking at a United flight, though, which should mean I'd be able to have Disney handle checking my bag with the airline. Dunno if I want to do that. On the one hand, it'd be more relaxing not to rush straight to the airport; on the other I'm not sure how much I'd enjoy being at loose ends by myself in Miami after the cruise, and it's looking like $230+ to stay that night if I stay at any of the downtown or port hotels.

You could only have DCL handle the bag with Onboard Airline Check-In if you are using their transportation to MIA. And 12:30 would be too early for that.

You could always do breakfast in Cabanas earlier - I've never done it, but some people swear by it. Or just do self-walk off and eat at the airport.

 

[YawningDodo]

You could only have DCL handle the bag with Onboard Airline Check-In if you are using their transportation to MIA. And 12:30 would be too early for that.

You could always do breakfast in Cabanas earlier - I've never done it, but some people swear by it. Or just do self-walk off and eat at the airport.

Yeah, I checked back on that and realized I was wrong about when they start offering it. Since it's just me and I travel fairly light, I'm expecting to just have carry-on, maybe a purse, and one rolling bag (I normally wouldn't have a checked bag at all, but I'll be packing two costumes for this cruise and, uh, yeah). I use a large backpack for my carry-on, so my luggage situation is pretty manageable by myself even when I have a checked bag. If I do end up taking the 12:30 flight out the same day I'll probably eat in Cabanas so I'm not pressed for time, though I can double check with DCL about all of that.

I'm glad for the suggestions here and in the threads I searched up even if I end up taking an early flight out instead of the second night in Miami; I at least have baseline prices for some hotels I know people have liked and I can make an informed decision. Might stay somewhere nicer the first night if I'm not staying overnight on the tail end, too.

 

[Dug720]

Yeah, I checked back on that and realized I was wrong about when they start offering it. Since it's just me and I travel fairly light, I'm expecting to just have carry-on, maybe a purse, and one rolling bag (I normally wouldn't have a checked bag at all, but I'll be packing two costumes for this cruise and, uh, yeah). I use a large backpack for my carry-on, so my luggage situation is pretty manageable by myself even when I have a checked bag. If I do end up taking the 12:30 flight out the same day I'll probably eat in Cabanas so I'm not pressed for time, though I can double check with DCL about all of that.

I'm glad for the suggestions here and in the threads I searched up even if I end up taking an early flight out instead of the second night in Miami; I at least have baseline prices for some hotels I know people have liked and I can make an informed decision. Might stay somewhere nicer the first night if I'm not staying overnight on the tail end, too.

Miami - and especially Miami Beach - have quickly become one of my favorite places. Main reason I am considering switching to the 5-night out of there on the Magic for my Winter Break.

 

[lizabu]

We ended up flying into Fort Lauderdale and staying at a hotel in Fort Lauderdale when we cruised out of Miami because they are close to one another and Fort Lauderdale worked out to be cheaper for us. The SAS shuttle picked us up at our hotel and took us to port.

 

[YawningDodo]

We ended up flying into Fort Lauderdale and staying at a hotel in Fort Lauderdale when we cruised out of Miami because they are close to one another and Fort Lauderdale worked out to be cheaper for us. The SAS shuttle picked us up at our hotel and took us to port.

I'd checked flights to Fort Lauderdale yesterday, but it's only about $30 cheaper and I wouldn't be able to take United -- for better or for worse, United is the company with which I have miles.

 

[YawningDodo]

Miami - and especially Miami Beach - have quickly become one of my favorite places. Main reason I am considering switching to the 5-night out of there on the Magic for my Winter Break.

I think I'll go ahead and order a guidebook for Miami -- I know there's plenty of info online, but for some reason I have an easier time wrapping my head around a guidebook when I'm first scoping out a place I've never visited. Could be I'll get more excited about the prospect of an afternoon there once I know more about my options for entertainment. It's just one afternoon, regardless (I want to be home by Saturday night so I have a day's buffer before going back to work, so I can't stay for the weekend), but maybe I should give it a chance.

 

[Iris1974]

Have you given thought to The Comfort Suites Miami Airport North. They have a free airport shuttle and a free Miami Cruise port shuttle. I think they pick you up at the port after your cruise and take you to the airport, but if they didn't do the way back to the airport it would only be a cab ride to the airport. From what I saw on www.tripadvisor.com it has pretty good ratings. I looked for April 2018 and it was about $133.00 with some change for 2 queen beds probably less for a king room. It's worth looking into.

 

[YawningDodo]

Have you given thought to The Comfort Suites Miami Airport North. They have a free airport shuttle and a free Miami Cruise port shuttle. I think they pick you up at the port after your cruise and take you to the airport, but if they didn't do the way back to the airport it would only be a cab ride to the airport. From what I saw on www.tripadvisor.com it has pretty good ratings. I looked for April 2018 and it was about $133.00 with some change for 2 queen beds probably less for a king room. It's worth looking into.

I've seen it mentioned in a bunch of the older threads; people seem to like it a lot. Every time I put in my January travel dates, though, it comes back with a rate of $259/night.