Miami Pre-Cruise Hotel?

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Hello!
sailing out of Miami for the first time. I currently have 2 hotels booked:
Holiday Inn (across from port) at $183 plus $27 valet parking, no breakfast and 11am check out
And
Residence Inn South Beach for $208 plus $40 parking, breakfast included 12pm check out but further away.

We plan to park at the port. Which is better? We will likely arrive around 3pm to check in and will need dinner. Any good/bad experience at either? We can’t do a PAT for a few more weeks so I won’t know that now but I understand from friends who sail Miami that you don’t get on as quickly as PC???
- November cruise on Magic

thanks!!!

 

[I_love_Cruising]

I stayed at the Holiday Inn in 2018. I would never stay there again! There are many nice hotels in Miami and Miami Beach, but is is one of the worst I ever had.

The good:
valet parking lot was behind hotel, so very fast to get car
good location, walking distance to Bayside Market

The bad:
very rundown
dirty all over, the bathroom was filthy
reception staff was unfriendly
elevator did not always work
Needed to get a new key card every day