Miami Pre-Stay Hotel Questions

[Pinky3]

Anyone have suggestions for pre-stay hotel in Miami? Looking for hotel that has shuttle from airport to hotel - and hotel that has Disney shuttle from hotel to port. Thanks for your advise.

 

[mmouse37]

Comfort Inn and Suites, Miami Airport has shuttles from MIA to hotel and from hotel to port. I have not stayed there but have read other Disers who have stayed there. I think the shuttle is just one time for depending on your PAT your may be at the port early or late.

Hotel in Miami Springs, FL | Comfort Suites® Official Site | Comfort Suites Miami Airport North (choicehotels.com)

From their website:

Hotel Alerts
Some hotel features--including fitness centers, pools, food and beverage, and other amenities--may not be available due to COVID-19. Face covering requirements may vary as hotels comply with state and local requirements, health ordinances and other regulations. Call the hotel for more information.
A valid credit card is required to secure your reservation. Invalid or declined credit cards will result in cancelled reservations by 4pm day of arrival. Complimentary Shuttle Service from Miami Airport is available on demand 24 hours. Retrieve your luggage and then call hotel 305-888-8404 for shuttle pick-up. Complimentary one way shuttle service from our hotel to the Port of Miami each morning. Register at the Front Desk during check-in to reserve your seat. Extended Parking is 12.00 USD per night when away from hotel. Nightly Safe Fee 2.00 USD.


MJ

 

[mmouse37]

Our plan is to stay at Courtyard Marriott by the airport but pick up a rental car when we land for use the day before cruise to pick up whatever we need or to go to dinner.

Morning of cruise we will return the car to Enterprise and take their complimentary shuttle to the port from the airport. You must show a rental agreement to board the shuttle.

MJ

 

[MomOTwins]

Anyone have suggestions for pre-stay hotel in Miami? Looking for hotel that has shuttle from airport to hotel - and hotel that has Disney shuttle from hotel to port. Thanks for your advise.

I recently booked Miami transfers through Disney for our cruise in April. They have three hotels that have the DCL shuttle to port on embarkation day: the Four Seasons, Hyatt Centric Brickell, and EB hotel. DCL bus transfers from hotel to port are $21 per person. You can either book the hotel through disney (they have a group rate that can sometimes be better than direct from the hotel) or book independently (this worked out better for us as DCL does not have all room categories available) and then book DCL transfers by calling DCL.

Of those three hotels, EB is the only one that has a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel; for the other two you would need to do an uber/taxi or arrange a private car to get to the hotel.

Regardless of where you stay pre-cruise you can also book a return shuttle from the port to Miami airport after the cruise, also $21 per person.

 

[Colo17]

I recently booked Miami transfers through Disney for our cruise in April. They have three hotels that have the DCL shuttle to port on embarkation day: the Four Seasons, Hyatt Centric Brickell, and EB hotel. DCL bus transfers from hotel to port are $21 per person. You can either book the hotel through disney (they have a group rate that can sometimes be better than direct from the hotel) or book independently (this worked out better for us as DCL does not have all room categories available) and then book DCL transfers by calling DCL.

Of those three hotels, EB is the only one that has a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel; for the other two you would need to do an uber/taxi or arrange a private car to get to the hotel.

Regardless of where you stay pre-cruise you can also book a return shuttle from the port to Miami airport after the cruise, also $21 per person.

Strange. Aren't these hotels in the downtown area, where a cab to the port would be maybe $10/cab? Embassy Airport port shuttle runs $8pp. In theory Embassy has a free airport shuttle but we have found that an airport-local cab at $13.

 

[MomOTwins]

Strange. Aren't these hotels in the downtown area, where a cab to the port would be maybe $10/cab? Embassy Airport port shuttle runs $8pp. In theory Embassy has a free airport shuttle but we have found that an airport-local cab at $13.

Yes absolutely would be cheaper to just get an uber/taxi to port. I view the DCL shuttle as a splurge that is worth it for me—I just like the convenience about not having to worry about PAT times (which are now being enforced strictly) and finding a taxi big enough for a family of 5 and all our luggage, plus I know Disney bus drivers have to mask up which is key for us. And being used to Orlando where the DCL bus costs twice as much, the DCL Miami price doesn’t seem so bad to me. To each his own I guess. I mentioned it because OP specifically asked about the DCL transfer.

Kind of like ordering the bottle of bubbly for the stateroom. Yes I could make a detour to a local shop and buy a bottle and carry it onboard, then order an ice bucket and glasses with room service, and it would cost far less than buying the in-room champagne. But much less convenient!

 

[anricat]

Honestly, I wouldn't limit yourself to hotels that have shuttles. We stayed at the Intercontinental and while it didn't have a shuttle, a taxi to port was super cheap. I imagine uber would be just as cheap. There are some great rates to be found by doing the hot rate thing on hotwire, which is how we lucked into the Intercontinental for $89 for the night. You can choose the area right downtown there and your hotel class and get some great deals.

 

[mmouse37]

Yes absolutely would be cheaper to just get an uber/taxi to port. I view the DCL shuttle as a splurge that is worth it for me—I just like the convenience about not having to worry about PAT times (which are now being enforced strictly) and finding a taxi big enough for a family of 5 and all our luggage, plus I know Disney bus drivers have to mask up which is key for us. And being used to Orlando where the DCL bus costs twice as much, the DCL Miami price doesn’t seem so bad to me. To each his own I guess. I mentioned it because OP specifically asked about the DCL transfer.

Kind of like ordering the bottle of bubbly for the stateroom. Yes I could make a detour to a local shop and buy a bottle and carry it onboard, then order an ice bucket and glasses with room service, and it would cost far less than buying the in-room champagne. But much less convenient!

Did you stay at the EB? or one of the other hotels with shuttle? What time did the bus come and did the same bus pick up from the other "Disney" hotels too? Just trying to gauge arrival at port.

And about the PAT....by using the DCL transfers you did not have to pick one, correct? What happened once at the port...did they just escort the whole bus inside when you got there. Did you have to claim your luggage from under the bus and hand over to porter or did DCL take care of the luggage? Sorry for so many questions!!! I have not taken DCL transfers in a million years.

MJ

 

[slindamood]

We are staying at the EB for our March 14 Magic. The hotel has a "cruise" option which includes transfers in a shared van to the port. There is only one time per day- 11AM for the transfer. The price includes breakfast and is $60 higher than room rate and $50 higher than the rate that includes breakfast. Of course, EB always has a free shuttle from airport to the hotel.

The DCL bus also leaves from the EB and the pickup time is also 11AM. Of course, no PAT is needed with this option.

We have opted for a private van at 10:30 to get us to the port for our 11:15 PAT and to get out of the hotel before the 11AM pickups crowd everything.

 

[jtkboston]

Comfort Inn and Suites, Miami Airport has shuttles from MIA to hotel and from hotel to port. I have not stayed there but have read other Disers who have stayed there. I think the shuttle is just one time for depending on your PAT your may be at the port early or late.

Hotel in Miami Springs, FL | Comfort Suites® Official Site | Comfort Suites Miami Airport North (choicehotels.com)

From their website:
Complimentary one way shuttle service from our hotel to the Port of Miami each morning. Register at the Front Desk during check-in to reserve your seat.

We're here now, the Saturday schedule of port transfers is 9:30, 11, or 12:30 departure from the hotel, on a first-come-first-serve reservation basis. At our late evening check-in, the 11am was already full. So we'll take a Lyft to get to the port at our noon PAT.

Hotel checkout is 11:00am, but you may be able to get a late checkout (we got a half-our extension with no troubles).