I know a lot of people recommend several of the hotels right by the port. But we are arriving in the afternoon and wanted some beach time, so we have booked a direct ocean front balcony room at the Cocoa Beach La Quinta (not the Port Canaveral one). It is right next to the pier with various shops and restaurants right there. And it's only 5 miles from PC.
We rent a car from the airport as a one way rental. We have stayed several time at the Residence Inn, which we really like. plus a free breakfast that is pretty good. We have also stayed at the Hilton-right on the beach. Loved walking being on the beach. Didn't care for the hotel. We return the car the morning of the cruise and take the rental car shuttle to the port. We like Juice N' Java in Cocoa Beach for coffee, breakfast, salads, lunch. At night they have music and nice choice of wine and beer too, I think, Plenty of stores in Cocoa for anything last minute and Ron Jon's is there for fun souvenir shopping
We booked Resident's Inn for our cruise in September. I think I read this hotel has a shuttle to the port. I also believe Hertz rental office is right infront of this hotel as well. Can you confirm this? sorry for hijacking this thread... just wanted to confirm the shuttle to the port...