Port of Miami/FLL Questions

[ChicosWife]

We will be flying into FLL (because Southwest doesn't fly into MIA) and our cruise leaves out of the Port of Miami. Since, we will be there a couple of days early, I was thinking of renting a car at FLL and returning it at the rental car location nearest the port. So, here are my questions:

1) Anyone know which rental car agencies will allow me to return the car to their port location and has a shuttle that will take us TO the port?

2) Should we return it to MIA instead and is there a shuttle to the port?

3) Any suggestions as to how best (and cheapest) to get back to FLL, after we get off the ship?

Thanks,

 

[CamColt]

We used SAS, www.ridesas.com/ to get from the Port of Miami back to Ft Lauderdale airport. They were affordable and easy. I would use them again.

 

[Jennifer Scicchitano]

1. we used enterprise at FLL airport,we did return it to a hotel in miami the morning of the cruise and we grabbed an uber to the port, the hotel was really close to the port so it was relatively cheap and it was so easy

 

[ChicosWife]

We used SAS, www.ridesas.com/ to get from the Port of Miami back to Ft Lauderdale airport. They were affordable and easy. I would use them again.

I'll have to check them out. Thanks!

 

[monarchsfan16]

I was able to get a really good deal on our rental car last spring. Between the deal, and the cost of private transportation after, it worked out to be more affordable to do a rental for the week (rather than a few days) and park at the port, than it would have been to rent for just a couple days, return it, shuttle to the port, and private transportation back to FLL. This also ended up being a good thing, because it took us an hour from the time we got off the ship, until the time we said good bye to the customs officer, due to the line completely stopping for quite some time. Many of the private transportation services wanted to pick up by 9:30 or something like that. It was much later than that when we finally emerged into daylight. We did have late breakfast though, and we were not interested in express walk off, given that our flight wasn't until 1:30. Just something to consider.

 

[MPS516]

If you are renting, Budget has a shuttle from car return to port. We always fly into FLL and stay at a hotel on the river or inter-coastal, then take the water taxi everywhere ($ 7 day pass). We have some favorite restaurants along the water and several stops for shopping and entertainment. On cruise day we use Jiffy Jeff's from hoel to port, they have nice equipment, good rates and very friendly drivers. We choose the time and they are at the port upon our return and take us back to FLL, no car worries and part of our no hassle trip.

 

[anricat]

We used SAS last time and from the airport to Miami I was very pleased. Now, on the way back (port to back to FLL airport) I was not so pleased. The driver was totally insane. He was going 80 mph down the freeway (yes, I actually looked at the speedometer) and was weaving in and out of traffic, changing lanes and was generally aggressively driving. This all with toddlers in the van that were not in car seats. It was NOT OKAY.

So this time around for our upcoming cruise, I did further research and found that SAS, who is often recommended here on the DIS is not well-liked on Yelp. However, I found two companies that have great reviews on Yelp and I will be contacting one of them for our upcoming voyage. I'm sorry I can't personally vouch for them, but here is the contact information if you want to look them up online or try one of them:

FG Car Services
www.fgcarservices.com
(includes car seats for free)

Jiffy Jeff
www.gojiffyjeff.com/

 

[Capt_BJ]

Two comments if you decide to rent a car

1. Are you comfortable driving in 'traffic'? This is a congested area and the roads, especially the highways can be a wee bit intimidating to those not accustomed ....

2. Miami is full of toll roads that are 'electronic payment only' ... staying completely off these roads is possible but not easy. You really need to be prepared to pay the tolls electronically. This means either paying the rental company the fee they charge you to handle the electronic payment .... OR getting your own SUNPASS. If you don't do one of these and you encounter a toll the rental company may charge up to $20 per toll for your booboo. What the rental companies charge varies widely .... see https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar . Or you can buy a SUNPASS thru the mail and use it in a rental car. You want the $20 version (able to be moved from car to car). You will actually get a small discount on any tolls using this device. Just go to the home page at that same SUNPASS site.

 

[ChicosWife]

Two comments if you decide to rent a car

1. Are you comfortable driving in 'traffic'? This is a congested area and the roads, especially the highways can be a wee bit intimidating to those not accustomed ....

2. Miami is full of toll roads that are 'electronic payment only' ... staying completely off these roads is possible but not easy. You really need to be prepared to pay the tolls electronically. This means either paying the rental company the fee they charge you to handle the electronic payment .... OR getting your own SUNPASS. If you don't do one of these and you encounter a toll the rental company may charge up to $20 per toll for your booboo. What the rental companies charge varies widely .... see https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar . Or you can buy a SUNPASS thru the mail and use it in a rental car. You want the $20 version (able to be moved from car to car). You will actually get a small discount on any tolls using this device. Just go to the home page at that same SUNPASS site.

Wow, I had no idea, driving in Miami was so complicated! Thanks for the info!

 

[ChicosWife]

I was able to get a really good deal on our rental car last spring. Between the deal, and the cost of private transportation after, it worked out to be more affordable to do a rental for the week (rather than a few days) and park at the port, than it would have been to rent for just a couple days, return it, shuttle to the port, and private transportation back to FLL. This also ended up being a good thing, because it took us an hour from the time we got off the ship, until the time we said good bye to the customs officer, due to the line completely stopping for quite some time. Many of the private transportation services wanted to pick up by 9:30 or something like that. It was much later than that when we finally emerged into daylight. We did have late breakfast though, and we were not interested in express walk off, given that our flight wasn't until 1:30. Just something to consider.

How much was parking at the port?

 

[Capt_BJ]

POM parking is $20 a day according to their web page ....

 

[monarchsfan16]

Yes, parking is $20/day. This is charged by how many nights you are there. In terms of driving in MIA, we found it to be no issue. Now...we do live an hour north of Boston. We found the traffic to be less, with far fewer acts of stupidity than what we see in the Boston metro area. Miami drivers might use their horns more than Boston drivers however. Just stay off the FL turnpike (DO google search all the names of the turnpike, however), and there are no sunpass issues.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

My Dad and I are on the Magic this Sunday. We are flying into FLL for the same reason, but coming in on Saturday. For us, it was cheaper to rent a car from FLL, drop-off the rental at Miami International Airport the next day, and take the Disney transportation from the airport to the port than hire a private shuttle company to take us.

 

[Capt_BJ]

"Just stay off the FL turnpike (DO google search all the names of the turnpike, however), and there are no sunpass issues."


... everything in red is a toll road with electronic only. If you explore Miami it is EASY to find yourself paying electronic tolls ... even on I-95 if you get in the wrong lane you pay a toll (pay express lanes)

I lived and worked in Miami for quite a long time and still return regularly. If you spend much time you WILL encounter tolls

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

"Just stay off the FL turnpike (DO google search all the names of the turnpike, however), and there are no sunpass issues."


... everything in red is a toll road with electronic only. If you explore Miami it is EASY to find yourself paying electronic tolls ... even on I-95 if you get in the wrong lane you pay a toll (pay express lanes)

I lived and worked in Miami for quite a long time and still return regularly. If you spend much time you WILL encounter tolls

So, my Dad and I are driving from FLL to a hotel by the Miami airport. Are you recommending take I-95 to 112? When we reach 112, take side streets to our hotel? Our hotel is right off of 112 by the airport. Do you know how much rental car locations cost to go on the electronic toll roads?

 

[Capt_BJ]

Do you know how much rental car locations cost to go on the electronic toll roads?

https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar ...... your answer lies within .....

 

[monarchsfan16]

If you are concerned about tolls when you get there, just program your GPS (I use Google maps on my phone) to avoid tolls. It's a couple clicks. It will take longer to get around, but it's very doable. We went to the Everglades (Homestead side) and around the area, plus drove between FLL and the cruise port. Stayed near the port.

 

[ChicosWife]

"Just stay off the FL turnpike (DO google search all the names of the turnpike, however), and there are no sunpass issues."


... everything in red is a toll road with electronic only. If you explore Miami it is EASY to find yourself paying electronic tolls ... even on I-95 if you get in the wrong lane you pay a toll (pay express lanes)

I lived and worked in Miami for quite a long time and still return regularly. If you spend much time you WILL encounter tolls

I did a Google map search and clicked the box to "avoid toll roads".

 

[ChicosWife]

Cruise parking is more expensive than just finding a shuttle or other transportation back to FLL.