Hey all,
Are there any hotels that shuttle airport as well as pier? Taxi fare from hotel?
Thanks
lizzy

The airport hotels have shuttles to and from the airport. Didn't find any nice hotels near pier that had shuttles. We stayed in Holiday Inn Marina Park-- nice big room with view of ships, across from fun Bayshore mall that had lots of shopping and eating possibilies. We paid about $16 for our taxi from the airport to this hotel, and $6 from the hotel to the pier. The taxi driver said he did not have any change- so plan accordingly. Taxis are everywhere.

thanks for taking the time...

Try the Hotel Intercontinental or any of the other 'downtown' hotels. I'm pretty sure I saw an airport shuttle when we stayed at the Intercontinental and you can actually see the ships from the hotel. There is a Hyatt and a Marriott close by as well. We booked through Priceline and got a good rate. You could look up some of the hotels on biddingfortravel.com Miami-hotel list-downtown and you will get links to the hotels and reviews from travellers. Not an intentional plug, just useful info.

Hey bon,
Thanks, I use priceline all the time, was trying to figure out how to get from ap to hotel and then hotel to pier without spending a fortune. Sounds like the pier part is not expensive, what about the ap, and yes, the deals at the Hyatt, miami on pl are very hot. Have never been to miami.
thanks!

Meggss: Miami uses a system where all cabs must charge you the same price for the zones they take you to. You'll see a decal on the inside of the cab (on the window) that explains the zones and the fees.
Earlier this year, any hotel in the port area was about $18.00 from the airport. Remember, thats for the cab, not per person, so if you have 2 people you're really paying only $9 per person, etc. This is much cheaper and far easier than the cruise line or hotel shuttles that hurd you onto buses and make you wait in line, etc.
Cabs are everywhere and will be waiting right outside the baggage claim area of the airport.
These same cabs know that in the morning people are looking for rides to the ships and wait in lines outside the hotels. I believe the fare from the hotel to the ships is about $6.
The ride from the ship to the hotels in the pier area takes about 15 minutes, from your hotel to the ship is about 5. Do NOT choose a hotel solely based on the shuttle issue since its so easy to take a cab.
We always stay at the Best Western Marina Park as well. It's right across the street from the bayside market where there's plenty to see and do the night before your cruise and has a beautiful view of the ships, but be sure you ask for a room that faces them.

Intercontinental is a great pre-cruise hotel! You will have to provide taxi to the airport and then to the pier.

We have a reservation in October for the Hampton Inn Miami-Airport West (79th Street) which has shuttle service to and from the airport. The rate is only $84 per night for AAA or AARP members and $94 for standard (2 double beds)...sorry, don't know about shuttle to pier.

Sometimes one forgets the big picture when trying to answer a specific question. You asked about shuttle hotels but if you asked me where you should stay for one night before departing for a cruise out of Miami I probably would steer you towards South Beach which is about 10 minutes from the pier. There you will find a great atmosphere, lots of people, restaurants within walking distance, etc. Again, if you use Priceline you might get the Leow's which is in a great location and is a beautiful hotel. When I stayed at the Intercontinental I was petrified to walk to Bayside after 5:00 p.m. because a local had told me about all the muggings downtown. I would not discourage anyone from staying there as long as they realize it could be dangerous at night. Taking cabs is not a problem.

This link gives details/descriptions about all of the Priceline zones in Florida, written with Cruise Ship Passengers in mind:

http://www.betterbidding.com/index.p...amp;t=222&

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the help and info. I did end up bidding pre and post, pre I got the Hyatt, yea for only 35$$, but I got kicked in the buns on post, bid a 3 star resort and according to Bidding for travel, which I use all the time, and has helped me ooodles, the hotel The New Casablanca, was a 2, but according to P.L. it is a 3, looks like a dive to me. I called to confirm my reservation and the reservation couldn't find it, probably had something to do with the fact she could speek no english, great. So, be sure when bidding, never had this problem before.
thanks again
liz