Looking for a budget place for 3 nights before a cruise. First requirement - public transportation, checked what's close to the Metromover and and Metrorail. The only one that has more or less OK reviews close to a station is Extended Stay American Brickell.

How is the area - looks like the hotel is where 3 streets meet: SW 13th St, SW 15th Rd, SW 3rd Ave. The city hall must have great imagination naming them all! Is it 4 blocks to the Mover stop, and is it safe to walk? Weekdays, weekends.

How is this hotel, how is the area, will we feel sorry for staying there? We really need something close to dependable public transit, and we are budget travelers.

There is a Hampton Inn directly across US 1 from the Coconut Grove Metrorail stop. It is much nicer than the ordinary Hampton Inn. The stop is 8 minutes south of Government Center. There are several restaurants and the world's best fast food place, Pollo Loco, near the hotel, and it seemed perfectly safe when we stayed there.

Worth a look since you aren't getting any information. I think in general that a budget motel in downtown Miami might not be to most people's taste. I haven't spent much time in that area, but there seemed not to be a lot of street life and restaurants.

Faina, do not stay in downtown Miami. It is crime ridden and deserted at night. The company that owns Bayside has gone bankrupt and I'm not sure how well they are keeping it up.

I agree Coconut Grove is a much better area. Lots walkable and it is very pretty and very safe.

Stay off the metromover at night.

I like the location of the Residence Inn Coconut Grove much better than the Hampton Inn. It is almost across the street from CocoWalk.

Did you try priceline? I would go for four stars or resort in the Coconut Grove/Coral Gables area.

When is your cruise? Peak season starts the beginning of January and Miami has gotten very expensive.

Make sure you spend a day at Vizcaya.

Faini, here is what is coming up on Priceline for Coconut Grove/Coral Gables. Currently the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables is going for $55 per night. Any of these hotels would be an excellent choice.

When are you going?

4 Star
Hyatt Regency Coral Gables
Westin Coral Gables Colonnade
Mayfair House Hotel
Sonesta Hotel & Suites

3 Star
Courtyard Marriott
Doubletree Hotel Coconut Grove
Grand Bay Hotel
Residence Inn Coconut Grove

We'll go in January. Cannot do Priceline - cannot walk. Need something as close to a stop as possible.

I guess, need to start a search all over. Darn, it looks too expensive! I would hate to cut a night off.

Miami is not know for public transportation and downtown Miami is generally not safe. GoTravel has listed some nice hotels. Sorry you selected Miami for dependable public transportation because it does not exist!

Doctor We'll take a cruise out of Miami, I'm trying to figure out if to go there for several days or only one night pre-cruise.

How is the downtown compare to Tenderloin in San Francisco? OK during daytime, dangerous at night?

If Metromover doesn't have a schedule, only runs "frequently" and Metrorail scheduled for every 10-15' who is using it????

Now I am confused. I pulled up Coconut Grove - Coral Gables area on Expedia, to look at the map, and my initial question is about a hotel listed in that area, close to metromover Brickell station, a little NE from Simpson park.

Is this still the dreaded downtown area?

Extended Stay America is #35 out of 133 on Trip Advisor. Hmmm... I am lost

Take a look at the Residence Inn Coconut Grove or the Courtyard Marriot Coral Gables.

In Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, so much is within walking distance you will not need public transportation.

Forgot to add, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove are outside downtown. They are both wealthy upscale residential neighborhoods with excellent shopping, dining, and activities.

Make sure you check out: The Historic Biltmore Hotel, The Venetian Pool, Vizcaya, Cocowalk, Miracle Mile, Village of Merrick Park.

But GoTravel, I don't think his plans include a car rental, and he says he can't walk (age? diabetes? arthritis?) All those places are wonderful, but you can't walk to most of them from any hotel I know.

Residence Inn, closest Douglas station, about a mile away. Cortyard maybe 2-3 miles away.

Sorry, have to look for something 2-3 blocks away. Still looking

For now, watching the air fare changing, looking for the "it" schedule, and reading hotel reviews...

Searching for hotels location-wise I'm giving up Metromover and Metrorail. Off to checking bus lines, some run every day, even on Sunday - line #2 every half hour! Good enough for us.

I guess by January I'll become a Miami bus pro, same as San Francisco

I didn't check yet places to visit, only glanced, but it looks there are plenty.

Faina, email me at Blue Herons at hotmail dot com.

I'm glad you've given up on the metromover and metrorail. Miami's public transportation isn't up to the standards it should be for the city the size of Miami.

Remember, Miami isn't an American city. It is the capitol of Latin America and there was zero city planning.

You should stay somewhere close to Cocowalk, Sunset Place, Miracle Mile, or Merrick Place so at night you can walk over to dining. You do NOT want to take public transportation at night. It is deserted and you could accidently end up in a very bad neighborhood.

Coral Gables and Coconut Grove are pretty crime free but the airport and downtown are dangerous.

Thank you, GoT, you've got mail!

Faina - when are you going or have you already gone?

We are going in January, I am doing my research early while I have time now.

This is the plan: fly to MIA on Wednesday, stay in South Beach till Sunday, off on a cruise to Belize, Honduras, come back and fly out of FLL.

I feel that staying in South Beach is a much better idea than being in downtown.
You may want to check out the Grand Beach Hotel - I heard that they will be opening in 2009
http://www.MiamiHotelGrandbeach.com

Hotelier, while I understand you are only promoting your business, I Googled this hotel anyway. No, thanks, the location is too far for me from everything - without a car, I prefer to stay way south.

Dayenu - Brickell is an excellent idea if you can find something in your budget. It is just over the bridge from downtown and many consider it part of downtown. There are many restaurants and beautiful brand new hotels in this area - Four Seasons, Epic, Viceroy, etc. I understand these may not be in oyur budget - but it shows you that the area is far from dangerous. There is the Mary Brickell Village which is brand new, but also Tobacco Road - a bar that has been around as long as I can remember and always has fun live music.
http://www.tobacco-road.com/
http://www.marybrickellvillage.com/
I gotta run -but will look at a map with the hotels in that area near metrorail stop later.
Also - I totally diagree that downtown is a bad place to stay - a few blocks north of Bayside is Miami brand new Arts Center - which hosts operas, concerts, and off broadway shows. I will look at hotels near that area as well.