My husband and I are traveling to Fort Lauderdale this weekend for a week. We haven't reserved a car, do you think it's necessary to get around? We were planning to take cabs or walk around.

Yes, get a car-we don't know where you are staying and what you like to see-how can we advise you.?

Ft. Laud ( the county is 4 sq. miles larger than Rhode Island !) How can you walk around!

If you want to spend a week around your hotel-don't rent a car.

Too many posts on this board without any info.

As someone who walks everywhere and loves taking public transit...you do need a car in Fort Lauderdale. I went last May and would have been lost without it. Unless you are spending two days and plan to only sit at the beach, you should get one.

If you can, use the water taxi. Best $5 you can spend, what fun. I stayed at the Radisson Bahia Mar and never needed a cab.

I agree that you really need to tell us where you're staying. If you're at one of the hotels right on the intracoastal with a water taxi stop there, you might do fine. Or if you're staying at a place right on the beach and don't want to go anywhere else, you'll also be fine. Otherwise, you'll probably need a car. By the way, cabs are hard to find in Ft. Lauderdale except at the airport or port.
Walking around is only going to be within a very small area, like on Las Olas, or right on the main beachfront, or along the 17th Street Causeway, but you're not going to walk between those areas.

More information: my husband and are staying at the Pillars Resort which has a water taxi stop at the dock at the hotel. We are not looking to do much touristy stuff...maybe go out for dinner at night and then just lay around the pool/beach. Still need a car??

If you are right on the "beach strip", there will be many places you can go on foot.

I was there a few days without a car, then got "bored" and rented one to go to the Everglades and Cypress Gardens.

But for a weekend, I think you'll be fine without a car if just wanting to go out for dinner or walks.

There's a boat ride through the "millionaire row" that you should take. You can find the tourist booth for tickets right along the beach.

I've been to Ft. Lauderdale with a car and without one, and I can tell you it's better with a car. You can walk to some places from where you are, but be prepared to walk a LOT.

Also, Ft. Lauderdale has some of the cheapest car rental rates around, usually in the $22 a day range. For the amount of money you would spend on cabs, you're better off renting. Besides, your dinner options will be a lot more open with access to a car.

I'd suggest you not rent a car right away and then if you decide you want one to venture farther away, you can always get one.

You can purchase your Water Bus tickets when you board the boat, you don't need to go anywhere special.

Also, if you want a change of pace, they have tours that go to South Beach. Check out their website for more info. It might be a nice little excursion for you.

Enjoy your week in my home town!

We looked into renting a car for the week and it will cost us about $500!!! We're going to wing it and get a 7-day pass for the water taxi for $20 each. Thanks for your help!

I'm not going to say you're wrong, but I can' imagine why you can't get a decent economy car for about $150 a week or less. Or are you underage? Or looking for a Jag convertible or something?
By the way, from what you say you plan to do and where you'll be, I think you'll do fine without a car.

Check budget.com, and click on their last minute deals. It's showing a compact for $139 a week. There's also an option for $165 a week for a mid size car. You must have been checking Hertz or looking for a specialty car to get a rate of $500, or you're both under 25??

Those rates are not available this week b/c this week is a "black out" period. The specials available are for Allentown, Rochester, Detroit, and Scranton. We are over 25 and have called about 10 rental comnaies and the cheapest we found was $458. Thanks for your help...we're going to wing it and hope it works out!

OK, I must agree with you. I just tried Dollar, National, and Enterprise and there are NO cars available PERIOD for a week starting this weekend in Ft. Lauderdale!! You must have only recently checked with them when there were very few left and they jacked up the prices accordingly.