We are going to fly into Ft. Lauderdale a few days before the cruise. We are looking for a good hotel close to the airport and very close to a beach and what's the best way of getting a round (taxis or renting a car). Is Ft. Lauderdale anything like Miami? Does Ft. Lauderdale have good beaches?
Lauderdale has some great beaches. The airport isn't that far from the beach, about 5 miles. You can use the city bus, a cab or the water taxi for transportation. The water taxi is $10/pp per day and is a great way to see the intracoastal waterway, the homes, and scenery. They will give you a ticket and you can use the taxi all day and until 11pm at night for the one price. The bus is reasonable, and cab fares aren't too bad. Car rentals are a little pricey, but if you want to go to Miami (south beach) will be a lot less expensive than a cab both ways. Depending on the time of the year you're going hotel rates will range from $160-$250+ per evening. We usually stay at the TropiRock. It's about 2 blocks from the beach, it's an old motel but well kept. The owners are really nice. It's in walking distance to the beach and restaurants. We also stayed at the Renaisance, which is right across from the port. It was extremely nice and the staff was very accomodating. For a great meal visit Charlie's Crab (the end of the line on the water taxi), the Sea Watch (north lauderdale right on the ocean), or Pier 66 Bar and Grill (on the intracoastal near the port). Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is a nice place to visit (right across the street from the ocean). If you like shopping-go to Las Olas Boulevard, pricey but unique with some cute bistros and good restaurants. For a good breakfast visit Lester's Diner (right near the airport on state road 84). I hope this helps a little. If I can be of further assistance, please let me know. Best wishes and have a wonderful cruise!!
Wow Penny, with that kind of knowledge I expected to look at the bottom of your post and see you lived in Ft. Lauderdale. What a great post! I was going to recommend the La Quinta because of low cost, the free transportation to/from the pier and free parking if needed during your cruise but in this case, I'd go with Penny's choices. She has Ft. Lauderdale down to a fine science.
Thanks Neil, there's lots more to do there as well. I was born and raised in Lauderdale, I'd love to go back, but I'm not bi-lingual so can't get a decent job. Plus, the housing prices are ridiculous. A house my parents paid $4300 for was on the market for $185,000. It was a 2/1 and at least 50 years old. I left in 1983 and go back quite often. If you really want to spend big bucks, Galt Ocean Mile has some outrageous hotels. I loved the Yankee Clipper before Sheraton bought it out and Pier 66 before they were bought out, but the bar and grill is still great. I don't know if Cafe du Paris is still on Las Olas, but they used to have some great french food, not as good as the Le Dome or Eduardo's, but good none the less. A ride on an airboat in the Everglades is fun and chartering a deep sea fishing boat is a great way to spend a day or half day. The Jungle Queen is a good tour as well.
