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Fort Lauderdale Airport -- best Hotel deal?

Cathyb

Cathyb

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
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Need to stay one Thursday night upon arrival at Fort Lauderdale airport at a hotel nearby (in Feb. 2009). Tuggers have recommended not driving the Keys on a Friday night (heading to Marathon) -- our first time in this area.

1. What are some recommendations -- doesn't have to be fancy?

2. Would it be better to get the hotel shuttle and then rent auto at the hotel for a 12 day rental or rent at the airport for the whole thing (will do in advance to get best rate)? A Tugger said construction is messing up the airport area.

Thanks in advance for any tips. :)
 
Tell me about what you would like to spend?

There are a number of hotels near the airport in Ft Lauderdale. It all depends on what you wish to spend. One relatively close that I enjoy is the Embassy Suites about a mile from the airport. If you book early it should not be extremely expensive. They will even cook you a full breakfast (omlet) as part of the deal. And I also agree that you should not try and drive out to the Keys, but be rested first...that will make the drive less stressful and more enjoyable. I might suggest that you review your route, but you can go out I 595 which runs right beside the airport until it junctions with I 75 and take that south until you hit the Turnpike to Key West. While it is a bit longer, it is a much easier drive, missing the worst of the Miami traffic.

Another option is do take the above suggested route and stay that first night in Homestead, which is the last city before the Keys. The rooms a less expensive...like Best Western, ect. Then the next day the drive is all keys.
 
If you are arriving on a Thursday, why do you need a room? People are telling you travel is a problem on Friday night, not Thursday. If you are coming on Thursday, just drive to Marathon and skip the room. Also, you do not say what time of day your flight arrives, and that is important about the traffic as well.
 
We're doing this trip in January. Last time we flew a redeye from Seattle, then hopped in a rental car in the morning and drove to Key West.

Not a good idea and we won't do it again.

This year we're flying out Thursday night on a redeye, rest on Friday, get a good night's sleep, pick up our friends who are doing the redeye Friday to Saturday and at least two of us will be awake for the drive down there.

We're flying into Miami, as we fly with Alaska so I can't help with hotel suggestions. We'll probably stay somewhere through Triprewards if I can find a free room using their best rate guarantee.

We've stayed at the Embassy Suites in Seattle, they're nice places.

I definitely second your plan to take an overnight before heading down.
 
We got the Marriott Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Beach through Priceline for $75 plus tax ($16) for the night before our cruise 3 weeks from now. It has pretty good reviews on tripadvisor and it's in a great area. Check biddingfortravel dot com to see how to bid for this hotel.
 
Our timeshare starts on a Friday, so that is why the room on Thursday to avoid driving from Fort Lauderdale to Marathon on a Friday afternoon.
 
vettebuf said:
We got the Marriott Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Beach through Priceline for $75 plus tax ($16) for the night before our cruise 3 weeks from now. It has pretty good reviews on tripadvisor and it's in a great area. Check biddingfortravel dot com to see how to bid for this hotel.
Click to expand...


We too stayed a night in the Courtyard. We walked over and ate at the seafood restaurant inside the Bass Pro Shop complex next door. It was great.

The hotel has a shuttle to & from the airport. Since my oldest DD was flying in the next morning, we waited until then to rent a car at the ariport.
 
thinze -- there are several Courtyards in Ft.L -- was yours the one that has Airport in its name?
 
Brian: Beautiful resort!
 
Cathyb said:
thinze -- there are several Courtyards in Ft.L -- was yours the one that has Airport in its name?
Click to expand...

Yes, it was the Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Airport next to I-95. Thanks, I should have clarified that. If I remember correctly, there was some type of museum next door to the hotel as well as the Bass Pro Shop and Islamorada Seafood Restaurant. :D
 
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