Advice for split trip to Florida
Jul 2, 2008 | 4:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MUC/HKT
Programs: UA1K;AAEXP;BAG
Posts: 595
Advice for split trip to Florida
After reading quite a few mixed reviews about Marriotts in Florida i thought it would be wise to ask some locals or florida pros for advice regarding my upcoming trip to FL.
This is my 2nd trip to FL and i havent seen much of it yet as i have only been to the Orlando theme parks. I am not interested in visiting one of those this time but will use my time there to relax on the beach and probably drive around a bit. As i couldnt resist to add a short trip to south america into my vacation i will now have two short stays in florida instead of a longer one.
I am arriving at MCO at 3pm on Tuesday and leaving MIA on Thursday at 01:45am. So basically my choices for those first 2 days are:
1) Reserve one night near MCO, use late check-out and fly down to MIA in the evening, kill some hours at MIA and board the night flight tired.
2) Drive to a nice Marriott location (city or beach) stay there for 1 night and drive to MIA to catch the night flight.
3) Drive to a nice Marriott location (preferably beach location) stay there for 1 night, drive to MIA area, check-in into MIA Airport Marriott sleep until 11pm use the shuttle to the airport and catch the night flight.
4) Get closer to Miami, book 2 nights anywhere in the area, sleep until 10pm on Wednesday and drive to MIA to catch the night flight.
I did look at some Marriott properties and could imagine staying at:
- Marco Island Marriott
- JW Marriott Grand Lakes Orlando
- Orlando Airport Marriott
- Marriott Grande Vista
- Marriott Ocean Point
- Courtyard Fort Lauderdale
- Renaissance Fort Lauderdale
- JW Miami
- Miami Airport Marriott
- Miami Marriott Dadeland
2nd stay in florida will be another 2 nights after my return from south america so i do have time to add two days of beach vacation anywhere.
As of now i am thinking about driving down from MCO to the Renaissance/Courtyard Fort Lauderdale for 1 night, drive to MIA the next afternoon, return the rental car, and relax at the Miami Airport Marriott until its time to leave for the night flight. After returning to Miami i thought about spending two nights at either Marriott Ocean Point or Marco Island Marriott before driving back to MCO.
Any suggestions ?
This is my 2nd trip to FL and i havent seen much of it yet as i have only been to the Orlando theme parks. I am not interested in visiting one of those this time but will use my time there to relax on the beach and probably drive around a bit. As i couldnt resist to add a short trip to south america into my vacation i will now have two short stays in florida instead of a longer one.
I am arriving at MCO at 3pm on Tuesday and leaving MIA on Thursday at 01:45am. So basically my choices for those first 2 days are:
1) Reserve one night near MCO, use late check-out and fly down to MIA in the evening, kill some hours at MIA and board the night flight tired.
2) Drive to a nice Marriott location (city or beach) stay there for 1 night and drive to MIA to catch the night flight.
3) Drive to a nice Marriott location (preferably beach location) stay there for 1 night, drive to MIA area, check-in into MIA Airport Marriott sleep until 11pm use the shuttle to the airport and catch the night flight.
4) Get closer to Miami, book 2 nights anywhere in the area, sleep until 10pm on Wednesday and drive to MIA to catch the night flight.
I did look at some Marriott properties and could imagine staying at:
- Marco Island Marriott
- JW Marriott Grand Lakes Orlando
- Orlando Airport Marriott
- Marriott Grande Vista
- Marriott Ocean Point
- Courtyard Fort Lauderdale
- Renaissance Fort Lauderdale
- JW Miami
- Miami Airport Marriott
- Miami Marriott Dadeland
2nd stay in florida will be another 2 nights after my return from south america so i do have time to add two days of beach vacation anywhere.
As of now i am thinking about driving down from MCO to the Renaissance/Courtyard Fort Lauderdale for 1 night, drive to MIA the next afternoon, return the rental car, and relax at the Miami Airport Marriott until its time to leave for the night flight. After returning to Miami i thought about spending two nights at either Marriott Ocean Point or Marco Island Marriott before driving back to MCO.
Any suggestions ?
Jul 2, 2008 | 11:50 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles, MR, HH, ICH/PC, Avis Pref., Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,897
Here's an idea for your Tuesday arrival:
Drive half way to MIA via Port St. Lucie, Florida (about 120 miles / 2 hours). There is a Courtyard on the beach there (Courtyard Hutchinson Island Oceanside ). I haven't stayed there, but the location is about perfect for your needs. Spend the day relaxing and then another 120 miles to MIA that evening.
If you want to drive further, there is the Marriott at Delray Beach and a several Courtyard/Marriott/Renaissance waterfront properties in Ft. Lauderdale. Any of the inland properties would be dull, in my opinion, unless all you wanted to do is sleep.
Drive half way to MIA via Port St. Lucie, Florida (about 120 miles / 2 hours). There is a Courtyard on the beach there (Courtyard Hutchinson Island Oceanside ). I haven't stayed there, but the location is about perfect for your needs. Spend the day relaxing and then another 120 miles to MIA that evening.
If you want to drive further, there is the Marriott at Delray Beach and a several Courtyard/Marriott/Renaissance waterfront properties in Ft. Lauderdale. Any of the inland properties would be dull, in my opinion, unless all you wanted to do is sleep.
Last edited by keeton; Jul 2, 2008 at 11:56 am
Jul 2, 2008 | 1:56 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Florida
Programs: MR PP/Ambassador, Amex Explat, Hertz PC
Posts: 41
The Renaissance in Ft Lauderdale is basically in a car park off I-595 (about 15 miles from the beach). The marriotts at Delray Beach and South Beach are nice.
Jul 4, 2008 | 11:01 am
#4
Join Date: May 2008
Location: New Orleans, LA
Programs: MR Platinum, UA, AA, etc. etc. etc.
Posts: 52
We stayed at the Hollywood Beach Marriott if you're looking for a quiet beachfront property. It's prbably a 45 minute drive to MIA airport without traffic. My biggest downside is that there are almost no "ocean front" rooms, all are ocean view.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...each-marriott/
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...each-marriott/
Jul 4, 2008 | 2:46 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Central New Jersey (EWR, ABE, PHL)
Programs: Marriott LT Plat,SW, Hertz #1 Gold, Amtrak SP, jetBlue, et al
Posts: 953
Marco is GORGEOUS...and the JW in Miami is wonderful even though it is not on the beach...in more of a business area. (the CL at the JW is open on weekends...very nice variety of food, snacks available all day-chips, fruit, granola bars and IIRC sodas/coffee..and FREE Beer and Wine...and the attendant was very generous!)
I have been told, by 3 GMS from different South Fla hotels (all various Marriott brands..) that ANY hotel b/at MIA aiport should be avoided as they are the LOWEST guest satisfaction hotels in the chain. That said, I have no first hand experience at them, but the other advice they gave me with regards to Fla hotels was dead on! (they specifically said to avoid the FS and the CY right next to it at the MIA airport...)
Again, no 1st hand experience.......
I have stayed at both Marco and the JW Miami and would go back as quickly as I could get to the airport!
I have been told, by 3 GMS from different South Fla hotels (all various Marriott brands..) that ANY hotel b/at MIA aiport should be avoided as they are the LOWEST guest satisfaction hotels in the chain. That said, I have no first hand experience at them, but the other advice they gave me with regards to Fla hotels was dead on! (they specifically said to avoid the FS and the CY right next to it at the MIA airport...)
Again, no 1st hand experience.......
I have stayed at both Marco and the JW Miami and would go back as quickly as I could get to the airport!