Friday, September 23, 2011

Pre-cruise Hotel Specials

Rose Tours just posted their annual pre-cruise hotel special for Marriott Biscayne Bay. Their rate is $119/night with the code "rosrosa." But an enterprising BH got an even better rate for the same night at the same hotel. You can get a room for $109/night if you call the hotel directly at 305-374-3900 and ask for the "Crystal Foshee Cruise Group" rate!

The Marriott, previous Rose Tours' favorite Intercontinental, and Holiday Inn are very close to the port, so if you don't plan on doing much Wednesday or the days before we set sail, that's the best location to choose. Lots of cruisers have already booked Holiday Inn and are planning a Wednesday night get-together.

If you plan on going out on the town Wednesday night or if you are going to stay in Miami for a few days, I'd recommend staying in South Beach. Otherwise you'll end up spending $50 in cab fare each time you go back and forth to the shops, clubs, and restaurants.

Many of my friends go back every year to the Casa Grande Suite Hotel in South Beach. Don't let the name throw you off; it's no luxury resort. But it is in a prime location, and all the rooms have full kitchens and free wi-fi.

There are dozens of hotels in South Beach, many of which are boutique and independent hotels, so do a little homework before you book by checking reviews on TripAdvisor or another site. No one wants to start a vacation by staying in a place with a broken shower or no air conditioning.

Cruisers, where are you staying? What rates have you booked? Share in the comments!