Best Miami Cruise Port Hotel: The Holiday Inn Downtown/Port of Miami

2010-08-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

Holiday Inn Downtown / Port of Miami

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If you are looking for the closest hotel to the Port of Miami, look no further than the Holiday Inn Downtown/Port of Miami. This is where my family and I stayed before leaving on our cruise from Miami, and we were very pleased with our decision. However, read on for some important tips that will save you tons of time and stress.

Location
They say location is everything when it comes to real estate, and on this front, the Holiday Inn wins hands-down. The Holiday Inn is located at 340 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, literally just a few hundred feet from the entrance to the Port of Miami (via Port Blvd), and about five minutes via car to where you board your cruise ship!

Map of the Port of Miami showing location of Holiday Inn (labeled "A"), Click for Larger Map

The hotel is also directly across the street from the Bayside Marketplace, an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment district on the waterfront overlooking the Port of Miami. Adjacent to the Marketplace is Bayfront Park, which is ideal for a quick stroll along the waterfront.

Bayside Marketplace Near the Port of Miami

Rooms

Room with two double beds

The Holiday Inn is no five-star hotel, and frankly, the rooms are quite small. But they are clean and more than adequate for a night or two pre- or post-cruise.

Our room was pretty basic with two twin beds, a television, and en-suite bathroom. King-sized beds, and both smoking and non-smoking rooms are also available.

Parking
The hotel actually has an adjacent parking lot served by a back entrance to the hotel - somewhat unusual for a downtown hotel, and very convenient if you're driving. There is a cost of $12 per night for parking, and there is a security service that both watches over the vehicles and ensures they are registered with the hotel (so make sure you register your vehicle and get a placard for your dashboard).

Note: The hotel does not offer a "Park and Cruise" option that allows you to leave your vehicle at the hotel. But parking at the Port of Miami is actually very convenient. You can literally park right across from your cruise ship for a cost of $20 per day. Parking must be paid in advance when you arrive at the Port of Miami, and they accept credit/debit cards.

Dining

The hotel bar and restaurant

The hotel has a small bar and a restaurant that serves a breakfast buffet. Breakfast is not included in the price of the room, but children under twelve eat free with a paying adult. You may have to wait for a table, so allow a little extra time for breakfast on the morning of your cruise. There is also a Burger King within a block of the hotel.

Those seeking something a little more adventurous will want to walk across the street to the Bayside Marketplace (see above), which offers chain restaurants such as Chili's, Hooters, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, and the Hard Rock Cafe, as well as a few locally-owned restaurants.

Amenities

The hotel pool

The hotel has a small kiosk offering tickets, tours, and transportation, a nicely decorated lobby, and a small pool. Wireless internet access is available in all rooms and common areas, and a business center is available for guests.

Transportation
Taxis and Tour Buses are readily available right outside the hotel's front door. The hotel does not offer a shuttle to the Port of Miami, but taxis are readily available and the fare to the Port of Miami should be very reasonable (around $10).

Shopping
The Bayside Marketplace directly across the street has a wide assortment of clothing and novelty shops. There is also a CVS Pharmacy about two blocks south of the hotel for any last minute toiletries, medicine, books, batteries, camera accessories, or just about anything else you might need for your cruise from the Port of Miami.

Families with Children
The Holiday Inn is located on a busy intersection in downtown Miami, so families with small children will want to keep a close eye on their kids when crossing the street. But the area is otherwise relatively safe, and the Bayside Marketplace has plenty of shops and activities to keep the kids fed and entertained.

Adjacent to the Marketplace is Bayfront Park, which is a great place to let the little ones run off some steam.

Insider Tips
All right - this is the part you've been waiting for! Tips and tricks to save you time and make your cruise from the Port of Miami as stress-free as possible:

The Holiday Inn gets extremely busy and will probably be full the night before your cruise. Make your reservation early.
Ask for a room on a lower floor. The elevators are small, slow, and extremely busy on cruise days.
The parking lot is directly behind the hotel on 4th St. If you are approaching from the north via Biscayne Blvd (you most likely will be), turn right onto 4th Street immediately before the hotel to enter the parking lot. This will save you a frustrating drive around several city blocks with one-way streets.
Check out time is 11:00am, and the elevators and lobby will be jam-packed from about 10:00 to noon on the morning of your cruise, so pack an overnight bag and use this for your stay at the hotel. If you are driving, leave your main luggage in your car and avoid waiting for the elevators the morning of your cruise.
If you do not have your own transportation and must take all of your luggage to your room, consider having one person in your party get up early, grab a taxi, and take your luggage to the Port of Miami before 10:00am. Porters will accept your luggage at the curb near your ship (ensure you have the proper tags from the cruise line affixed to your luggage), and it will be delivered to your cabin on the ship in the afternoon. Then head back to the hotel and enjoy a leisurely breakfast while everyone else is fighting for elevator space!
Be sure to download a copy of the Port of Miami's Cruise Guide for even more tips to make sure your cruise from the Port of Miami is "smooth sailing"!

Rates and Reservations
You can confirm rates and make a reservation at the Holiday Inn Downtown Port of Miami by clicking here.

Our reservation system will scan multiple travel sites to find the best rate available for your travel dates, and from there you can choose the rate and room options that suit you best and make your reservation online.

So what are you waiting for? Book your hotel now so you can start planning something more important, like your vacation - Bon Voyage!

Finally, feel free to come back and leave a comment below to share your experience with this hotel or your cruise from the Port of Miami.

Miami Cruise Port Hotels

Best Miami Cruise Port Hotel: The Holiday Inn Downtown/Port of Miami