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Options for picking up car with late arrival in Miami

We are taking a transatlantic cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Rome next April/May. After a couple of weeks in Italy, we fly back to the USA in Miami.
I have booked a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale for the night before the cruise that has a good deal for parking while we are overseas.
Problem is that our flight arrives in Miami after Midnight.
My options are:
1) Try to find some transportation to our hotel in Ft. L. and spend the rest of the night at the hotel where our car is parked.
2) Find a hotel near the airport at Miami and take the tri rail or private transport the next day. Taxis would cost too much.

The Tri Rail doesn't operate until hours after our arrival. I can't find any private transport that would be available that late.

We live in South Georgia about 400 miles from Ft. L., so even if we made it to the car by 2 or 3am, we wouldn't try to drive home immediately.

Posted by
2267 posts

I’d definitely stay near MIA, get a good night sleep, and deal with it all the next morning.

It sounds like mostly a “6 or half a dozen” choice, except that one option would be miserable with fatigue and fewer options.

Posted by
8241 posts

Suggestions for where to stay near Miami Airport? Don't want to stay inside the airport since we have to get our luggage.

Posted by
5429 posts

Agree with Scudder. Find an airport hotel in Miami because you'll likely be really tired by then. From what I've read on Cruise Critic, taxis between MIA and FLL run about $75. Uber or Lyft should be less.

Posted by
11872 posts

My research also found taxi fare, MIA-FLL , to be around $70-$75.

I would take the taxi to the FLL hotel where the car is on arrival and simplify dealing with the luggage.

Posted by
353 posts

We’ve stayed at the Miami Airport Hotel a couple of times. It’s in the terminal building near some of the baggage claim. It’s incredibly convenient but otherwise a rather standard hotel. You can’t beat the ease of getting there, which would be nice after midnight.

Posted by
8241 posts

We will park our car at a Ft. L hotel and board a cruise ship for a transatlantic cruise. We return to the USA via Miami airport and need to pick up our car at that hotel.

Considering the Miami Airport Hotel.