Are you going to be sailing out of the port of Miami on a cruise and wondering where to stay? We want to share our favorite stress-free hotel in the Port of Miami. The Holiday Inn Port of Miami is perfect for adults and families cruising out of Miami.
On our first Disney Cruise, we stayed at the Holiday Inn prior to and post cruise. I highly recommend this location for any cruisers looking for accessibility to the port and food options. Check out my post about the Port of Miami here.
Stress-Free Amenities at The Holiday Inn
Hotel Shuttle
The number one feature for us as first-time cruisers was ease. We wanted to make sure that we were able to get to the port on the morning of the cruise as easily as possible. We had read about shuttles, so when booking that was a priority for us.
This hotel offers a shuttle to the port. There is a cost to this shuttle and it was only one way, but it was very convenient to be able to leave right from the hotel and go to the port.
Due to the location of this hotel, airport shuttles are not offered. It is about a half hour from the airport. Ubers and taxis are very easy to grab here so transportation was not an issue for us. But, More about that later.
Storage for Luggage
A very unexpected perk to this hotel was the luggage storage room after and pre-check-in.
Located behind the front desk are two large storage rooms with locks where they will store your luggage for you. The local mall is located right across the street. Giving your plenty of activities to do while you wait for your room.
We stored our luggage while we waited for our room, going across the street for a bite to eat.
Again, the room came in handy after checking out while we waited to leave for our flight. Having the ability to store your bags while you enjoy a last-minute swim before heading back to the snowy Midwest, Amazing.
Amazing Room Features
The rooms at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami are great for larger families. The max is a standard 4-5 adults yet the space in some of these rooms is impressive for a standard hotel room.
We booked a room with two queen beds and a pull-out couch. There was plenty of room for all four adults and 1 child.
The best part…the view. Some of the rooms have a port view. We were able to watch the ships come in and out of port early in the morning and leave late at night. It was a lot of fun to watch the ships and build our excitement.
We stayed here in 2019, the rooms at this time did need a refresh but I would not say they were bad. I would make sure you check some recent reviews on the room quality. The bones of this hotel are perfect though, with a great location and amenities.
You Won’t Have to Travel Far For Food
The Holiday Inn Port of Miami has a very nice restaurant located in the lobby. We were able to snag breakfast here prior to boarding the shuttle to the port. Although it was a little expensive, the convenience was worth it. They have options for a traditional buffet or menu items.
Overall, it is a great option for a quick food grab when arriving or leaving the hotel. For longer stays there is plenty of other options across the street at the Bayside Marketplace. Check out my Port of Miami Post for more information.
Awesome Staff
With this being our first time in Miami, it was pretty helpful to have staff guide us.
Per usual I forgot some stuff and needed to do a quick drugstore run. I was about to ask the front desk staff who guided me right now the street to a CVS.
The staff also helped us arrange for a car to get us to the Children’s Museum one day.
the staff was so helpful and friendly during our stay here at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami
Transportation is Not an Issue Here
The Holiday Inn Port of Miami is located in the downtown area near the port. The Bayside Marketplace is located across the street with plenty of shopping and dining options.
There is plenty of walkable in the area but, you will need to arrange for airport transportation. There is a little parking lot in between the boulevards where taxis and Uber are able to park. Grabbing transportation at this location is not an issue. Making this the best stress-free hotel in the port of Miami.
Walkability
As I said above there is the Bayside Marketplace across the street that has everything from restaurants, coffee, and shopping store. If you forget something it is very easy to pick that up before you board your ship. The marketplace has a ton of different restaurants. We enjoyed Bubba Gump, the Hard Rock, and also an adorable dockside restaurant that had amazing views of the bay.
My favorite feature of the marketplace is Starbucks. This mall is only about a half mile away, so a morning stroll is very enjoyable.
Sidenote, I was able to grab some last-minute crocs for our toddler. Cause crocs are always needed at all times in our household.
Safety First
I am from a small town in the Midwest. Sometimes I feel nervous about going to big cities. Miami was no different for me. But, I felt very safe in this area. I wasn’t planning on walking to CVS at 8 pm by myself, yet I felt comfortable enough.
Do what is in your comfort level and if in doubt make sure you communicate with the staff at the location. Traveling with a group is always best when in doubt. There are a lot of cruisers in this hotel and around the area.
Our Overall Seal of Approval for a Stress-Free Hotel in The Port of Miami
The Holiday Inn Port of Miami offered a lot of great amenities that worked well for our family. There was easy access to food and shopping. The Holiday Inn Port of Miami also has a restaurant that is very convenient
Located in the downtown area near the port provided us with views of the ships as they came and went.
The Holiday Inn Port of Miami has an awesome pool and fitness center to offer if you have time to enjoy these amenities.
The rooms were very large and comfortable and who can beat a port shuttle and luggage storage?
Overall we would stay here again. I would like to explore more options next time we are in the area but I would recommend the Holiday Inn Port of Miami.
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