Miami International Boat Show 2011
 

This will be my first time for the Miami show, can someone give me some suggestions on where to stay? We're thinking either a nice hotel near the show or maybe a resort type place on the beach. Any and all suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks!

been there 18 years now!!! tons of places on Collins & Ocean in south beach area!! 4 me all I need is a decent room but don't need the frills, usually out almost all day & into the night! I usually stay close enough 2 the convention center 2 walk cuz I don't rent a car, parking is usually a ***** & traffic is about the same!! walk or grab a cab esp. if out at night!!!! good luck!! It's fun!!

The Fairwinds is very reasonable ratewise, nice rooms, a little dated though. The bar and restaurant is open-air. Parking across the street at the Essex garage. You do NOT want to park on the street! Located at 10th and Collins right behind the Clevelander hotel which is pricier but that's where OSO used to have its parties. Two blocks west you can grab the shuttle to the show and also a taxi to the in-water venue.

Great location and Ocean Drive is two blocks east for lots of bars and restaurants.

http://www.fairwindshotelmiamibeach.com/

Exact dates please!!!!

Feb. 17-21,2011. Great show and wear comfortable shoes.

Google is your friend;

http://www.miamiboatshow.com/showinfo.aspx

The Delano is the closest oceanfront hotel to the convention center but it was $1,000 a night when I stayed there in 06. The year before I stayed at the Biltmore in Coral Gables and had a great weekend but the cab ride to South Beach wasn't cheap! Biltmore is a fantastic resort but miles from the beach!

Mondrian hotel at 12th st and west ave, my favorite one on South Beach.

Wherever you choose to stay, book early! Also, don't be surprised: It seams everybody jacks up the rack rate during the MBS.

Where ever you stay plan on taking a cab or a shuttle bus because parking is a pain in the a$$. just my .02

Im probably staying at the new W

Thanks for the suggestions!

New boat in your future?

As others have said:
(1) Ensure that you book a hotel that has parking! This is a must, and I can't stress it enough!
(2) Walking distance (or short cab ride) to convention center is ideal. Once you get there and get parked, you won't want to be moving your car, I can guarantee you that.

I believe I will be making this event for my first time this year also. I really hope we can find some rooms for under 1000/night. I hear south beach at night time is rather dangerous also

Well, you can certainly do better than that, but honestly don't expect much more than a shthole roach motel for anything less than 300 bucks a night unless it's a good distance away.

And yes stick to the main roads, lol.

I got a tip from my cab driver last year. He said its $75 cab fair from Lauderdale airpot to South Beach. Its $35 from Miami airport. From searching so far, I have more time options and much better rates if I fly into Lauderdale. Any thoughts?

I stay at the Winterhaven on Ocean Drive, a nice clean (renovated in the early 2000s) historic hotel. It is on the North end, close walk to the Convention Center and all the action on Ocean Dr. but far enough North to be quiet at night. They have a little martini bar in the lobby which is great for pre-evening festivities. I just booked a king bed room for $315/night. I have stayed there 4 times and loved each trip.
Also just booked Continental nonstop out of Newark, NJ Round trip to Miami for $500 each. I am going early Fri-Monday afternoon. Flying Thurs. or Tues. would have been cheaper, but I can't adjust my schedule.

I couldn't find a flight cheap enough to justify flying into Ft. Lauderdale.

If you stay on Ocean or Collins you will be fine. Just remember it is a city.

It is far less expensive to search and find a "time share" or "apartment" rather than a hotel.

Figure $1K for a week and you can get a full house and some are within walking or cab distance from the show

X2, when we went a couple of years ago we took the shuttle to the actual show and got a town car (w/driver) at night to cruz South Beach and go bar hopping, had a blast.

I think we stayed at the Marriot Biscayne Bay, from what I remember :ernaehrung004:

went last year for the first time... stayed close enough to walk..did rent a car to run up to Ft. Lauderdale to look at a few boats...but walk and take shuttles to the show and out at night. parking is a real mutha..reminds me of New Orleans french quarter on fridays saturdays and sundays...LOL what a mess!!!

One of these days..... It won't come from the boat show though. You all going this year?