Best Affordable Miami Hotels Near the Cruise Port with a Shuttle
Cruisers sailing from Port Miami often ask about the best Miami hotels that are close to the port for a stay before their cruise, especially those with free shuttle service to the port. When I’m asked that question, my answer is that it depends on your needs… are you looking for a Miami hotel that’s a splurge and allows for an extra beach day before your cruise? Or are you seeking a more frugal route and are more interested in an affordable hotel that provides benefits such as a shuttle to the port?
Miami, in general, is an expensive city, so remember that “frugal” is relative here. I recommend more expensive beachfront Miami Beach hotels in this post, but let’s look at the (relatively) more affordable Miami hotel options before a cruise.
Affordable Miami Hotels Before a Cruise
Hampton Inn Miami Airport East
Address: 3449 NW 42nd Ave; Miami, FL 33142
The highly-rated Hampton Inn Miami Airport East is conveniently situated at the Miami airport, about 8.5 miles from the port, and offers a free shuttle service from the airport to the hotel. They also provide complimentary Wi-Fi and breakfast, and the location is just six miles from the port. This property does offer a shuttle to the port, which can be scheduled upon arrival and costs $12 per person, with runs at 10:15, 11:15, and 12:15. An Uber at this distance, however, might be a more affordable (and convenient) option.
Hampton Inn Miami Airport South – Blue Lagoon
Address: 777 Northwest 57th Avenue, Miami, FL
There are two Hampton Inn properties at the Miami airport, which can get confusing, especially because both offer similar amenities. Like its sister site, Hampton Blue Lagoon provides free airport-to-property shuttle service, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary breakfast. They also offer a shuttle to Port Miami, at a rate of $14 per person, and it runs at 9:30, 11:00, and noon. One distinction is that this location offers a “Park & Sail” rate, which is built into the room rate and varies depending upon the dates of stay. I priced this out for a March sailing and it increased the room price by around $90. The Park & Sail rate provides parking for up to 7 days and a free shuttle to the port for two people. It’s a great choice for cruisers seeking Miami hotels with free parking (although it’s baked into the rate).
Comfort Suites Miami Airport North
Address: 657 Minola Dr, Miami Springs, FL 33166
As you’ve probably realized, while some Miami hotels offer shuttle service to the port, almost all of them come at a cost. A rare hotel that includes a FREE shuttle to the cruise port is Comfort Suites Miami Airport North. Remember that this perk is bookable upon check-in and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. This property is 10 miles from the port and offers complimentary Wi-Fi, free shuttle transfer from the airport to the hotel, and free breakfast, making it an excellent choice for cruisers seeking an affordable hotel option near Port Miami.
DoubleTree by Hilton Miami
Address: 711 N.W. 72nd Avenue Miami, Florida
I wanted to add this property as a fourth recommendation because I stayed here recently and found that it has a lot to offer. While it does not provide an airport or cruise port shuttle, it has two big perks: 1) it’s walkable to Miami International Mall (just 0.4 miles away) and 2) it does offer a shuttle, but it’s to local spots within a five-mile radius including Mall of the Americas and tons of restaurants. This is a great spot if you’re into shopping, and it’s less than 10 miles from MIA.
Miami Transfer Service
While three of these options provide shuttle service to the port, I advise cruisers not to get so hung up on that as a deciding factor because, as I noted above, most shuttles are not free, and may not be the best option. Comparatively, an Uber from the airport area where all of these properties are located to Port Miami runs around $15-30, depending upon the day and time, and private transfer service through Get Transfer starts at $28. When it comes to getting to these properties from the Miami airport, they all provide free shuttle service, which helps save money.
