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After this year's wildly successful vacation, the family has opted to try Allure of the Seas out of Galveston next August (and yes, I was required to book a suite after exposing them to it this year. You all were right!). So, thanks to @Galveston Steve's amazing "All Things Galveston" thread, I've learned a lot about the port and it's progress, and I've also learned there are some very differing opinions regarding where to stay pre-cruise. I now know NOT to stay near the airports, but some people suggest to stay along I-45 while others prefer to go into Galveston itself the day before. Here's where I'm at. All things being equal, I prefer to stay at IHG properties due to my status and points there, but their properties in Galveston itself seem questionable to say the least, and I'm not familiar enough with the surrounding area to pick a good location between Houston and Galveston. I was considering trying the new Tru by Hilton right on Seawall Blvd., but that's just a guess. I have learned to rely on this board's expertise and you have never let me down, so I'm back for more help (and hopefully generate a thread that could help future travelers as well!). We're a family of 4 with 2 elementary aged boys. What we're looking for in a hotel is somewhere clean and safe, everything else is secondary. Being walking distance to attractions, the ocean and restaurants is certainly a nice bonus, but not at all necessary as I'm quite sure GrubHub & DoorDash work just as well in TX as they do in NJ. We'll primarily be resting from the trip in to prepare for the cruise, and we'll only be spending 1 night pre-cruise. So, what say you travel experts? Where do you like to stay pre-cruise in the Galveston area?

We're booked on Radiance for May 5 and plan to stay a couple days in Honolulu and Vancouver. Any suggestions on hotels for both and activities in Vancouver?

Hi, I have blocked 2 hotels in Fort Lauderdale pre-cruise and would like some feedback about them. One of them is Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Boulevard and the other is the Holiday Inn Express Fort Lauderdale - Cruise Airport on 17th Street Causeway. Tell me which would be your preferred hotel for a 2 nights pre-cruise stay and why ? TIA

Hi guys, The wife and I are going to be cruising on the Oasis this year, leaving October 1st. We're in NJ and have only cruised out of either Bayonne or Manhattan, so this will be our first cruise where we've flown in to port. I'm looking to book the flight/hotel pretty soon, and was wondering what y'all thought of some of the hotels around the area? Is there any partiuclar one that stands out as having good transportation services, or should I just stick with an Uber from airport -> hotel -> port? Looking forward to your suggestions! Thanks, Phill

Hello All, I happen to be sailing out of the port of Miami for the first time coming up on April 7th-16th on the Empress. I have sailed out of Port Everglades many times but never from Miami. We are flying into Ft. Lauderdale of course still. Does anyone have any suggestions on the best places to stay the night before? Is it better to try and get some place down in Miami? Or stay in Ft. Lauderdale? Also, anyone have any preferences of transfer services from FLL and MIA. From the hotel down there and then back to the airport following the cruise. Any input would be greatly appreciated as I know many of you are quite the bundles of knowledge when it comes to anything cruise related :) THANKS!! Adam