MSU Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Hotels

[SouthMsDawg]

Does anybody know which hotels are pro MSU in the Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale area, as in providing shuttle service to the game etc??? I know the team is staying at the Trump hotel which is on a golf course and is booked. I have looked at hotels and most seem 10 miles at the closest from the stadium.

What are you guys hearing? I plan on drinking tailgating, during the game and that night with it being NYE. The last few bowls have been convenient as in walking distance and shuttles to get fans who don't want to chance driving after the game. Also heard that the stadium is in a rough area as well. Any info is appreciated.

Im driving down instead of flying (Live in Hattiesburg) and looking for something convenient once I get to the FT. Lauderdale/Miami area. Hearing lots of negativity so far, I guess Nashville, Memphis, and Jacksonville ruined us.

[Mjoelner34]

I work with a guy from Miami and here are his tips:
1. Drive, don't fly.
2. From Starkville, leave about 4 to 4:30 am.
3. Have cash for the Florida Turnpike since they don't take cards.
4. Coming down the Turnpike, get off at exit 152 at Okeechobee Road (Hwy 70), then head east about 2,000 feet and jump on I-95 south for the final run into the Miami area. The Turnpike parallels I-95 for this run and you'll save about $10 in tolls doing this.
5. The stadium is in the hood.
6. Do not take the metro bus to the stadium, you'll have to walk a long way through the hood.
7. The stadium is a traffic nightmare coming and going.
8. If you don't already have a reservation for a nice bar for NYE, forget about it. Everything will be packed by the time you get there after the game.
9. He said the best option after the game for New Year's would probably be the Hard Rock casino.

As far as hotels go, I'm in the Best Western Hollywood/Aventura and it's only 6 miles from the stadium and adjacent to I-95. It might be fully booked by now. I don't know.

[FlabLoser]

Reservations for bars. I suddenly feel small time.

[codeDawg]

Reservations for bars. I suddenly feel small time.

Just wait until you show up at a club in Miami and they want $300 bucks for bottle service just so you can go in. South Beach is a crazy place.

[SouthMsDawg]

Just wait until you show up at a club in Miami and they want $300 bucks for bottle service just so you can go in. South Beach is a crazy place.

Doesn't sound like the type of place most of us Mississippi folks will fit in.

[Jacksondevildog]

Ive been to South Beach and experienced the nightlife. If you want to do the bar/nightclub scene, you better bring a lot of frivolous cash. Cover and drinks are extremely expensive. The bars and nightclubs are like what you see in the movies.

[civildawg]

We are staying near the airport. The problem with Miami is that it's so spread out.

[codeDawg]

Ive been to South Beach and experienced the nightlife. If you want to do the bar/nightclub scene, you better bring a lot of frivolous cash. Cover and drinks are extremely expensive. The bars and nightclubs are like what you see in the movies.

This. In South Beach there are places to go hang out and have fun, but if you want the real South Beach nightlife it costs a lot of cash. South Beach is a place for people with a decent amount of disposable income to go and act like they are crazy rich. I stayed at the W this year, which is a decent hotel in most places, but was done Miami style. Lambo's and Bently's parked out front, $300 bottles of champagne on the beach, and no matter how skimpy your wife's smallest swimsuit is, it covers too much, and that is one of the mid-tier hotels. There is a bar that opened this year that opens at 6:00 AM for the after-party. Everything there is setup to accept your money so you can show off how rich / cool / thin and sexy you are. It was interesting, but not really my speed.

As I said though, you don't have to do this stuff, but these things are why South Beach isn't Panama City. There are plenty of bars and restaurants that aren't crazy, but spend some time doing a little research beforehand. Don't be afraid to ask locals what's fun and nice, but isn't ridiculous. There are plenty of people down there that are not blowing it out. It's a lot like New York. You can spend as much as you want to, but there is plenty of fun available without going overboard.

[Maroonthirteen]

Where is Saddawg staying? Id like to be at whatever party he is..

[CJDAWG85]

Staying at the Crowne Plaza in Ft. Lauderdale. We are driving to New Orleans and flying out of there. About $300 cheaper on Spirit Airlines.

[bulldogsmsu]

I work with a guy from Miami and here are his tips:
1. Drive, don't fly.
2. From Starkville, leave about 4 to 4:30 am.
3. Have cash for the Florida Turnpike since they don't take cards.
4. Coming down the Turnpike, get off at exit 152 at Okeechobee Road (Hwy 70), then head east about 2,000 feet and jump on I-95 south for the final run into the Miami area. The Turnpike parallels I-95 for this run and you'll save about $10 in tolls doing this.
5. The stadium is in the hood.
6. Do not take the metro bus to the stadium, you'll have to walk a long way through the hood.
7. The stadium is a traffic nightmare coming and going.
8. If you don't already have a reservation for a nice bar for NYE, forget about it. Everything will be packed by the time you get there after the game.
9. He said the best option after the game for New Year's would probably be the Hard Rock casino.

As far as hotels go, I'm in the Best Western Hollywood/Aventura and it's only 6 miles from the stadium and adjacent to I-95. It might be fully booked by now. I don't know.


I agree with your friend on staying at the Hard Rock, but will probably be pricey during this time, but tons of clubs & bars at hard rock. Hard Rock is also located right off the turnpike as is the stadium. Easiest commute in a good location. Turnpike stopped doing cash about 6 months to a year ago. For residence if you don't have the sunpass they just send the bill to your house. Not sure how out of state works. The stadium is in an odd location. It is located almost directly between Ft Lauderdale & Miami and west of the turnpike. The old Orange bowl was torn down and the new Marlins stadium sits in the original location. I live in Fort Lauderdale and commute to work in Miami everyday and have been doing this now going on 9 years. Personally for me I like Fort Lauderdale much better, unless you like the over the top kind of nights. Definitely pricey and you will pay $20 a piece for mix drinks and 7-10 per beer. Maybe more on New Years. New Years parties always have a cover and normally book up quickly. This is why the Hard Rock would be a good place to stay as the game will run until 11:00pm min. You might be able to get back to hotel to celebrate in the center court area where they do the count down. I have done the Hard Rock for NYE a couple times. There is also an Irish bar there that is more my speed as the clubs are not really my thing anymore. If you are into it Pangea is one of the better ones. Message me if you are interested and I can try to get you a deal from a bar tender I know there.

If you are inclined to stay in Miami and budget isn't an issue, the lowes hotel is really nice and you can walk down south beach and stop at all the little restaurants. Joes stone crab is very good but pricey. If you want a low key kind of lunch at one of my favorite spots try Garcia's seafood. Not expensive and on Miami River. Can sit on back deck.

If you are staying in Fort Lauderdale the W is nice but will be pricey. They have a good NYE party as well. Several hotels up and down the beach there on AIA. If you stay here, go to Coconuts. Great food on the intercoastal. Las Olas is a nice hot spot and tons of bars to walk up and down the street and pop in. Downtown Lauderdale is fun, but definitely more casual and can get crowded and a little younger crowd. Let me know if any of you have any questions and I will be glad to help. See you there!

[civildawg]

Pm sent. Btw the hard rock is a thousand bucks a night during that week

[Bothrops]

Sounds like Miami might have been my kind of place maybe 40 years ago.

[EdDawg]

Myself +3 are making the drive from Hattiesburg as well. I've looked at several hotels but not sure about the area. I'm looking for a room for around 250/night. I've seen several 1 bed kings but in need of a double bed room.

If anybody has any info it would be a great help.

[Bigedawg]

We're staying at Renaissance Fort Lauderdale-Plantation Hotel. It was around $220/night. Group of about 10 of us staying. We're making the drive from Madison, which I am less than excited about.

[sayit]

We're staying at Renaissance Fort Lauderdale-Plantation Hotel. It was around $220/night. Group of about 10 of us staying. We're making the drive from Madison, which I am less than excited about.

We've also got a room booked in Plantation at the Courtyard Marriott and road warrioring it 900 miles there.

[Mjoelner34]

I agree with your friend on staying at the Hard Rock, but will probably be pricey during this time, but tons of clubs & bars at hard rock.

My friend wasn't saying to stay at the Hard Rock, he was saying that it would probably be the best option for an after-game drink. As far as staying at the Hard Rock, it was about the most expensive hotel I saw when searching for rooms. I think it was around $1300/night.