Pros

  • Modern, value hotel located close to the Port Everglades
  • Rooms have flat-screen TVs, microwaves, and mini-fridges; suites include sitting areas
  • Heated outdoor pool surrounded by lounge chairs
  • Bright breakfast room with a free daily buffet
  • Small gym provides cardio equipment and free weights
  • Free Wi-Fi, outdoor parking, and newspapers
  • On-site market with an ATM
  • Two meeting rooms and a business center on-site
  • Free airport and convention center shuttle
  • Port shuttle service (for a fee)
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Cons

  • Limited dining and bar options in the immediate area
  • Free breakfast gets mixed reviews
  • Lobby is often busy during cruise ship departures and arrivals
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Bottom Line

The 100-room Holiday Inn Express Ft Lauderdale Airport/Cruise is a competitively priced value hotel geared toward cruise ship and budget minded travelers. Amenities are plentiful, including airport and port shuttle service, a breakfast room, an outdoor pool, a gym, two meeting rooms, and a business center. Free Wi-Fi, parking, and continental breakfast help keep costs low. Rooms and suites are modern and fresh with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers. Similar to other properties in the area, this hotel isn't located in an interesting walkable neighborhood. Another budget option to consider may be the Crowne Plaza Fort Lauderdale Airport/Cruise Port. 

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Ft. Lauderdale Airport/Cruise

Scene

Value chain hotel near the cruise port with an outdoor pool and a gym

The Holiday Inn Express Fort Lauderdale Airport/Cruise is a lower-middle-range hotel that sits on West State Road, offering a competitively priced stay near the cruise port and standard budget conveniences. The five-floor building is painted blue and green, blending into the tropical Florida setting. Interiors were last renovated in 2010. Hallways, with two modern elevators, are colorfully painted and lined in sunset-colored carpeting. The lobby has the same vibrant color palette, featuring a modern lounge with a fountain. The outdoor, heated pool is surrounded by palms and turquoise lounge chairs, some of which are shaded by an awning. There’s a wheelchair lift, a shower, and fresh towels on the deck. The turquoise painted gym offers modern cardio equipment, a flat-screen TV, towels, a scale, free weights, and a drinking fountain.

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Location

In South Fort Lauderdale, a quick drive to the cruise port

This hotel is across the street from the Southland Shopping Center and the Lauderdale Memorial Park. There's a McDonald's, Wendy's, Dunkin' Donuts, and German restaurant, Old Heidelberg, in close walking distance. It's five minutes via the paid shuttle to the Port Everglades. The hotel’s free shuttle goes to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in 15 minutes and the Broward County Convention Center in 10 minutes. It’s a 25-minute drive to the Fort Lauderdale Beach and Galleria at Fort Lauderdale. Shops, restaurants, and museums on Las Olas Boulevard are 15 minutes away by car. Driving to Sun Life Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, takes 20 minutes.

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Rooms

Colorfully decorated rooms offer microwaves and flat-screen TVs; suites have wetbars

Orange accent walls, pops of red, classic dark wood furniture, green chairs, and brown draperies create a homey and modern atmosphere in rooms. The layout of rooms is standard of a budget chain hotel. Features include writing desks, open closets, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, microwaves, irons/ironing boards, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Cribs and connecting rooms can be requested. Suites feature sofa beds in sitting areas and wet bars with cabinets. Windows overlook the neighborhood, a lush park, and/or the parking lot. Brown tiled bathrooms have shower/tub combos and hairdryers. There are five ADA accessible rooms.

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Features

Breakfast buffet dining, a market, meeting rooms, and shuttle service

Free continental breakfast is served in a bright dining room that features high ceilings, classic furniture, a flat-screen TV, and a buffet setup with a pancake maker, other breakfast accoutrements, and newspapers. The morning meal gets mixed reviews from past guests. A mini-market sells chilled beverages, snacks, toiletries, and frozen meals. Two meeting rooms can be rented out. The Corporate Meeting Room fits up to 10 people, and the Marina Mile Room holds between 20 to 65 people. A personal computer and secretarial services are available in the business center. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. The hotel offers free shuttle service to the airport and the Broward County Convention Center. Guests can take a shuttle to the cruise port for a fee. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Ft. Lauderdale Airport/Cruise

Scene

Value chain hotel near the cruise port with an outdoor pool and a gym

The Holiday Inn Express Fort Lauderdale Airport/Cruise is a lower-middle-range hotel that sits on West State Road, offering a competitively priced stay near the cruise port and standard budget conveniences. The five-floor building is painted blue and green, blending into the tropical Florida setting. Interiors were last renovated in 2010. Hallways, with two modern elevators, are colorfully painted and lined in sunset-colored carpeting. The lobby has the same vibrant color palette, featuring a modern lounge with a fountain. The outdoor, heated pool is surrounded by palms and turquoise lounge chairs, some of which are shaded by an awning. There’s a wheelchair lift, a shower, and fresh towels on the deck. The turquoise painted gym offers modern cardio equipment, a flat-screen TV, towels, a scale, free weights, and a drinking fountain.

See More Scene

Location

In South Fort Lauderdale, a quick drive to the cruise port

This hotel is across the street from the Southland Shopping Center and the Lauderdale Memorial Park. There's a McDonald's, Wendy's, Dunkin' Donuts, and German restaurant, Old Heidelberg, in close walking distance. It's five minutes via the paid shuttle to the Port Everglades. The hotel’s free shuttle goes to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in 15 minutes and the Broward County Convention Center in 10 minutes. It’s a 25-minute drive to the Fort Lauderdale Beach and Galleria at Fort Lauderdale. Shops, restaurants, and museums on Las Olas Boulevard are 15 minutes away by car. Driving to Sun Life Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, takes 20 minutes.

See More Location

Rooms

Colorfully decorated rooms offer microwaves and flat-screen TVs; suites have wetbars

Orange accent walls, pops of red, classic dark wood furniture, green chairs, and brown draperies create a homey and modern atmosphere in rooms. The layout of rooms is standard of a budget chain hotel. Features include writing desks, open closets, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, microwaves, irons/ironing boards, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Cribs and connecting rooms can be requested. Suites feature sofa beds in sitting areas and wet bars with cabinets. Windows overlook the neighborhood, a lush park, and/or the parking lot. Brown tiled bathrooms have shower/tub combos and hairdryers. There are five ADA accessible rooms.

See More Rooms

Features

Breakfast buffet dining, a market, meeting rooms, and shuttle service

Free continental breakfast is served in a bright dining room that features high ceilings, classic furniture, a flat-screen TV, and a buffet setup with a pancake maker, other breakfast accoutrements, and newspapers. The morning meal gets mixed reviews from past guests. A mini-market sells chilled beverages, snacks, toiletries, and frozen meals. Two meeting rooms can be rented out. The Corporate Meeting Room fits up to 10 people, and the Marina Mile Room holds between 20 to 65 people. A personal computer and secretarial services are available in the business center. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. The hotel offers free shuttle service to the airport and the Broward County Convention Center. Guests can take a shuttle to the cruise port for a fee. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Basic Television

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pool

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.