Pt. Canaveral suggestions???

[mustang sally]

We are torn about staying in Pt Canaveral or Orlando as a pre-cruise stay.
Our plan is to arrive at the airport early the morning before. We usually like to stay in at least a 4 star hotel. Can anyone recommend one in Pt. Canaveral? I think we would prefer to stay there if this exists. Just looking for a nice pool to relax at for the day , a nice dinner and maybe a little nightlife. Any suggestions?
Also other than Kennedy - is there anything to do there? Shopping?
Any restaurant suggestions?

Any hotel suggestions for staying in Orlando?
Thanks alot.

[Donna]

I once stayed at the Marriot by the Orlando airport, it was very nice, beautiful pool and different places to eat...

[AF1]

I would have to recommend the Hilton in Cocoa Beach. It is right on the ocean with great views; it think it is a four star hotel. I myself will be looking to book a hotel in either Orlando or Port Canaveral next year. I have 11 in my family so I will be getting several rooms. I stay in hotels year round when I travel so I acquire lots of hotel points. I have them in several top name hotels. Anyway I am looking at booking the Hilton or I may book the Hyatt Regency inside the Orlando Airport. It has everything. Pools, resturaunts. I am looking at the Hyatt due to I need round trip shuttle service to and from port canaveral. If I fly into Orlando and the shuttle takes me to the Hilton, I have to pay the Hilton $5 per person for the shuttle to the ship. If I stay in Orlando the shuttle service will pick us up on Sunday and take us right to the ship, thus saving $55. I have plenty of time to decide; so that is my opinion

[mustang sally]

Does anyone know if the Hilton in Cocoa Beach is nicer than the Radisson? We don't need transportation to the ship from a hotel.

[Barryn514]

We are booked on the Dream for Oct, 2011 and we are flying in from San Diego and most likely will catch the red eye, that leave at 11:30 PM and arrivals at Orlando at 8:30AM. Was looking at expedia for flights and I see there are two different airports there, which one is closes to the ship terminal?

THANKS!

[Queen of Oakville]

We used to always stain in PC; now we stay in Orlando.

IMHO the hotels in PC are pretty run down. Fine for a pre-cruise stay though. We've mostly stayed at the Radisson. Looks great in pictures, but this hotel has seen better days. Pool is nice though.

When we've stayed there (mostly March) - the ocean is too cold, which negates any incentive to be near the ocean.

The last few trips, we've stayed in Orlando. Better hotels and more to do, even if all we want to do is relax. On the morning of the sailing, its a short drive to PC; and since we always rent a car - this works for us. We return the car in PC and then get the shuttle to the port.

There is more hotel competition in Orlando, so you pay less and get more. On a recent sailing they wanted close to $200 for the Radisson which I thought was absurd, so we stayed in Orlando and paid less for the hotel and rental car combined. We've been doing the same thing since and havent' looked back.