Hukilau-related question - Other Events

I ikitnrev Tiki Socialite D.C. / Virginia Joined: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1325	I ikitnrev Posted posted on Sat, Sep 23, 2006 11:01 AM Does the Sheraton Yankee Clipper provide a free van service to and from the hotel? The Bahia Mar last year did not provide such a service. The last two years I was in the same situation - flying into Fort Lauderdale, and then needing to get to the Hukilau hotels. The airport shuttle van process - (the generic vans that travel to all of the area's hotels, not the ones dediacted to a specific hotel) can be somewhat chaotic, especially if the airport area is full of people waiting for rides. Two years ago, in this confusion, my bag was packed into the back of one van, and I got in and crawled to the back seat of what would have been a sardine-crammed ride. I discovered at the last minute, before the van pulled away, that this particular van was headed not for the Bahi Mar, but to the Miami airport, so the van occupants could reach their flight in time. Fortunately, I was able to extract both myself and my bag in time, and I had to wait a bit for a different van. The van process can be confusing, as the van ticket-sellers and attendants try to properly allocate the available vans with the people waiting in line. If there are numerous people, the overall irritation factor can be high. Last year, my experience was different. The main van ticket-seller asked me where I was going, and when I replied the Bahia Mar, he lowered his voice and recommended that I take a taxi instead, saying it would be much quicker and not cost much more. That one-way taxi ride to the Bahia Mar cost me about $15 - I can't remember he exact cost, but with tip it was definitely under $20 ... and this year I plan on doing the taxi option again. My recommendation is thus to take the taxi. If airport shuttle-van area is not rushed or full with people, and you want to save $7-$10, and arriving perhaps a half hour later is not an issue, then I could recommend the shuttle van process too. If the van-area is full of irritated people, spring for the taxi ride, and it will be good for your Hukilau soul to arrive in much better spirits. Vern

Does the Sheraton Yankee Clipper provide a free van service to and from the hotel? The Bahia Mar last year did not provide such a service.

The last two years I was in the same situation - flying into Fort Lauderdale, and then needing to get to the Hukilau hotels.

The airport shuttle van process - (the generic vans that travel to all of the area's hotels, not the ones dediacted to a specific hotel) can be somewhat chaotic, especially if the airport area is full of people waiting for rides. Two years ago, in this confusion, my bag was packed into the back of one van, and I got in and crawled to the back seat of what would have been a sardine-crammed ride. I discovered at the last minute, before the van pulled away, that this particular van was headed not for the Bahi Mar, but to the Miami airport, so the van occupants could reach their flight in time. Fortunately, I was able to extract both myself and my bag in time, and I had to wait a bit for a different van.

The van process can be confusing, as the van ticket-sellers and attendants try to properly allocate the available vans with the people waiting in line. If there are numerous people, the overall irritation factor can be high.

Last year, my experience was different. The main van ticket-seller asked me where I was going, and when I replied the Bahia Mar, he lowered his voice and recommended that I take a taxi instead, saying it would be much quicker and not cost much more. That one-way taxi ride to the Bahia Mar cost me about $15 - I can't remember he exact cost, but with tip it was definitely under $20 ... and this year I plan on doing the taxi option again.

My recommendation is thus to take the taxi. If airport shuttle-van area is not rushed or full with people, and you want to save $7-$10, and arriving perhaps a half hour later is not an issue, then I could recommend the shuttle van process too. If the van-area is full of irritated people, spring for the taxi ride, and it will be good for your Hukilau soul to arrive in much better spirits.

Vern

Post #256396 by ikitnrev on Sat, Sep 23, 2006 11:01 AM