Hello,
Please share your favorite discoutn motel/hotel in Jacksonville ----- we are looking for great rates at Holiday Inn Express type places but in good neighborhoods

Also, any suggestions on what to do in Jacksonville?  Are there great beaches?  Aquariums, museums...etc??

Thanks!

Well, can't tell you what there is to do there, but we will be spending on night next week there prior to our cruise.  We got a really good rate at the new Microtel Inn & suites, so you might want to check that out

I have stayed at the HOLIDAY INN on Airport RD.. It's a very nice Hotel..

They also offer parking

while on the cruise....

There is lots of eating

places in that area....

Also a Super Walmart

and other stores there...

thank you!  I appreciate your responses!

the 1st stop on my itinerary in JAX is the Budweiser brewery tour....free beer

The JAX beaches are really nice, so I've heard. They also have a zoo and some other interesting places to visit. As far as where to stay, check out the La Quinta Inn- Airport located on 812 Dunn Avenue. Rates only $59 a night for a standard with 2 beds, free breakfast and free shuttle to/from the cruise port. Other hotels in the area charge $10-15 dollars per person for transportation to the port. I assume that since they provide transportation for free, then you can leave your vehicle too(free)! But I would inquire to be sure. Hope this helps.

8/07-Valor

8/09 Fascination

If you are looking to stay close to the terminal there is a Holiday Inn Express just off of 9a (295) on Hecksher dr. This is 1.5 miles east of the cruise terminal. The Jacksonville Zoo is about 5 miles west of the terminal on the left. There is plenty of shopping about 10 minutes drive when you get back on 9a. When are you going to be in the area and how long before your cruise will you be staying in town?

Hi there!  I just wanted to add in that the JAX zoo is cool.

If you still need some help picking a hotel, email me at becki@dobytravelonline.com

Susie Q:

Well, can't tell you what there is to do there, but we will be spending on night next week there prior to our cruise.  We got a really good rate at the new Microtel Inn & suites, so you might want to check that out

We're staying there in September.  How was the hotel?

-Stephanie

I just looked at the LaQuinta Inn website. It says that the have shuttles starting at 11am and each shuttle will fit 8 people. The shuttles run every 45 minutes until 3:15pm.

Has anyone ever had a problem not getting on the shuttle? In other words, were there too many people waiting that you weren't able to get to the cruise terminal via shuttle?

I called and the lady said that taxis are available if this happens, but they cost $15-$20 each way.

I stayed there with a group last year and we bought vouchers for the shuttle the night before and told them what time we wanted to be picked up (within the guidelines of their schedule, of course).  It was no problem, except on that time frame we made sure we were the first in the line with our luggage right at front door.

-Stephanie

steph2009:

I stayed there with a group last year and we bought vouchers for the shuttle the night before and told them what time we wanted to be picked up (within the guidelines of their schedule, of course).  It was no problem, except on that time frame we made sure we were the first in the line with our luggage right at front door.

-Stephanie

You "bought" vouchers? They told me the shuttle was free. Parking cost $5/day.

Also, does the shuttle have enough room for luggage for 8 people or will we need to hold our luggage ourselves?

Oh, we have a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, will they be allowed to just wear seatbelts in the shuttle? I am very nervous about that part of the shuttle ride.

Thanks!

Oh, FYI, if you are a AAA member La Quinta Inn on Duval offers discounts. Our rates were right around $40/night.

Go to the city park Hanna Park-it has a beach and showers restroom facilities. Its on the Southside of town. 

Shopping is the best thing to do in Jacksonville.  The downtown riverwalk is overpriced.  The Hilton hotel downtown has a great lunch buffet.

The zoo is nice. There is no aquarium. Museum is ok.

A nice area to walk around in that has a park is the Riverside section of the city. It has a lot of old FL homes.  Free parks and nice restaurants. Also the San Marco section of the city has many nice old FL homes and nice restaurants.

But if you want to stay on the Northside-thats where the cruise port is- there''s only the zoo, eating, shopping.  You can also go to the ocean on the same road where the cruise port is-they are called the jettys by the locals. 

I HIGHLY recommend the Jacksonville Zoo. We went the day that we returned from our cruise. It was much bigger than I have thought. They have tons of animals. Some I had never seen before.

The only thing I didn't like about the zoo was the price of the food. OMG! It was outragous! We each bought kid's meals and still spent over $20. We only spent $40 to get in!

I noticed people eating picnic in the parking lot when we were going in, then I realized why.

I have a reservation at the Holiday Inn  Express on New Berlin Road off  heckscher Drive. That must be the same hotel. I have two rooms and we are driving in two cars. So I thought the rates were good because it included parking at the htoel and a shuttle to the port. I don't mind waiting for the shuttle. Do you think it is better to park at the hotel or at the port? Is the hotel nice and clean and in a secure area?

Thanks for your help.