avid hotel Ft Lauderdale Airport – Cruise by IHG

Original post: I was directed by staff to a black shuttle and told it was my ride, but it went to the wrong port. The driver was scary and told me where he would and wouldn’t go. I was alone in the shuttle and felt terrified. I missed my ship, and he charged me even though I thought the shuttles were free. At the hotel, the front desk manager said they didn’t know of any black van. The employee who sent me to it was no longer there. I asked them to make sure it didn’t happen again, but didn’t get the impression they’d follow through. I have never felt so vulnerable traveling solo. Update: DO NOT EVER GO HERE!! The general manager emailed that they don’t offer complimentary port shuttles. The employee who’d told me they did no longer works there. The manager says I ordered the black shuttle through a third party, but I did not. He told me to contact the shuttle company, but nobody has information about this mysterious black van. He just quoted the policy and didn’t look into what happened.

Costa Coffee in the lounge was great, freshly ground for every cup. The staff were great too, and breakfast was ample, though the space and setup weren’t ideal when it got crowded. The hotel is close to the airport with a free shuttle there and back. I stayed before and after a cruise. For the earlier stay, they gave me a different room because there was a hairball in the shower. The floors are peeling up, maybe peel-and-stick, and need replacing.

Amber at the front desk was very nice, apologetic, and accommodating. Honestly, she was the highlight of my time there. The morning continental breakfast was mediocre. I nearly skipped it because the powdered eggs and Raisin Bran weren’t the IHG standard I expected. The staff were great, but the usual accommodations felt very subpar. I stayed one night before a cruise. I’m a faithful IHG member and have stayed at an AVID before, but this one didn’t meet the usual standard for me. It felt pretty dated, and the door had to be pulled to feel and sound locked. There were lots of flight cancellations that day, and they stopped the free shuttle before the shift was supposed to end. That was one reason I booked, so I had to pay for an Uber.

Kimley at the front desk was amazing. She was so sweet at check-in and helped me get medication for my husband after he got sick. She’s the best! The rest of the stay was a huge disappointment for over $300 a night. Our room clearly hadn’t been properly cleaned: there was urine on the toilet seat and hair under the sheets. Cigarette smoke drifted into the room the whole time. The shower design soaked the entire bathroom floor, adding another hassle. The rooms and hallways felt cold and sterile, more like a business facility than a welcoming hotel. For that price, this was frustrating, uncomfortable, and nowhere near worth it.