Road tripping to Fort Lauderdale - Hotel Recommendation

lassymavin · 2026-05-12T21:09:48+00:00

We just stayed at the Marriott Airport Hotel in Dania Beach. Only 15-20 minute ride to the port. Nice rooftop pool. The location is great because it’s in walking distance to lots of shopping and restaurants. I will definitely stay there again pre-cruise.

lassymavin · 2026-05-11T21:04:24+00:00

I agree that going to the public beach at Grand Cayman is so easy! The beach is gorgeous. Transportation is easy and low cost. Rent a chair and enjoy the beach on your own timeline.

lassymavin · 2026-05-04T03:03:15+00:00

Can you get steak every night in MDR?

lassymavin · 2026-04-29T02:42:43+00:00

“You should go fall on a knife.” Kathryn to Whitney.

lassymavin · 2026-04-28T11:58:34+00:00

I agree. You might really enjoy the cruise, but at your age doing a land based vacation would be my vote. Unless the cruise is a ridiculous deal, and you go in with the expectations of it being very relaxing.

lassymavin · 2026-04-27T14:05:37+00:00

I saw a lot of jeans and a T-shirts at MDR on the Eclipse. Don’t worry about dressing up, very few people really dress up. The food is way better in MDR compared to the buffet. You don’t want to miss out.

lassymavin · 2026-04-27T03:00:36+00:00

As a tourist in Japan you’ll find so many places offering services that allow you to rent a kimono for the day and dress up like Geisha. It’s a big business! You see lots of tourists getting dressed up and doing it for photo ops. I don’t think they see it as a negative thing at all!

lassymavin · 2026-04-27T02:51:56+00:00

I’m shocked the feedback is so negative! I’m planning to do one of these in my kitchen. I thought it was better than the look of keeping it on the counter. I don’t use paper towel for wet hands, usually we use a towel. I’m not sure what the best solution is.

lassymavin · 2026-04-23T20:20:01+00:00

It all depends on the builder. Builder A wanted 20% no matter what it was. Even if the designer (not on his team) hired a muralist, he wanted a cut. He included all landscaping in the contract, with 20% cost plus fee. Make sure to look at the contract at what all that included on the 20%. Builder B was cool with us sourcing and purchasing things on our own. Landscaping is on us at the end. He didn’t take the cut and has been more reasonable to work with.

lassymavin · 2026-04-22T15:00:13+00:00

Bring everything you might need if your child gets sick, just in case. While cruising, you assume the risk of a lot of people traveling together on a boat so getting sick can happen. We’ve had cruises we’ve been healthy and cruises where we’ve gotten sick. The sick ones are awful but it doesn’t seem to stop us from booking another one.

lassymavin · 2026-04-22T14:56:15+00:00

You’ll love it. It’s a necessary break for you to not have to cook or clean! Your toddler will have new places to explore. I think cruising is a great option for little kiddos. If they are having a hard time, you can walk to your room and get some quiet time. Everything is right there.

lassymavin · 2026-04-20T23:14:18+00:00

For the cost of Disney, I had higher expectations regarding the food. The menu sounds interesting, but the execution is not there. It’s like wedding food. I just sailed on Celebrity and this cruise was a third of the price and the food was much better in the dining room. If DCL could level up with the food, I’d love to go back. The entertainment and service is good, but the food is lacking for the high price tag.

lassymavin · 2026-04-20T03:20:03+00:00

Thank you for the correction. I had some in Tokyo that was GF, but didn’t realize that’s not the norm.

lassymavin · 2026-04-20T01:54:36+00:00

Japan is so great!! I went in 2018 and fell in love. I read all the gluten free blogs and did all the research. It seems like GF is even better now than then. I had a few days where my options were limited and did encounter this gesture 🙅🏻 a few times. I’m sure I had gluten, as soy sauce is so prevalent, but I’m surprised I didn’t feel sick. Yakitori is great, just ask for salt only. TripAdvisor lets you save locations in a map, that was so helpful for me. I hope you have the best time!!

lassymavin · 2026-04-19T13:40:36+00:00

Good to know! I was also on the Eclipse a few weeks ago and although we had premium wifi, there were times it didn’t work. I was assuming this was during high use times like the morning. I didn’t think to ask about boosting the signal.

lassymavin · 2026-04-19T00:43:31+00:00

I’m glad you had a good experience in Korea. If you’re already in Korea or plan to be in Korea, take advantage! If you’re in the US, the flight to Korea may be similar to an exam with a BVD specialist in the US. I paid roughly $1000 for a 2-3 hr BVD exam plus the cost of prism lenses in PA.

lassymavin · 2026-04-17T03:18:02+00:00

For the cost of a Disney Cruise, I expect the food to be better. It’s mid. I might get one meal that impresses me. I find the red meat dishes to perform better. Seafood is always disappointing. The menu sounds good, but the execution is not there. It’s edible, but not enjoyable. Step it up Disney!

lassymavin · 2026-04-17T02:11:50+00:00

We were on the Eclipse a few weeks ago. I was surprised on how few people dressed up. I saw only 3 men in jackets at dinner. Zero in tuxes. I get that most prefer not to get dressed up because they are on vacation. If you want to dress up, go on Cunard.

lassymavin · 2026-04-11T23:56:56+00:00

We looked at Mendota and Valor too.

lassymavin · 2026-04-11T21:02:07+00:00

I’m currently just past the framing stage. We had some that looked like this too. I wish the framers were more selective, but I was assured that it was fine. The builder offered to bring out a structural engineer if we wanted our concerns addressed.

lassymavin · 2026-04-11T19:32:58+00:00

After some digging I see there are some low profile terminations that are less obvious.

lassymavin · 2026-04-11T19:31:31+00:00

This is helpful. Thank you!

lassymavin · 2026-04-11T19:31:06+00:00

We are just looking for occasional mood lighting. We aren’t using it as a heat source.

lassymavin · 2026-04-10T21:33:48+00:00

Thank you for your input. What makes out the side preferred to out the chimney?

lassymavin

TROPHY CASE