Yay! For The Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi

We've talked and written about it before here and here and we still believe that the Water Taxi is still one of the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale.

We try to take it at least once, every time we are down here and this past spring was no exception.

Originally they had just one route sailing along the canals of Fort Lauderdale but now they actually have 3 routes, one extends all the way down to Hollywood and the other services New River.  With 3 distinct routes, they now have transfer stops so you can hop from one route to the other.

Cruising Fun: Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi

Over the years we've taken the Water Taxi quite a few times and have always enjoyed the ride. It's both a means of transportation and a fun way to spend the day.

It has about twelve stops in all and you can get on and off as many times as you'd like. Do some shopping on Las Olas or at the Galleria, grab a bite to eat somewhere or have a couple of cocktails.  It all depends on how you want to spend the day!

Although the water taxi is a bit expensive these days with an all-day adult pass priced at $22 (there are senior discounts, child fares, family rates and after 5 pm pricing -- none of which we were able to take advantage of) there are a few times a year when it is well worth the cost.

Car Rental: Fort Lauderdale

Thinking about renting a car while you're here? If you're down here for a couple of weeks and have decided to rent a car we've got a few tips to share. We've been doing it for years and have learned a few things along the way.

If you're looking to save some money, the first thing you need to know is to never rent a car from the airport. Airport rentals have an additional fee added to the daily cost which means if you're renting a car for a week or more you will pay that additional fee for each day you have the car.

Canadians Now Require International Drivers License in Florida

This certainly came as news to us, so for all our Canadian snowbird or tourist friends out there--Listen up!

As of January 1st 2013, any Canadian bringing a vehicle down to the Sunshine State OR renting a car down here are required to have an International Drivers License. 

Florida is apparently the only state with this requirement. It begs the question why???

There is no cash benefit for the state, since the licenses can only be obtained from the province that issues a person's driver's license. It is baffling. Nonetheless it is the law and anyone caught without one will face hefty fines.

We aren't sure how well known this is within the English and French Canadian communities down here and can only wonder what those who arrived back in November are going to do about it. It certainly came as a surprise to our Canadian neighbors down here who only heard about it today.

Please share any ideas or thoughts you may have on this strange new development!

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A little update to this post (Feb 15th):

It seems like it came as such a surprise to so many that there have been some new developments.

We found this headline from CBC News online.

"Canadian driver's licences valid in Florida, after all"

....Florida authorities say a new law that quietly went into place Jan. 1 requiring Canadians and other non-U.S. residents to carry an International Driving Permit has been put on hold.....The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issued a statement on Thursday announcing the statute may be in violation of the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, and therefore the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will defer enforcement of law.

For now, our neighbors to the North seem fine. It will be interesting to see what happens in the long run.

Florida receives so many visitors and tourists from all over the world, many of which, have licenses in various languages. As a result, the law was passed so that Law Enforcement could read and understand the documentation they were provided to enforce public safety. A spokesperson for the Florida Department of Highway Safety conceded however that her department "hadn't really thought about the Canadian angle."

Live and learn.

New Airport Shuttle to Downtown

Got a few hours to kill at the airport?

Specifically designed for vacationers and tourists, the city has launched a brand new shuttle service between the airport (FLL) and downtown for those who'd rather be out and about, than wait for their flights in a dreary airport terminal.

It seems like a well thought-out service.

You store your baggage at the airport at Bags To Go then hop on the Sun Trolley (we love the Sun Trolley) which will take you downtown and drop you off at the Fort Lauderdale History Center near the Las Olas Riverwalk and other attractions.

You can ride the Trolley all day or take a Water Taxi (which is another one of our favorite things down here) and explore everything the city has to offer.

The service's operating hours are:  9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday
Last departure from downtown:  3:30 p.m. so make sure you get back to the pick up stop at the History Center on time.

The one-day Sun Trolley excursion is $19.95 per person and the combo Trolley-Water Taxi ticket is $29.95 each. 

We really do love both the Sun Trolley and the Water Taxi service in Fort Lauderdale and use them all the time. You can read more about them in our article on Vacationing and Getting around Town.

For more details on the new airport service, contact the Sun Trolley .

Video Guide to Fort Lauderdale Attractions

Our friends over at Sunny.org seem to have put together this 'official' tourist video.

It's your typical trying-soooo-hard-to-be-funny-and-clever-and-not-succeeding video, instead of an informative and straightforward Broward County and Fort Lauderdale attractions piece produced by a tourism board. It's hokey and not at all clever and there are definitely parts that should have been left on the cutting room floor however if you've never been to Fort Lauderdale it's worth a look.

You get to see things like the water taxi and beach areas, the airport, port everglades, intracoastal and lots of other stuff--you actually get a glimpse of many of the things we talk about on this site so in that way it's worthwhile.

Maybe one day we'll make our own video of our experiences at some of our favorite Fort Lauderdale haunts and see if we can come up with something better. Until then, here you go...

Fort Lauderdale Vacations: Getting around Town

When planning their Fort Lauderdale vacations people always ask us, "What's the best way to get around Town?" So we thought we'd share some of what we've learned over the years.

Getting around Fort Lauderdale is actually quite easy. There are many options for both residents and tourists—from hiring a limo or car service, to renting a car, to using the various types of public transport available.

So if you're planning a Ft. Lauderdale vacation and wondering how to get around you'll be happy to know that you have many options.

Fort Lauderdale has an excellent bus system. The buses are clean, reliable and operate on a published schedule and serve all areas and destinations (410 square miles with 40 routes). So if you're on a budget and mostly hanging out near the beach and only occasionally want to venture out shopping or to a particular spot, Broward County Transit may be the way to go.

Car/limo services are great and Fort Lauderdale has many. So if you're going for a day of touring or out for an evening on the town, they offer the convenience of not having to look for parking and not worrying about drinking and driving. If there are a bunch of you and many are sharing the cost, hiring a car and driver can actually be a really affordable thing to do.

Renting a car is easier to do here than in most cities since there are a surprising number of rental locations scattered all over the place. This is after all a tourist town so all the major car rental companies are here with both Airport and off-Airport locations. We've rented cars on most of our Fort Lauderdale vacations and over the years we've learned a few tricks to help reduce costs which we are happy to share.

The Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi is not only practical for getting to some of the more frequented locations in town (like the Galleria Mall, Las Olas Blvd, and Las Olas Riverfront) but also offers a unique perspective on the city itself since you're traveling via the canals.

The Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi service is really fun and the guides who operate them offer upsome great trivia and stories on famous people's residences along the canal route.
Tickets may be purchased on board. (cash, credit cards, or travelers’ checks.)
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2014 PRICE UPDATE 


Adult All Day Pass $22.00 - Unlimited rides all day.
Youth All Day Pass $ 11.00 - Youth 5 – 11 years.
Senior All Day Pass $ 18.00 - Seniors 65 and over.

Children 4 and under FREE

MIDNIGHT MADNESS – After 5pm $ 15.00 - Must be purchased on board after 5pm.

This is a must-do for all Fort Lauderdale Vacations. 
 

TIP: Many restaurants along the water taxi route give discounts to anyone holding a water taxi ticket. 

Taxis are abundant throughout South Florida and the two major taxi services have easy to remember telephone numbers. The two main taxi companies servicing the Greater Fort Lauderdale area can be reached at 954-333-3333 or 954-777-7777 (now those are easy numbers to remember). And, in case you were considering standing on the corner and hailing a cab I suggest you call and order one. Unless you're at some major tourist spot or somewhere with a taxi line, you'll have a hard time flagging one down.

The Sun Trolley is a great service offered by the City of Fort Lauderdale. It's a fun, low or no cost option (depending on which trolley route—they range from a dollar to absolutely free) to travel around. Most of the routes operate Monday to Friday, while some run on the weekend as well.

The Sun Trolley runs on a fixed schedule in various parts of the city and can take you to such places as the Convention Center, the Museum of Art, or Fort Lauderdale Beach. A great feature about the trolleys is that you don't have to be at a designated stop. Just flag a driver down from anywhere along the trolley route and they'll pick you up, then just let the driver know where you want to be dropped off and they'll stop. How great is that? By the way, the trolleys are air conditioned and can accommodate wheel chairs and bicycles.

When planning Fort Lauderdale Vacations first decide on where you're staying then you'll be able to figure out which of the many options for getting around town is best for you.

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