Cocoa Beach vs. Fort Lauderdale

Calling all Florida experts! Hope you are all safe from ';T.S. Fay';.

We currently have two reservations for our post-cruise Christmas stay in Florida.

One at the Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach and one at the Cocoa Beach Doubletree. We are a family of four: Mom, Dad, 20 YO DD, and 10 YO DS.

We can only afford one room (intracoastal view)at the FL Courtyard but last night just playing around, I was able to reserve the Cocoa Beach Doubletree OCV concierge level adjoining or adjacent rooms at a price that allowed me to book 2 rooms. The concierge level includes: guarantee top floor and key only access, breakfast, evening cocktails and snacks. There is also no charge to park as opposed to $20+ at the Courtyard.

My dilemma is that I am worried that there will not be enough to interest us in C.B. that time of year AND I am worried that the difference in temperature might be surprisingly significant. Any thoughts? Do the beaches compare?

Cocoa Beach vs. Fort Lauderdale

I can only comment that the different in water temp. will not be much and both places will be too cold at that time to go in the water unless you wear a full body wet suit with feet and hands covered.

If you will have a car, Cocoa Beach would be my choice. But my interests may be different to yours. What were you hoping to do?

From CB, you can visit the Kennedy Space Center. You can go to Downtown Disney for a day - it%26#39;s free, even to park. You can drive North to Daytona Beach and visit the Speedway or the beach itself, it%26#39;s unique in that it%26#39;s very wide and in some sections cars are allowed to drive on it - it will be about an hour%26#39;s drive to get to Daytona. You can continue on Northwards and visit St. Augustine - the first American city. That will be another hour past Daytona.

Cocoa Beach vs. Fort Lauderdale

How could I forget the famous Ron Jon Surf shop in CB, which has become a kind of institution, even if you do not surf.

Thanks Chuts. We will have a car. We will have driven down from the mid Atlantic for our cruise. Didn%26#39;t think about the Disney proximity. Thanks for the info about water temps. How long do you predict it will take us to get to Cocoa Beach from Fort Lauderdale?

From the cruise port in FLL to CB is about 190 miles and about a 2.5 to 3-hour drive. Since you%26#39;re driving down from VA, being in CB you%26#39;ll be that much nearer to VA when it is time to return.

If you do decide on CB, on the way there take the scenic route along A1A. It will add time to the journey though. A Florida map from AAA, any store like Walmart or any convenience store will show you the way.

Thanks again Chuts! When the final decision is made I am sure I will be bugging you a bunch more.