Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi All Day Pass: A Detailed Review

Fort Lauderdale, often called the “Venice of America,” well, it boasts a network of waterways that almost begs to be explored. So, with that in mind, the Water Taxi seems like it might be a really fantastic way to do exactly that. But is the All Day Pass actually worth your money? And could it possibly live up to all the hype? Well, let’s take a relaxed cruise together, in a manner of speaking, through what you could probably expect, what you’ll find is good, and maybe what’s not so great, too, if you decide to buy a pass.

What Exactly Is the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi?

First things first, the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi is basically a hop-on, hop-off service that operates on the city’s Intracoastal Waterway. Think of it very much like a bus, just on the water, see? It stops at several spots, key places around the city, and what’s great is you can get on and off as many times as you like during the day, at least if you’ve got the All Day Pass. It’s not only just transport, you know, it’s sort of a sightseeing tour in itself, that’s what it feels like anyway, giving you this rather amazing view of the mansions, yachts, and the other stunning properties that really line the waterways.

Stops and Routes

The Water Taxi generally services like, say, around 10-15 stops. That’s about it, right? These, more or less, include spots like the Riverside Hotel, the Galleria Mall, and several points along Las Olas Boulevard. Really, it is fairly vital to just check the current route and schedule before you set out, as times and even stops, well, they can change, you know? What could affect that? All manner of things. So, weather and special events and whatnot.

It could be that there’s this one time, just a little while ago actually, when they adjusted the route during the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, basically to accommodate all the extra boat traffic. And so, in some respects, planning ahead just ensures that, at the end of the day, you’re not stuck waiting at a dock that the taxi isn’t even going to visit that day.

The All Day Pass: What Does It Include?

So, the All Day Pass provides basically unlimited hop-on, hop-off access to the Water Taxi’s network for a complete operating day. A complete operating day is probably what it sounds like, right? A full day. What you tend to find is that this usually runs from morning to evening, more or less giving you heaps of time to explore at your own speed. Arguably one of the very best things is that it often includes discounts at participating restaurants and attractions. However, sometimes, there is just a slight catch, you see, so it is always just worth double-checking what’s currently on offer.

Pricing and Value

The price of the All Day Pass arguably varies a little based on the time of year, any special offers available, and, basically, other stuff like that. At the end of the day, it really is worth visiting the Water Taxi’s official website or even calling them up directly to get the absolute latest pricing info. One thing, too, is that you could get a discount, at least seemingly, if you’re booking for a group or perhaps you’re a local, too. But honestly, most people probably won’t fall into those brackets. But hey, worth knowing, huh?

Now, the real value could well depend on how much you actually intend to use the taxi. That, or something close to it. If you’re basically just planning to use it as a one-time shuttle between two spots, so in that case it is just possibly not worth the investment. However, if your aim is to explore many locations, and possibly take advantage of the available discounts, too, then in that case, it is pretty fair to say that it can easily pay for itself. What’s great, too, is that unlike those dreaded city buses that go underground and leave you feeling as though you have seen nothing, at least on the water taxi, you have plenty to see and actually feel pretty good. At the end of the day, it’s probably a much more delightful experience. Arguably.

A Day on the Water Taxi: My Personal Experience

I have spent more or less an entire day just bopping around Fort Lauderdale aboard the Water Taxi, and it gave me a rather special perspective on the city, you see. What I did, basically, was to start my day at the Riverside Hotel, and what I was going to do was to make my way up to the Galleria Mall. It actually turned out that that first ride itself was super nice. Just great views. And, you know, very informative commentary, too, by the crew. They do that, you see. It can actually really enrich the experience a bit. And yes, of course they will point out all the various mansions that you’ll see as well. They know you want to see them.

Exploring Las Olas Boulevard

Las Olas Boulevard is one of those places, just arguably a must-visit location in Fort Lauderdale. The Water Taxi tends to drop you off really close to all the action, what’s more, so you’ll only have a very brief walk to get to all the shops, art galleries, and a lot of the restaurants. It can actually be very, very handy. I grabbed lunch at this really quite cute waterside cafe. And yes, I got a discount, too, through the Water Taxi pass, what’s more. This more or less made the whole thing a great deal even more attractive, as I basically felt that I was more or less recouping the money that I spent in buying that day pass anyway. And this made me rather happy.

Shopping at the Galleria Mall

Next up was the Galleria Mall. To be fair, I was mostly there for the air conditioning, as it was rather a sweltering day out on the water! However, I did get to browse a few stores and sort of enjoy the change of pace. And yeah, it can get really hot on the water taxi. They’re aware, they will mention this to you, too, as they are pretty good about customer welfare and safety. The Water Taxi stop at the Galleria is super convenient. That’s possibly the key thing here. Just making it really easy to combine shopping with your waterside exploration. That is just pretty cool, in all honesty.

Pros and Cons of the All Day Pass

Like most things, what you tend to find is that there are indeed advantages and disadvantages that you’ll just need to mull over, a little. Okay?

The Good Stuff

Convenience: The hop-on, hop-off format allows you to explore at your own pace and according to your preferences. It also saves on parking, always something to think about, right?
Views: In all honesty, it offers an incredible perspective of Fort Lauderdale’s waterfront properties and, yes, all those yachts. Who doesn’t love those?
Information: The crew tend to offer an entertaining and very informative commentary, pointing out landmarks and sharing just a bit of local history, too. So it isn’t only for fun and looks, but hey, you might learn something, too.
Discounts: All sorts of potential discounts at participating restaurants and attractions, as I touched upon before, too. Always worth having, aren’t they?

Things to Think About

Price: In some cases, the cost might only be worthwhile if you basically plan on using it pretty extensively throughout the day, that’s about it, in all honesty.
Weather: The service is extremely exposed to the elements, just putting it frankly. This basically means that it could be far less enjoyable during intense heat or even rain. Oh, or perhaps you would rather quite like it, I don’t know. That said, make sure you factor that in. Okay?
Schedule: The fixed schedule can arguably be a little inflexible. I mean, in what it could allow you to see and do, and you could possibly end up doing some waiting at the docks. Which actually kind of leads to a tan or a burning. See “Weather” for details on that too.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Pass

So, what is really important is to plan your day basically in advance. Then you can really figure out just how long you would more or less like to spend at each stop. Just that alone can potentially ensure that you just generally maximise your time, arguably. And the last thing you want, surely, is just turning up on a dock, realizing that what you thought was right wasn’t right, and there’s been a schedule change. It can be really disappointing and at the end of the day probably just ruin the moment a bit for you.

Check the Schedule

Just double-check the Water Taxi’s operating schedule for the day. You just want to be certain that it matches your plans for seeing things, more or less. What you’ll find is that knowing just when the last taxi leaves each stop can basically help you to avoid missing your ride back, always really important! You would rather not spend all night there! This is just vital to keeping you safe and basically stopping any of the anxiety around the issue. You want to relax and enjoy, don’t you?

Take Advantage of Discounts

In some respects it is vital that you check for discounts that you might be able to make use of at partner establishments and locations. It could be very sensible to basically make a reservation, too, particularly at popular restaurants. That can just ensure a table. It’s what you want to happen, really.

Pack Smart

Take that sunscreen! Do that. Also? Perhaps bring along a hat, or even sunglasses. Basically, those can seriously enhance your comfort level, even during that really hot day. What you will tend to find is that what begins as being sort of relaxing and lovely can morph very, very rapidly into something extremely unpleasant as that sun bakes down on your pasty bits. Factor that in, basically.

Alternatives to the Water Taxi

While the Water Taxi tends to offer its own particular brand of convenience and also, flexibility, there are just actually other ways to check out Fort Lauderdale from the water, you see.

Guided Boat Tours

Several companies, such as, maybe, the Jungle Queen, or perhaps Carrie B, what they may offer are just fully narrated tours which tend to cover a greater area. Usually, these just often include a meal, or some kind of special entertainment. So arguably that is one of those things that just tips it a little towards their favour, doesn’t it? Arguably.

Private Boat Rentals

If, basically, you really would rather have total control over your trip, or something close to that, then you could possibly think about just renting a boat. Lots of companies in the area do provide rentals, and so that way you could more or less create your very own itinerary and take as long as you want doing what you’re doing. A little tip? Get a skipper! Or perhaps be very, very careful if you don’t get a skipper, too.

Is the All Day Pass Worth It?

So, finally. Do you buy the All Day Pass or not? Basically it really does just depend on you. How long will you use it? Does the route have exactly what you wish to see? Are you someone that would more or less plan to basically hop on and off all day, maybe explore various neighborhoods, possibly have some lunch, or basically shop at the Galleria? In those cases, just the All Day Pass definitely can deliver some very good value and even enhance your visit very greatly, too. But really, basically, only you will just know just how much use you actually would just get out of it, that’s about it.