Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood Worldwide Airport (FLL) — positioned about 25 miles north of Miami — is an often-overlooked various for vacationers heading to South Florida or embarking on cruises out of Port Everglades.

Compact and environment friendly, FLL usually gives a breezier expertise than the sprawling terminals of Miami Worldwide (MIA). It options some surprisingly swanky airport lounges plus a rising listing of home and worldwide routes. With 4 terminals related by walkways and shuttle buses, it’s comparatively straightforward to navigate — although not with out occasional congestion, particularly throughout peak cruise season.

FLL serves many main airways together with Southwest Airways, United Airways, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airways. It’s usually the departure level for reasonably priced flights to the Caribbean, Central America and elsewhere within the U.S. You may additionally fly into FLL to spend time in Fort Lauderdale itself. Town is sort of a smaller, quieter model of Miami, with white-sand seashores, canals, a powerful arts scene, and the Everglades close by.

• Location: 100 Terminal Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

• Web site: www.broward.org/airport

• Annual passengers: About 35 million

You can’t stroll between all of the terminals post-security. At the moment, solely Terminals 3 and 4 are related post-security. If it is advisable switch terminals (reminiscent of for a connecting flight), there’s an opportunity you’ll have to undergo safety once more.

That is the biggest and most fashionable terminal, that includes a number of concourses (A, B, and C) that encompass about two dozen gates. There’s loads of seating, USB ports and public artwork.

To eat and drink, there are airport staples like Starbucks and Auntie Anne’s, in addition to native chains like Rocco’s Tacos.

Main airways: Southwest Airways, United Airways.

Delta Air Traces dominates Terminal 2, which remains to be pretty small. Anticipate extra restricted eating choices (although there’s a Shake Shack). Current upgrades have improved lighting and seating.

Main airways: Delta Air Traces, Air France (seasonal)

Lounges: Delta Sky Membership, which you’ll be able to entry if you happen to fly in premium cabins, have an elite standing or maintain eligible bank cards.

Terminal 3 spans two concourses, E and F, so it’s already fairly massive. Because it connects to Terminal 4 post-security, it’s additionally handy for connections (or simply accessing facilities in that terminal). There’s an Escape Lounge right here, which you’ll be able to entry with choose American Categorical playing cards or a day cross.

Main airways: American Airways, JetBlue Airways.

This terminal is basically dominated by Spirit. And very like Spirit, that is the terminal with the fewest frills.

Main airways: Spirit Airways.

There’s Kafe Kalik, which serves conventional Bahamian meals and is likely one of the eating places on the Precedence Cross community. The spiced curry hen right here is superb. Simply needless to say just a few bank cards cowl Precedence Cross eating places.

Public transit from the airport is proscribed, so it’s simpler to get right here by way of automotive or shuttle.

FLL is simply off I-595, and it’s near each downtown Fort Lauderdale and Port Everglades, which is the town’s cruise terminal (a couple of 10-minute drive to both vacation spot).

FLL is usually a extra handy airport than Miami Worldwide, however it’s not precisely shut. Although you may get from FLL to downtown Miami in 45 minutes with no site visitors, you actually ought to finances nearer to 90 minutes. Miami site visitors isn’t any joke.

Parking: There are a number of parking choices, starting from curbside valet to cheaper long-term parking. You may pay by money or bank card. And if you happen to maintain a SunPass transponder (SunPass is Florida’s Pay as you go Toll Program), you possibly can even use that to pay by driving by way of the designated SunPass Plus lane on the toll plaza, which is able to robotically cost the airport parking charges to your account.

If you happen to’re simply doing a fast pickup, there’s a 20-minute grace interval to exit the parking storage toll plaza with no charge.

Outdoors every terminal’s baggage declare space, there are designated pickup and drop-off areas for rideshares. Uber, Lyft and taxis are all accessible.

Lodges positioned inside 5 miles of FLL are usually thought of airport resorts, and plenty of provide free shuttle service between the airport and the lodge. Some resorts even provide free shuttle service between the lodge and the cruise terminal.

The airport itself doesn’t present free shuttles to the port, though some cruise operators provide shuttles (generally for a further charge or generally included with cruise fare).

Public transit shouldn’t be this airport’s robust go well with. Choices embrace:

• Broward County Transit (BCT) operates Route 1, which is a bus that connects FLL with downtown Fort Lauderdale. One-way fares value $2, and there’s an choice to purchase fares in your smartphone by way of a cell app.

• Tri-Rail, which is a rail service between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Seaside, has a station close to FLL. You may get there by way of a free shuttle from the airport.

However even with fewer public transportation choices, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Worldwide Airport feels simpler to navigate than close by MIA, partially as a result of it’s smaller. Whether or not you’re heading out on a Caribbean cruise, catching a finances flight or simply connecting by way of South Florida, FLL delivers comfort with a relaxed vibe.