Fort Lauderdale Accommodations
If you have not visited Fort Lauderdale in the last few years you may not recognize it today. The famed beach is now lined with exclusive, luxury resorts offering many amenities and service. But you can still find hotels for every taste and budget in this popular South Florida vacation spot.
The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale located in the heart of Fort Lauderdale beach has 192 guestrooms and suites with balconies and either an ocean or intercoastal views with all the amenities you come to expect from a luxury resort. On the seventh floor is 29,000 square feet of multilevel sundecks surrounding an infinity pool. The 24-story, curvilinear glass hotel features a 8,500 square foot destination spa with 10 treatment rooms, a gift boutique and a large fitness center offering Pilates and aerobics classes. Rates start at $359 low season to $649 high season.
Another new upscale property on A1A between Las Olas and Sunrise Boulevards is the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Opened in January 2007, the 25-story all-suite flagship resort features 373 studio and one, two and three bedroom suites each with a fully equipped kitchen. A 22,700 square foot terrace with a pool and private cabanas overlooks the ocean. There's also a European spa with fitness center. The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort offers premium transfers and remote check-in, personalized shopping, wireless waiters, paperless valet systems, kids' concierges and an extensive children's program called Ocean Explorer. Rates start at $219 low seasons or $329 high season.
Fort Lauderdale Resorts
The Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is an AAA four-Diamond destination resort situated on 16 acres of Fort Lauderdale beach. This resort recently completed a $32 million renovation of its 650 guestrooms and suites. Most of the rooms have balconies and now all have flat-screen TVs, new furnishings and all the amenities of a luxury resort. The 8,000 square foot lagoon pool weaves through tropical foliage with whirlpool baths and a 12-foot waterfall. The 22,000 square foot spa at Harbor Beach offers 18 treatment rooms, a private spa pool, sauna, steam rooms, health cafe and fitness center. Rates start at $239 low season to $479 in high season.
The Pelican Grand Beach Resort sits perched directly on the beach with a large southern-style veranda overlooking the ocean. Opened in 2004, the hotel has 159 guestrooms and suites, many with balconies. Families can enjoy Fort Lauderdale's only Lazy River tubing ride, zero-entry pool and frozen treats from The Emporium, an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor and gift shop. The resort also features a cocktail lounge and dining at North Ocean Grill, and a fitness center with ocean views. Rates start at $199 in low season or $279 in high season.
Bahia Mar Beach Resort & Yachting Center occupies 44 acres along the Intercoastal across from the beach with direct access via a skywalk. Surrounded by mega-yachts, the hotel offers 296 guestrooms and suites, four tennis courts and various water activities from sport fishing to scuba diving. Rates start at $99 in low season and $159 in high season.
Fort Lauderdale Value Accommodations
Amid all of the high-end hotels, a few properties remain on Fort Lauderdale beach offering less-pricey accommodations and access to the same prized shoreline.
The Beach Plaza Hotel has 33 rooms, some with kitchenettes, a small courtyard pool and free Wi-Fi. Rates start at $49 in low seasons and $89 in high season.
With 43 guestrooms and suites, the Tropic Cay Beach Hotel features tropical decor and an oceanview pool and bar. Rates start at $65 in low season and $139 in high season.
Claiming to be the oldest hotel in Fort Lauderdale, the Ramada Sea Club Resort was recently designated a historic beachside landmark by the Broward Trust because much of the original architecture remains. "Tookie" the parrot greets guests in the lobby of this "pirate ship" themed hotel, which has 99 rooms and suites, a gift shop, small pool, free Wi-Fi in public areas and The Deck, an open-air restaurant overlooking the ocean. Rates start at $70 in low season and $109 in high season.
Source: Agent at Home
