Fort Lauderdale Hotel Tips by cjg1 Top 5 Page for this destination

Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel & Yacht Club: Never Again Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel & Yacht Club Review

The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Take Two.

This was our second stay at the Hilton Marina. The other stay being one night two years ago. This stay left a lot to be desired.

Check in was too simple. We arrived about 9am off of a cruise ship and didn’t figure we’d have a room. This proved to be the case which is totally fair since check in is something like 3pm. We left our luggage which they gladly held and our phone number so they could call when the room would be ready. This was nice. We got the call about noon but were still out in a seminar for our convention. When we got back about 1pm for the room we gave our credit card and were given keys. No checking the rate on a form. No explanation of Diamond Benefits. No mention of welcome back nor our HHonors number being on file. Nothing. At least they had our bags sent up to our room. We had paid for a junior suite which was nearly double the convention rate because this is the room type I wanted to have for 3 nights. I always pay for what I want and any upgrade is bonus above that.

Our room was a corner junior suite with a wraparound balcony. I must say I enjoyed the layout of the room. The modern décor, not so much. The bed is quite low to the floor which isn’t so much of a problem but the frame sticks out farther than the mattress so it easily gets kicked or banged and can injure if not paying attention. The living room section has a decent desk with plenty of outlets and also a large sectional. Out on the balcony were two chairs and a small table. We had a Northwest facing room which provided a view of downtown Fort Lauderdale as well as the Inter-coastal Waterway.

One nice touch was that the TV was what split the bedroom from the living room and it was on a full swivel. This allowed me to wake up on our last morning at 3am to watch the Grand Prix of China without waking her up. Very cool feature.

This leaves us with the bathroom. Disaster. It was dirty and grimy and just a mess. We put up with that somewhat as it was not going to change until the completely renovate the room. But the cake topper was the shower assembly. The flexible tubing going to the wand was broken and loose. The bracket for holding the wand upright was completely sheared off and sitting in the basket in the shower for the soap. We finally were able to get this fixed the next day as those working the desk at 8pm were completely either unwilling or unable to get maintenance up. Luckily for us the overhead rain head worked still or we would have been without a shower that night and next morning.

And now were into the service. This was quite shameful. I am not one to throw around status or play the DYKWIA with anyone. I see the status as perks to things I have to do anyway and feel I earn my Diamond lightly via about 35 stays a year. But this was a case where all the little things really added up and made me wonder if this hotel cares at all. I am a Diamond. I am a travel agent who was there for a travel agent convention. The hotel was swarming with travel professionals and this was the best the hotel could manage for service? I asked for when I went to desk about the shower for a sheet describing the diamond benefits at the hotel. I was told by Tatiana whom I feel was the best of the staff I dealt with outside of the bellmen that if she could find something she would send it up. In other words she had no idea where to find it or what they were. The water in our room was clearly marked as $5 per bottle. I still have no idea if it should have been complementary and we ended up buying water at Walgreens.

About breakfast I finally got vouchers the next morning from Tatiana for the stay and she expressed surprise I had not gotten them yet. Of course at this hotel breakfast is a continental breakfast and you must upgrade to the full buffet for $6 plus tax and 18% included gratuity per person. Basically breakfast still cost me $15 a day. We skipped it the third day of our stay. We were sitting outside in the pool area when we were asked by staff to leave so they could set up for a wedding. I don’t so much have a problem with functions but when you start taking amenities away from paying customers to host a few paying customers I have a problem. I do note however that the man who asked us to move was very polite about it. We also had issues with the housekeeping staff. We had an ever dwindling amount of washcloths and towels. The first morning/full day of our stay they didn’t clean the room until after 6pm and even then I had to chase them down to get washcloths as they had provided none.

As I stated, the bellmen were wonderful. Tatiana was one of two at the front desk I felt could help me. I am sorry I didn’t catch the man’s name, but he both helped us when we arrived to take our bags and also when we checked out.

We also had the opportunity to meet the sales manager for the hotel during our convention. We expressed most of what is written here to her and she was immediately on her blackberry to attempt to get things fixed. We did notice when we returned to the hotel that night that things seemed much better. I will of course hold onto her card and I am forwarding this review via email to her. Before meeting her I was sure I would never stay at this hotel again. Now I’m not so sure. I can assure you I will never pay the rates I did again though.

Unique Qualities: The balcony was a highlight for me. I enjoyed siting outside at night and enjoying the sunrise with Liz in the morning...other than that they can keep this hotel.

Address: 1881 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33316

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: (954) 463-4000

Price: US$180 and up

Theme: Hotel

Navigator of the Seas: A Fabulous Balcony Suite

On this cruise we booked a Junior Suite. The suite was very large and spacious. The bathroom had a full tub which I always like on a ship. The bedroom had a queen sized bed, couch, table, chair, ottoman, dressing table and an incredible walk in closet. Liz loved the closet and I knew she would. The room had an incredible balcony that spanned the length of the room. The balcony was large enough to accomodate two chairs, a table, a recliner and an ottoman with room to walk about. The room was nicely decorated and clean. Our stateroom attendant made sure we had everything we needed including my request for extra towels.

The suite was perfect for us and we loved the balcony for watching the ocean and sights pass by.

Comparison: about average

Price: US$180 and up

Theme: Other

Emerald Princess: Comfortable and Spacious Accomodations

Our ACbin on the Emerald Princess was very spacious and comfortable. The cabin had a nice sized bathroom with sicnk and shower justto the left of the entrance. The closet was larger than normal with plenty of storage space. A fill floor to ceiling cabinet had six large shelves and a safe for storage. The desk area had more drawers and shelves. There was a decent sized flatscreen TV, Mini bar and the bed. The bed was rather comfortable and had nice sheets. It was a nice cabin that was clean and had plenty of space.

Unique Qualities: I liked the large closets that were perfect for all of our clothes as well as luggage.

The dual controled lighs were also nice with controls at the door as well as by the bed. The mini bar was large enough to hold our two bottles of wine and one bottle of champagne along with the ice bucket, glasses and other mini bar items.

Comparison: about average

Price: US$180 and up

Theme: Other

Embassy Suites Hotel Fort Lauderdale: A Pre- Cruise Stay Embassy Suites Hotel Fort Lauderdale Review

The Embassy Suites on 17th was a good stay. Nothing spectacular, but a good stay.
Check in was simple and I was quickly given our keys. Being that we checked in at 10pm I was more concerned in finding a restaurant with the kitchen still open than worrying about anything else. Looking back there was no mention of status and to be honest I was not even given the code for the free internet at check in. I had to come back and ask for that after dinner. Waiting in our room for us though was a basket with soda, water, pretzels and M&M's with a letter saying thank you for being diamond and staying with them from the general manager. This was a rather nice touch.

The room was a small suite on the twelfth floor. I enjoy the standard Embassy Suites open atrium layout. From up on twelve you could look all the way down although taking pics was too difficult at night. They had to wait until morning. The layout of the room was a little weird to me as the bathroom door was basically against the one side of the bed. But with a living room and a bedroom it was rather comfortable and easy to get a nice uncluttered sleep. The bed was rather comfortable as well. Much nicer than the Hilton Marina down the street.

Being that we stayed here only one night pre cruise we did not partake in either the manager’s reception each evening nor the breakfast. Yes breakfast would have been included but on day one of a vacation sleeping in and taking our time was more important.

This hotel did not have a shuttle to either airport or the cruise port so we were forced to take taxis. From the airport ran about $12 and to the port about the same.

It was a nice stay and depending upon the rate I would stay again. I would not however stay again at the rather high price I paid for this stay.

Address: 1100 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33316, United States

Comparison: about average

Price: US$120-180

Theme: Hotel