Friday, 26 August 2011

Lauderdale by the Sea Hotels



Hidden on a barrier island just northeast of downtown, away from the glitz of Fort Lauderdale, is the charming beachside town of Lauderdale by the Sea. It sits just offshore of a gulf stream current which regulates a very temperate, comfortable climate. Opportunities for deep-sea fishing and shore diving abound in this town. Known for a more laid-back, quiet beach atmosphere than its neighbor, Lauderdale by the Sea caters to those who wish for an oasis, and that is precisely what Lauderdale by the Sea hotels provide.



One of the most popular Lauderdale by the Sea resorts is the Lauderdale Beachside Hotel (pictured), located on Florida's famous A1A Beachfront Avenue. The resort's Beach Building is situated directly on the beach and offers views of the ocean and the pool area, complete with the poolside Tiki Bar and Grille. Rooms in the Main Building offer French balconies or patios and easy access to Damon's Restaurant and Lounge. All 147 recently renovated rooms at the Lauderdale Beachside Hotel are smoke-free, and this beach hotel in Lauderdale by the Sea is also very family-friendly, with a videogame arcade and a separate wading pool for children.



The largest beach hotel in Lauderdale by the Sea is the Lauderdale by the Sea Resort and Beach Club. Its 186 comfortable rooms are centrally located only a few blocks from Las Olas Boulevard, directly on 350 feet of private beachfront property. Formerly operated by Holiday Inn, this resort it maintains all the standard guest amenities you would expect from a quality chain. What sets this resort apart from other Lauderdale by the Sea hotels, however, is the diving instruction offered directly through the hotel. Arrange to take a snorkel or scuba tour on your own or in a group, and guests can even take online courses before arriving at the resort to maximize their time in the water.



The award-winning Courtyard Villa is a well sought-after Lauderdale by the Sea resort. The accommodations at the Courtyard Villa are slightly larger than the average hotel room. The three options—efficiencies, suites and apartments—offer full kitchenettes in addition to comfortable places to sleep. The Courtyard Villa is centrally located near the town's famous fishing pier as well as many shopping and dining options. It is also one of the few Lauderdale by the Sea hotels offering a spa on location. As an added bonus, the Courtyard Villa is also pet-friendly.



Also within walking distance of the fishing pier is A Little Inn by the Sea, a beach hotel in Lauderdale by the Sea styled after bed and breakfasts along the Mediterranean. A Little Inn by the Sea boasts 300 feet of private Atlantic Ocean beach, and many of their 29 units come with private balconies that take advantage of the ocean views. A continental breakfast is included in the price of the room, served each morning next to the fountain in the open-air lobby. In addition to ocean access, A Little Inn by the Sea has a fully landscaped pool courtyard complete with full barbecue facilities.



At the northern edge of Lauderdale by the Sea, the bright pink Away Inn prides itself on its small town atmosphere. Everything about this Lauderdale by the Sea resort has been renovated, from the granite countertops in the kitchenettes to the brand-new carpet under your feet. The 31 apartments at Away Inn leave nothing to chance, offering full kitchenettes (dishes included), washers and dryers for your clothes, and 32 inch flat-screen televisions. In addition, with only an eight-minute walk to the center of Lauderdale by the Sea, Away Inn isn't too far away, after all.

Fort Lauderdale Cheap Hotels



Just because Fort Lauderdale offers a plethora of luxury hotels and beach resorts, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy Fort Lauderdale on a budget. A little research reveals there are quite a few reputable cheap hotels in Fort Lauderdale, all offering comfortable accommodations and freeing up some extra money for restaurants, transportation, or activities such as tours of the Everglades and snorkeling trips.



Centrally located near shopping, dining options, and many Fort Lauderdale attractions—and less than three blocks than Fort Lauderdale Beach—is the Vistamar Motel. It is also only six miles from the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport and four miles to the Everglades cruise port. The grounds of this motel back up against the popular Bonnet House and Museum grounds, offering a landscape that is quieter and more serene than other Fort Lauderdale cheap hotels. Choose between a studio room with a kitchenette and a larger one bedroom suite with a separate living area and full kitchen. Every guest room offers air-conditioning, cable television, and free wireless high speed internet. The rooms are set off a landscaped courtyard with a heated pool and a barbecue area for guest's use. Laundry facilities are also available. Guests can also take advantage of the motel's arrangement with a local dive school for scuba diving and snorkeling excursions, an amenity not commonly found at cheap accommodations in Fort Lauderdale.



The Birch Patio Motel is another one of Fort Lauderdale motels comfortably situated minutes from Las Olas Boulevard and the Fort Lauderdale beach. Their heated freshwater swimming pool rests on a tropical patio complete with palm trees, tropical plants, and cascading waterfalls. Shuffleboard and barbecue grills add to the amenities. Each room at the Birch Patio comes with air-conditioning, television, a refrigerator, a microwave, and a coffeemaker. Coin-operated laundry facilities and internet access are also available, helping to make the comfortable Birch Patio Motel one of the most popular Fort Lauderdale motels.



Well-equipped, affordable studio apartments are the pride of the By Eddy Motel, ten minutes from the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood airport. Consisting of fewer units than most other Fort Lauderdale motels, the sixteen units at the By Eddy offer comparable amenities, including laundry facilities and full kitchens. It is conveniently located near a grocery store, a pharmacy, and a large selection of Fort Lauderdale restaurants. Each air-conditioned unit has a view of the garden or the pool area. The By Eddy can also book a tee time with one of Fort Lauderdale's popular golf courses.



Having celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2008, the Ocean Manor Resort Hotel is one of the Fort Lauderdale cheap hotels that glorifies the city's glamorous celebrity past. Located in the popular Galt Ocean Mile neighborhood, the Ocean Manor provides affordable standard rooms, efficiency rooms with kitchenettes, and one- or two-bedroom suites. If you want to splurge, enjoy one of the four newly renovated penthouses that have breathed new life into this legend. The Ocean Manor (pictured) is one of the few cheap hotels in Fort Lauderdale offering brand new floor-to-ceiling windows that resist hurricane strength winds while providing a beautiful ocean view. Indulge in the private pool or the 200 feet of private beach, or enjoy the fare at the dining options, which include a full-service restaurant and a tiki bar.



If you're looking for a dependable chain hotel among all the cheap hotels in Fort Lauderdale, consider the Ramada Plaza Fort Lauderdale, located only one mile from the Monterey Golf Club. Standard amenities with many reservation packages include complimentary wireless internet, an outdoor pool, cable television, a fitness room, an on-site restaurant, and a complimentary breakfast. In addition, this hotel offers an arcade, a salon, a pool table, and a tiki bar. An on-site theater showing family movies on the weekends makes the Ramada unique from other Fort Lauderdale cheap hotels and a good choice for anyone traveling with children.

Fort Lauderdale Luxury Hotels



There is a reason there is a Millionaire's Row on Florida's Gold Coast. It is considered a playground for the rich, and Fort Lauderdale luxury hotels are a testament to that. One of the draws of a Florida vacation—and of Fort Lauderdale in particular—is the array of opportunities for relaxation, whether you're visiting the local spas, lying on the beach, or simply relaxing in high-quality accommodations.



One of the newest Fort Lauderdale luxury hotels is the Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale. Readers of Conde Nast voted this option for Fort Lauderdale luxury accommodations as the "Top New Hotel" on their 2008 Hot list, and the revered Mobil Travel Guide has awarded it four stars. Each room at this lush luxury hotel in Fort Lauderdale has its own private balcony as part of a design inspired by lavish ocean liners. 100% smoke-free guest units boast marble bathrooms, two LCD televisions, luxurious bed linens, and Bulgari bath amenities. The infinity pool overlooks the ocean from a 29,000 square-foot pool deck with private cabanas available for rent. Guests at the Ritz Carlton can take advantage of privileges at Fort Lauderdale golf courses, arranged by the hotel's concierge. An 8,500-square-foot spa offers a complete menu of services, and dining options include a Wine Room supplied by the hotel's private wine cellar.



Rising gloriously above its 315 feet of private ocean beach is the W Fort Lauderdale. Each of the W's 517 rooms is creatively named in reference to its size and level of luxury, including the basic accommodations of the Wonderful Room, the self-proclaimed "splendiferous space" of the Cool Corner Room, and the self-explanatory Extreme Wow Suite. No matter which room type a guest chooses at the W, they are guaranteed to indulge in a signature W bed, complete with a menu of pillow options. Each room at this luxury hotel in Fort Lauderdale also include a 32-inch LCD television, an iPod docking station, bath products from the hotel's Bliss spa, in-room movie options, and signature W spa bathrobes. These Fort Lauderdale luxury accommodations also offer guests the opportunity to dine at Stephen Starr's luxury steakhouse, STEAK 954.



Many of Fort Lauderdale five star hotels are very large resort-style hotels. If you prefer a smaller, more intimate luxury hotel in Fort Lauderdale, the Atlantic Hotel may be just what you are searching for. With only 124 guest rooms and suites, this lush hotel caters to the guest who is hoping for a more personal experience than other Fort Lauderdale luxury hotels might provide. Although the resort is smaller, the rooms are spacious, and each room has a private balcony offering views of the ocean or the Intracoastal Waterway. Luxurious guest amenities include a BOSE sound system, a flat-screen television, and a gourmet kitchen in the room. The resort also offers two restaurants, a European-style spa, a fitness center, a pool and whirlpool, and a salon. The Atlantic Hotel is located three miles from downtown Fort Lauderdale, steps away from the best the city has to offer. The hotel also offers boat rentals for guests' convenience.



Tucked away in Fort Lauderdale's beautiful waterways is Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six. The hotel's 127-slip marina is situated on the Intracoastal Waterway and remains popular with yachters. Hotel room service even offers delivery directly to the boats. Each of the 380 rooms at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six includes Fort Lauderdale luxury accommodations, including a furnished balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the ocean, Intercoastal Waterway, or the marina. An on-site aquatics center is available to rent various types of watercraft or make reservations for Fort Lauderdale beach activities. Indulge in one of the three pools, including a swim-through waterfall, pool volleyball, and a spa tub large enough to hold 40 people.

Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotels



The golden, soft-sand beaches of Fort Lauderdale draw people from all over the world. So it would stand to reason that hotels on Fort Lauderdale Beach are some of the most coveted of all Florida hotels. Fort Lauderdale boasts plenty of water activities, such as snorkeling and diving, as well as numerous land-based attractions, but even if you're not spending all of your vacation on the sand or in the sea, a hotel on the beach might be the perfect place to stay for a relaxing trip.



The recipient of a AAA Four Diamond award and voted one of the world's best places to stay by Conde Nast Traveler's Gold list, the Lago Mar Resort and Club has long been considered one of the best Fort Lauderdale beachfront hotels. Its Old South Florida décor is reminiscent of past grandeur, while lush amenities including 32-inch flat screen televisions, wireless high-speed internet, granite countertops, and down comforters ensure the resort is updated and comfortable. It sits on 500 square feet of private beach in the Harbor Beach neighborhood five miles north of the Fort Lauderdale airport. Guests have their choice between two pools, tennis, beach volleyball, a putting golf course, shuffleboard, and beachfront chess. The Lago Mar is also one of the only Fort Lauderdale beach hotels to offer a highly Zagat-rated Italian restaurant, Acquario.



Near the Lago Mar is the tropical lagoon setting of the recently renovated Marriott Harbor Beach Resort. Rooms offer balconies, 32-inch flat screen televisions, granite countertops, and luxurious linens. There are three restaurants to choose from, as well as a Starbucks on-site. It offers not only the largest private beach in South Florida, but it is also the only one of the Fort Lauderdale beachfront hotels to offer a tiki bar on the beach. This beach hotel in Fort Lauderdale also offers equipment rentals for water sports and a full-service spa, that includes beachfront henna tattoos and hair braids among its treatments.



The Pelican Grand Beach Resort opened its doors in December 2004, making it one of the more recent hotels available on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Boasting a large veranda complete with rocking chairs overlooking a 500 foot private beach, it isn't difficult to understand why this is one of the most sought-after Fort Lauderdale beach hotels. 159 large guest rooms and oceanfront suites with private balconies continue the rhythm of Old Florida design and provide convenient amenities such as a refrigerator and a microwave. Guests can enjoy the Lazy River tubing ride as well as a zero-entry heated pool, making the Pelican one of the best hotels on Fort Lauderdale Beach for anyone who has difficulty with mobility. Dine at the North Ocean Grille or Postcards poolside bar. Perhaps the most popular dining option, however, is the Emporium old-fashioned ice cream parlor.



Like many Fort Lauderdale luxury hotels, some Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotels connect their property to the beach by a skywalk. Such is the case for the Westin Beach Resort and the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Don't let the skywalks deter you, however, from what these Fort Lauderdale beachfront hotels have to offer. Each of the Westin's 433 guest rooms and suites offers a view of the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway or the city through floor to ceiling windows, and their infinity pool overlooks the beach. The Westin offers amenities from the resort's spa, Bliss, Starbucks coffee, and the Westin Heavenly bed.



Likewise, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort is separated from the beach by a small access road, but the short walk is worth it. Each of the Hilton's 374 rooms offers a balcony with a glass railing, revealing views of the beach or the city. Hilton amenities also include European-style whirlpool tubs, flat-screen televisions, and the Hilton's signature hypoallergenic Serenity beds. Guests of the Hilton can also indulge in the 20,700-square-foot tropical pool deck with an infinity pool.

Ft Lauderdale Bed and Breakfasts





Along I-95 down the Florida coast, justsouth of Boca Raton and north of Miami, lies wonderful Fort Lauderdale. Still a huge draw for tourists looking to find a bargain and to enjoy the Florida sun, Fort Lauderdale offers a welcome retreat with a truly Floridian feel. In Fort Lauderdale, you'll find the “World's Largest Outlet Mall" where big savings are the ticket, and popular leisure and recreation activities often involve the city's pristine beaches. Birch State Park offers nature hiking, canoeing and picnicking, and some divers consider the area among the best spots for Florida scuba diving. Come to Ft. Lauderdale to escape the stresses of life. Book your stay in a Ft Lauderdale bed and breakfast and make your trip here that much more relaxing.



The Granada Inn bed and breakfast Ft Lauderdale, found at 3011 Granada Street, enjoys a great location within walking distance to Fort Lauderdale Beach. Guests here also enjoy proximity to the highly reputed Las Olas Boulevard, where dining and shopping opportunities abound. The Granada Inn is a luxurious bed and breakfast in Ft Lauderdale FL where you'll find 12 guest rooms each decorated in their own style. Among your accommodations, you can choose either a room, a junior suite or suite, depending on your preferences, and rates run from $90-$220. All the lodging choices at the Granada Inn Ft Lauderdale bed and breakfast feature comfortable furniture, modern appliances and a bunch of extras, including temperature controls and beach towels. Before or after a refreshing morning dip in the pool, get your day started off right with the European continental breakfast.



Escape to A Little Inn By The Sea for a bed and breakfast Fort Lauderdale experience in a AAA 3-Diamond and Superior Small Lodging award-winner. Located on the beach at 4546 El Mar Drive in northeastern Ft. Lauderdale/Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, this beachside retreat will encourage relaxation on the sands and endless basking in the rich Florida sun. The weather is nice year round at this bed and breakfast in Ft Lauderdale FL, and if it gets too hot, a quick dip in the Atlantic will cool you off . A Little Inn By The Sea is a family owned bed and breakfast Ft Lauderdale FL resort offering 29 rental units of varying accommodations. Choices range from good-sized rooms to spacious suites, and all are tastefully decorated. Guests can expect to find wonderful ocean views and tropical settings found around the pool and surrounding courtyard. Palms and varying tropical plants round out the beautiful grounds, and among the generous amenities are complimentary services which include free bicycle rentals, free tennis and free beach chairs. Daily rates are for double occupancy, and range from $119-$419, depending on size of accommodations and season.



For a bed and breakfast in Ft Lauderdale FL that has been recommended by several travel publications and The New York Times, book your stay at La Casa Del Mar. Found at 3003 Granada Street, you're merely a half block and a minute's walk from the beach. La Casa Del Mar tempts visitors looking for a quality bed and breakfast Fort Lauderdale experience with their mix of service and settings. The grounds here are visually pleasing and amenities on-site include available bicycles, an internet cafe/gift shop, free local calls, folding chairs for the beach, a kitchenette with each room and much more. You are also close to the shopping and dining at Las Olas, and minutes from a shopping mall. La Casa Del Mar offers complimentary drinks poolside from 5-6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and has a massage therapist who is around on a daily basis. Free local calls from telephones in every room, cable televisions and movie rentals help to make you feel at home at La Casa Del Mar, and daily rates rates run between $95-$240.

Hotels in Fort Lauderdale



In transforming itself from a spring break party town to chic metropolis, Fort Lauderdale accommodation runs the gamut. With hotel options lining nearly every block, Fort Lauderdale hotels can range from a modest Florida beach hotel to luxury towers. A building boom is in the works, with planned soon-to-open luxury hotels including the terraced St. Regis Resort tower and the $220-million W Fort Lauderdale Hotel & Residences.



If you can’t wait, you might want to check into the Westin Diplomat in nearby Hollywood. These new $600 million 39-story twin towers overlooking the water feature an impressive recreation complex of clay tennis courts, lakes, and a designer golf course, as well as a signature glass-bottom pool with waterfalls. On site venues include Asian-themed Satine and the tropical Nikki Marina bar.



One of Fort Lauderdale’s most historic hotels, the Riverside dates back to 1936. Modern renovations have included tropical wood-and-tile décor, and a 12-story tower addition to the original building. And one of the best reasons to stay here is its heart-of-downtown location.



The secret’s out about the splendid Pillars Hotel, a charming two-story British Colonial, Caribbean-style retreat tucked away on the Intracoastal Waterway. With only 23 rooms, 24-hour concierge, and top-notch staff, you’ll feel like a royal house guest, with deluxe touches like mahogany furnishings, antique etchings, and blackout drapes to allow you to sleep in. You can take advantage of such plush room amenities as private-label bath products, ultra-plush bedding and even a rub down from a private masseuse. The main room features a baby grand piano, a 500-book library, and wine and beer bar in the afternoons. Its lush tropical garden courtyard pool features free iced tea on tap, and is just a short walk to water taxis to whisk you off to nearby Max's Beach Place restaurant that you can sign to your room. Note that all rooms are non-smoking.



Ranked by Zagat Survey as the best hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Lago Mar is a classic Fort Lauderdale resort. Lago Mar has a private oceanfront beach, a swimming lagoon, and an Olympic-sized pool, so every room looks out on water. The lush grounds are covered in palm trees and bougainvillea. Tropical Key West style décor make up the rooms, while the common areas carry a Venetian theme.



The new four-star Atlantic Hotel greets you with a cocktail and lavender-scented towel as you check in from their lobby sofas. This terraced-balcony hotel by the beach has luxury accommodations like full-featured kitchens with granite counters, marble bathroom floors, and glass enclosed showers.



You may think you are in Las Vegas at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. If you like to play, the video slot machines and poker tables are always packed at the 130,000-square-foot casino. But the rooms are surprisingly luxurious, with flat screen, Egyptian-cotton sheets, and big showerheads. The complex features a waterfall lagoon pool similar to its sister establishment in Vegas, 22,000-square-foot spa, two nightclubs open all night every night, and a host of restaurants, and shops.

Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotels



The main airport for the Fort Lauderdale area is the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. It is a busy hub not only for visitors to Fort Lauderdale itself, but also for anyone departing on cruise ships docked in Port Everglades. For that reason, there are many Fort Lauderdale airport hotels to choose from, ensuring that travelers have a convenient place to stay when embarking on their vacation in Florida or the Caribbean.



Since Fort Lauderdale is only a stopover for many people, the Hollywood Airport area has many simple, cheap Fort Lauderdale airport hotels to choose from. The Sleep Inn and Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport, Comfort Inn Airport/Cruise Port South, and Days Inn Hollywood Airport South are all located a short distance from the airport and offer free shuttles to and from the airport and the cruise ship port for most of the day. Amenities are basic, but they are comfortable and included in the price of the room. All three hotels offer a free continental breakfast, free high-speed internet, cable television, an outdoor pool, free local calls, and a fitness center. The Comfort Inn has a car rental desk and laundry facilities on-site, while Days Inn has a 24-hour Denny's Restaurant on the property. Any of these hotels near Fort Lauderdale Airport would provide comfortable accommodations for a simple, short stay.



The Hampton Inn Fort Lauderdale Airport North is another cheap Fort Lauderdale airport hotel only three and a half miles from the airport, but it attempts to offer a bit more than other area accommodations. While it also offers a complimentary airport and cruise port shuttle service, it also prides itself on British Colonial Décor and rooms that offer king-size Cloud Nine Hampton beds, chaise lounges, and walk-in showers. High-speed internet access and a movie channel are provided at no extra charge, and hot breakfasts are available to eat in or take away. This makes it easy to start your day with a quick bite en route to the airport or to take a more leisurely breakfast to some of the local attractions, such as Pompano Beach or Everglades National Park.



If you prefer a bit of resort-like luxury in an airport hotel, along with a convenient location, there are two hotels near the Fort Lauderdale airport that combine the best of both worlds. The first is the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port Hotel (pictured), a mere five minutes from the airport. The Sheraton's 250 guest rooms offer standard resort amenities in a resort-like setting, including the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed and 37-inch flat-screen televisions in each room. Upgrade to the Sheraton Club to enjoy the fitness center and club lounge with complimentary breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres. Also, try the Hilton Place Fort Lauderdale Airport North, only one mile away from the airport. The standard guest rooms here come with Hilton Serenity beds, granite desktops, Crabtree and Evelyn bath products, an mp3 player, cable TV, and a luxury showerhead. Both resorts have full service restaurants, pool areas, and free airport/cruise port shuttles.



For those looking for the best among the Fort Lauderdale airport hotels, there is only one place for you to go: the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Located only six miles from the airport, this resort is one of the very few hotels near Fort Lauderdale Airport to be awarded the AAA Four Diamond award. Its 481 luxurious guest rooms and suites aim to pamper, with Tivoli stereos and 100% Egyptian cotton bedding. The four-and-a-half acre pool lagoon offers a pool bar, an elevated spa and a 182-foot water slide. Dining, gambling, and shopping options are plentiful, and live shows grace the stage frequently. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is also home to Seminole Okalee Indian Village, an interactive educational facility where visitors can learn about the Seminole Indian Tribe firsthand. The Seminole Hard Rock is not a cheap Fort Lauderdale airport hotel, but it is worth every penny.