Trip to Fort Lauderdale...looking for some advice from locals (Miami: where to stay, rent)

[bro2k7]

Hey everyone,
I am planning on coming down to Florida mid-April for 6 days with a friend. Our main goal is sun and the beaches....I'm from Canada and I am craving sun and a beach..

I honestly don't know why we picked fort lauderdale and not somewhere else in Florida. I have never been there. I just had some questions.

Firstly, regarding hotels, what area should I look into? I'm hoping to find something close to the beach, but we are students on a budget! Is anywhere close to the beach good? If I find something in the city, will going back and forth from the beaches be a big hassle? Im booking through Expedia, so won't have much freedom picking any hotel.

Second, what are the best beaches? We just wanna swim and sit in the sun for a loooong time...lol.

Finally, are there any places to avoid? Anything dangerous that you would warn tourists about?

Thanks for you help everyone!

[mango23]

Originally Posted by bro2k7

Hey everyone,
I am planning on coming down to Florida mid-April for 6 days with a friend. Our main goal is sun and the beaches....I'm from Canada and I am craving sun and a beach..

I honestly don't know why we picked fort lauderdale and not somewhere else in Florida. I have never been there. I just had some questions.

Firstly, regarding hotels, what area should I look into? I'm hoping to find something close to the beach, but we are students on a budget! Is anywhere close to the beach good? If I find something in the city, will going back and forth from the beaches be a big hassle? Im booking through Expedia, so won't have much freedom picking any hotel.

Second, what are the best beaches? We just wanna swim and sit in the sun for a loooong time...lol.

Finally, are there any places to avoid? Anything dangerous that you would warn tourists about?

Thanks for you help everyone!

There is only really one beach. As far as where to stay, Ther is a lot of smaller places on the north end of the beach. Older small motels that may be more what you are looking for. You would be walking distance. The bigger places are very expensive and a lot of what they offer such a lounges and pools don't sound like they would interest you. You just want a clean place to sleep and head out every day. That is the way I am, I just want a place to sleep i don't care about a bunch of amenities. You could actuelly do a googles map search using the thing where you can drive down the beach. See the motels and actually read the names on them and make contact. I recently did that with a Realtor whose name I could not remember but knew where they were in Tallahassee. I looked at the front of the building, read the sign and looked up the number on google..

[ruski]

Remember these words:

H A U L O V E R. B E A C H

You get the most sun there.

That's what you are looking for, right?

[jhlcomp]

If you are looking for best beaches, then it is the west coast of Florida - hands down. Also parts of the keys. When it comes to action, beach, and fun -- South Beach and, yes, Haulover Beach. Do your research and above all .... have lots of fun!!! Make sure you rent a car.

[bro2k7]

Thanks for your responses guy! I appreciate it.

I noticed some of the beaches suggested are far from fort lauderdale. Are the beaches in the fort lauderdale area not very good?
Do you think I would be better off getting a hotel in Miami or South beach?

Of course I am looking to just relax at the beach, but I'd like to have other people there too. A good, fun atmosphere is always nice.

Thanks again for your input.

[PalmTreeLife]

Originally Posted by bro2k7

Hey everyone,
I am planning on coming down to Florida mid-April for 6 days with a friend. Our main goal is sun and the beaches....I'm from Canada and I am craving sun and a beach..

I honestly don't know why we picked fort lauderdale and not somewhere else in Florida. I have never been there. I just had some questions.

Firstly, regarding hotels, what area should I look into? I'm hoping to find something close to the beach, but we are students on a budget! Is anywhere close to the beach good? If I find something in the city, will going back and forth from the beaches be a big hassle? Im booking through Expedia, so won't have much freedom picking any hotel.

Second, what are the best beaches? We just wanna swim and sit in the sun for a loooong time...lol.

Finally, are there any places to avoid? Anything dangerous that you would warn tourists about?

Thanks for you help everyone!

Well, since you're students that clearly means you're younger but I don't know if you're wanting a place near nightlife or if you will just be in at night.

Ft. Lauderdale Beach along A1A will have some night spots and the Las Olas area of Ft. Lauderdale is the main night life spot.

For the beaches itself....I don't know I used to live in Deerfield Beach in northern Broward County about 15 miles north of Lauderdale. It's pretty quiet and loaded with Canadian snowbirds in the winter, although many of them tend to be older because of how it's away from the wild side of Ft. Laud and Miami.

There are a few spots to go out at on or near the beach though in Deerfield that would suffice if you just want to hang out at night but not drive 5 miles away to do so.

I'm biased because I lived there but I still think it's a nice place to spend a few days.

As far as places to avoid, as long as you're not walking around strange places at night it shouldn't be a big deal. A lot of the towns surrounding Ft. Lauderdale tend to be kind of sketchy, like Lauderhill, Dania Beach, part of Pompano Beach (and Deerfield for that matter), etc. But as long as you stay along the coast and in areas with a lot of people you should be alright.

[Nolefan34]

bro27k-

Fort Lauderdale is the best option for what you're trying to do. Lots of Negative Nancies posting on here. Fort Lauderdale Beach is very nice and has lots of action, restaurants, bars, etc. right across from the beach. There are also plenty of affordable hotel options on the mainland within a mile or two from the beach. The Hampton Inn downtown is new and affordable. There are other cheaper options such as the LaQuinta Inn on US1 just north of Commercial Blvd. Its not the nicest hotel, but is decent and affordable for young students. I think you'll have a great time here.

The West Coast beaches are nicer, but cater more to snowbirds/elderly. It also depends which part of the West Coast. For example, Tampa/ St. Pete/ Clearwater beaches ARE NOT that nice. They're referring more to Naples, Fort Meyers, and the Panhandle beaches. There is no nightlife to speak of on the west coast unless you're in Tampa, which is an hour from the actual beach.

Fort Lauderdale beaches are WAY more accessible as you are typically no more than 10-15 minutes from the beach here. On the West Coast, it can take an hour to get from your hotel to the beaches since there is very limited beach access.

There is also way more nightlife going on in Fort lauderdale. Las Olas is the main place. There is also nightlife on Fort Lauderdale Beach and at the Hard Rock hotel and casino. The West Coast has no nightlife to speak of, unless you're in Tampa. Also, in Fort Lauderdale you are only a 30 minute drive from Miami and South Beach. So you can go down there one night to party it up. South Beach is Very expensive to go out there though. Fort Lauderdale is very affordable compared to South Beach.

[ruski]

BTW, my Haulover comment was partially tongue in cheek.

A part of it is:



It is a great beach though, IMO much cleaner than Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood beaches.

I like Fort Lauderdale beach overall... But one time I happened to go there on the 4th of July... Lots of people, no parking, people grilling chickens and subsequently chicken bones floating in the water...

[ruski]

I would also recommend Red Reef beach in Boca.

[Nolefan34]

ruski-

So you were only there one time ever on the 4th of July and you're using that as a barometer? That's like saying Best Buy was too crowded on Black Friday so you'll never shop there again.

Fort Lauderdale is one of the cleanest beaches around. I go there often and it is usually clean. Fort Lauderdale Beach is also a very large beach. You have about 1000 feet of beach between the dunes and the water. Other areas around have much less beach space.