So you need a place to stay in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Good news: You’ve got choices—lots of them. This area is chock-full of traditional hotels, not to mention RV parks, hostels, and charming bed-and-breakfasts. The vast majority of accommodations here are hotels and B&Bs, and this chapter highlights some of the most centrally located accommodations, mainly hugging the beach or near-the-beach areas—after all, that’s probably one of the things that drew you here, right? Additionally, we’ve listed a fair number of places situated near downtown Fort Lauderdale, as this is also a hub for travelers and is only a short hop or skip—or simply a water-taxi ride—from the beach. We’ve focused primarily on non–chain hotels, ones that offer character and a personal touch—most of those chains that are listed here have something special to offer. Additional locations can be found by consulting the phone book or visiting the website of your preferred hotel chain.
If you’re traveling with family, consider staying at one of the hotels with suites or request a connecting room, which many hotels offer. Just about all hotels here are wheelchair accessible. Several accommodate guests’ four-legged friends; one hotel even encourages you to bring your small pet—just note that larger dogs, as always, are difficult to tote along on your trip. Some pet-friendly hotels charge an extra fee for your furry friends to spend the night, but many don’t.
There are a number of fancy, palatial hotels that cost upwards of $400 a night for a prime room or a suite, but the majority of hotels here charge between $100 and $350 a night for a room. RV parks and hostels—as well as hotels located outside of high-traffic areas like downtown and the beaches—charge significantly less. Prices are typically cheaper if you make reservations at least one month in advance—more if you are planning to come over a holiday weekend during the winter months.
Overview
If you plan to see a bit of Greater Fort Lauderdale, you’d be wise to stay downtown, but then again, we’re thinking part of your trip also includes beach time, in which case we recommend Fort Lauderdale Beach. That said, both of these areas are in eastern Broward County, but as the majority of sites and entertainment lie here, we’ve followed suit and included lodging options mostly on this side of the county. These areas are centrally located and offer easy access to restaurants, shopping, and anyplace you might want to go in eastern Broward. The Fort Lauderdale Beach hotels are just a 15-minute drive to downtown, and downtown is only a 20-minute drive to Hollywood. Anything downtown means you’ll be within walking distance of trendy Las Olas Boulevard and the Riverwalk, and anything in Fort Lauderdale Beach means you can easily access the sand and the Intracoastal.
If you prefer something a little more off the beaten path, you’ve still got some excellent options. There is a range of accommodations in the Deerfield Beach, Lauderdale-by-the Sea, and Pompano Beach area. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a particularly popular area to spend time in, as it has a very well-maintained community feel and offers a large selection of shops and restaurants in its tiny commercial crisscross of streets a block from the beach. Both Deerfield and Pompano Beaches offer beach fun too, but are sleepier. There is also a large gay and lesbian community in the Wilton Manors area, which is reflected in a number of lodging options oriented to gay travelers. Hollywood Beach is a prime choice for those wanting a small-beach town atmosphere but still lots of hopping nightlife and restaurants within walking distance—the Broadwalk, a long strip that runs next to the ocean, is chock full of restaurants and bars towards its northern end.
This chapter presents a sampling of the accommodations in the Fort Lauderdale area, organized by neighborhood. This is by no means a comprehensive list of Fort Lauderdale accommodations, but it should give you many options—and save you the hassle of website–hopping to find a place to rest your head.