Help TA experts %26amp; adivsors!!! Two adults coming to Ft. Lauderdale early August as part of Florida trip. Want a beach experience -- some action, nice beach etc. Have booked Pelican Beach but have cold feet -- are we too far from things happening? Is the beach too narrow? Should I cough up the extra funds to stay at the Marriott? What the Yankee Clipper -- I know it is dated, but is it on a better part of the beach? What about the Largo Mar -- is it closer to things? How does it compare to the Marriott?
Finally, is the Mariott right on the beach or across the road from it? Help in Canada please -- thanks so much!
Marriott? Yankee Clipper? Largo Mar? Pelican?
';... Should I cough up the extra funds to stay at the Marriott?...';
The MARRIOTT Harbor Beach is in the sand, as is the LAgo Mar and Yankee Clipper. (Clipper and Marriott are next to each other. (As is the BW Oceanside). They are a short walk to the www.watertaxi.com and a few restaurants. If you use the water taxi...it is fun, but REALLY takes a while...it does cover a distance...
They are all on the beach side of any road.... but in Aug will be hot..even the sand will burn your feet...except the Lago %26amp; Marriott do have spray hoses to help keep the sand cooler to the beach (I don%26#39;t know about the Clipper....but find beach, sand shoes or flip flops and take them with you.
The LAgo Mar is isolated if you have no car. It is down the beach from the Marriott....but a lake is in the way, and too far to walk in the Aug heat. It does have older rooms (I think since 1950s), BUT many people get upgraded to a one bed apartment or studio that includes a full kitchen.....(too far, however, to walk to any supermarket or even a conv. store)
I have checked all three for standard room pricing (not AAA or Gov) and all are at or lower than $159 US per nite..standard room...(in Aug). (Includes the Marriott). Check .pricing right here, or at each hotels website)
';...What the Yankee Clipper -- I know it is dated, but is it on a better part of the beach? What about the Largo Mar -- is it closer to things? How does it compare to the Marriott?...';
In my opinion, none compare with the Marriott. The Yankee Clipper is under renovation right now. I don%26#39;t know what kind of room you will get...but it is one of the slowest seasons, I might think they would have room in the renovated rooms.
An idea......join the Marriott Rewards points program and the Sheraton (Starwood) points program. THey are free...Sometimes when you present the card, they will give you an upgrade.....they will def give you points for the stay.
I think Lago Mar was a Leading Resorts of the World....but I don%26#39;t know if they even have a travel card.
Both the Marriott and Lago Mar SELL SPA RESORT CLUB MEMBERSHIPS to the locals. So, I would expect that weekends may be quite busy even if the hotels are not busy.
Marriott? Yankee Clipper? Largo Mar? Pelican?
KenK thanks so much!!! I am already a member of both Marriott and Starwood reward programs -- I use reward programs a great deal, and usually do find I get better rooms, even if they aren%26#39;t upgraded, I get my choice, so that is wonderful and worthwhile in itself.
I%26#39;m waffling between the Clipper and the Marriott now. If they are side by side, at this point I get a $80 difference in ocean front rooms. While I%26#39;m not looking for a bargain, given the exchange, the Marriott rooms translate into $300 Canadian per night. Worth it? I know that is a value judgement, but if the rooms are much nicer and the beach is fabulours, then it certainly is.
We have a car, but Largo Mar is too far from the action then -- we like to walk along the beach and get involved that way.
Since you are from Hollywood -- and you helped me with this long again, here I am asking again. Would I be better off staing in Hollywood? There are some great deals at hotels, such as the Marriott there.
I need to change my reservation this weekend. Appreciate your feedback so very much. Thanks!
I love Hollywood.....but I don%26#39;t think everyone else might. Its one of the last considered %26#39;old S Florida%26#39; ie 1920s to 50s and some of the places look like they could use a face lift.....the Bwalk is undergoing approx 15,000,000 million in upgrades and so are many of the old beach front apartment hotels. But, some first time guests will not see what the return visitors and locals see,
First....the price difference between the Hollywood Marriott Beach Resort and the places in Ft Laud....is it really substantial? Can you enjoy being in a very public area....I mean a B%26#39;Walk that is right out of the 1`940s (long Beach Calif) witout the rides and amusements?
As you probably know, the Hollywood Marriott has been completely rebuilt from its form HoJo self.....with many improvements, and a few disappointments. Major isappointment was the removal of the third floor %26#39; super sizes private pool with tiki huts'; a a bathtub sized ground level pool right adjacent to the b%26#39;walk. The Howard Johnson restaurant was replaced with a parking garage (check for parking fees) that makes the Marriott Beach Place Garage look like kids play.
All the B%26#39;walk hotels (there are some truly dumps that need to be closed)...but some are great are usually along or in back of the b%26#39;walk. South of Garfield, there are many IMO very good restaurants on the B walk in the sand (like Arubas)....but many are now in the construction path of the bwalk. None will break the bank...ie..large tomato pie (16 to 18 inch thin) and pitcher (beer or soda)is still $14.00. Several places (not Hagan Daz or Edys shops) sell ice Cream cones (small) for $1.25......
Locals consist of the Hollywood youguns, the Montreal 6 monthers, and many various middle Europeans, Cubans from Miami who find Hollywood excellent valuewise (and more %26#39;conservative than Miami) staying in the Atlantic Sands one bed Apts (small Cozy as low as $89.00 run by an 80+ ex Rockette (dancer) %26amp; her super grandaughter, the Hollywood Sands T/Ss (next to the Marriott. the Sea Downs/Tide complex, and many others some dating back to the 1940s %26amp; 50s.
Why so unchanged? I think because they are all hoping a developer will come and offer them what the others have been offered in the past, for the land value of ocean front property....why fix it up???
Five blocks S of where the Bwalk ends (thanks to the condo high rise development), the Diplomat stands....super nice, completely opposite of the B walk Hollywood culture. Overpriced (but good) food, but IMO very friendly staff. Nikki Beach Club is across the street in the Diplomat Landing Yacht Club.
The areas of Ft LAuderdale are also, of course, quite public....but somewhat different.
If you have read other post re the Yankee Clipper, you know its adjacent to a large (real large...maybe 1/2 mile long almost) along A1A from the Clipper to what was once a DoubleeTree...almost 5 blocks short of Las Olas.....but that public lot (with its benches and BBQ pits in the sand (this area is a super large beach, like Wildwood, NJ) have many locals....but they stay put...they don%26#39;t usually walk on the b%26#39;walk......no shops except across the street...so it is somewhat private. That includes the beach front near the Clipper, and since the Marriot Harbour Beach is further back from all that parking, it is even MORE private (except for the Beach Club Members).....and IMO....the most private 9except for the condo owners next door, is the Lago Mar.....most owners are probably back north, anyway.
Quieter, newer (IMO even the Clipper*), and more quiet is that area of Ft LAuderdale...(Now the area around Las Olas might be a bit different....but tha%26#39;ts almost a mile N of the Marriott Habour Beach.
* BTW, the Clipper may have a bad rep on TA (and it might be justified until ALL the rooms are upgraded), there were at least 3 movies made there....the one I remember the best was Where the Boys Are....the Wreck Bar was where the kids fell into the underwater show with the lady with the big %26#39;lungs%26#39;.
I think you ought to stay (the first time) in one of the Ft Lauderdale Places....my pref without cost consideration would be the Marriott.
I would plan on visiting Hollywood in the early AM and park on GArfield and the beach....(or by the Marriott). I sugest Garfield because there is a ladies room (and the Handball courts (watch out Brooklyn Vs Montreal), and walking S from there will get you several places to have some refreshments....and see what you think. Drop into the Atlantic Sands....see if these small %26#39;casaditas%26#39; might suit you. No Pool, but dance lessons available :)
I still like Hollywood....even with the attempt at having you not be surprised.
Thanks again KenK -- obviously you have been very frank, and i appreciate that! (:
I will cruise the prices and book a the Marriott I presume. Now, my husband likes to %26#39;observe the action%26#39; from the balcony, I presume this venue will be suitable -- not too far from the beach?
By the way, your responses re: the Clipper are well stated. My experiences are that sometimes there is too much negativity on the TA sites. This is after all a Sheraton property that gets consistently good reviews from the travel writers etc.
Thanks again.
He will have a bwalk view from the Hollywood Marriott. I think the Harbour Beach Marriott is too secluded to watch b%26#39;walk action....BUT he will still be able to watch the view of the MARRIOTT, and maybe some condo %26amp; CLIPPER guests.
I have the feeling that now you have an idea, with no surprises, you would probably not mind either place....just remember, they are a bit different.
2 Bed 2 bath 1920s to 50s houses (under 2000 sq feet) may sell for $499,000 along Hollywood Blvd....but IMO its beach is still somewhat blue collar. and retired seniors.
Thanks KenK -- watching the Marriott may be a good chunk of the action, besides it looks like a lovely place, even if it is a bit more formal than we are. Will report back when I return -- or when I%26#39;m there. Thanks a ton.
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