Fort Lauderdale - Jan 15-17

Left Vancouver around 10 and made it to the hotel around 2:30. We got a room at the Doubletree by the airport via Priceline.com at a rate of $75. When I checked into the hotel they offered us an upgrade to a king because of Hilton Honors. I did request a non adjoining room and we first went to room 720 which as soon as we opened the door we see it is an adjoining room. I head back down to the front desk and they apologize and move us to a larger room because of the error. We are given room 727 and we really like the size of the room. It is a corner room with a couch and chair, desk and king size bed. The hotel is I would of guessed from the 70s and it looks like it has been renovated but needs further updating. Door frames, windows, tub were not updated. The ceiling has the popcorn texture. In all it was nice quiet room that was a great price of $75 per night.


The hotel provides a free shuttle to the airport that departs every twenty minutes. We catch the 420 shuttle and arrive at the airport about ten minutes later. Check in was a breeze on the Delta flight to Atlanta.


Fights were all on time and we even got into Fort Lauderdale early! Where we picked up a rental car thru National. So we are off in our Ford Escape and it feels great to be back here. Our hotel – the Marriott Beach Place -- is located quite easily after maneuvering around the many different levels of the hotel parking, but trust me the end result is worth it. Our friend Sue/Mike meet us in the lobby and it is so nice to see them again.

The room – WOW – great view of the ocean, in fact right now I am sitting her looking out the patio door staring at a totally unobstructed view of the ocean and I can hear the waves hitting the shore – heaven pure heaven. This resort is made up of one bedroom suites that are apartment like, and one room suites (which we have) that have a couch, small table/chairs, small kitchen with fridge/sink/microwave. Very handy. Our friends have the apartment and it is better than my first apartment ever was with a full kitchen with washing and dryer! Great for a family.

After freshening up we are all heading to Total Wines located just off 17th street where we stock up on liquids for the vacation – I actually had Bernie stick to a limit of 9 bottles for the 10 days, we can always buy more on the turn around day I say to him. So we got 3 bottles of each white/red/champagne. Dinner is at Carlos and Peppes, which we have eaten at before, great Mexican food and the drink! After dinner we went back to Mike/Sue’s room to chat and catch up and were in bed at around midnight eastern time.

This morning we didn’t wake until 9 am, we must have been tired and slept like a baby. We are going to head off to Sawgrass Mall and the afternoon we hope to do some relaxing in the sun before heading to meet Bill/Cathy and Mike/Sue for dinner at Bravo.


Hotel we are staying at is the Marriott Beach Place Towers here is a link to their website http://www.marriottharborbeach.com/

The hotel is located right on the beach and it is very very busy.  All rooms have adjoing doors and of course we can hear everything next door.  The vent from the restaurant is below us and towards the road but all you can smell on the deck this afternoon is the smell of fries.  I probably wouldn't stay here again, but this time the price was right and couldn't pass it up.