Although we were not embarking on or returning from a cruise, we could easily see that cruisers comprise the bulk of the guests at this hotel. (We attended a family event nearby.) This hotel does not have the ideal location for visiting the nearby Fort Lauderdale beaches. Although the beach is only two miles away, other Hilton properties are closer to the ocean. For example, the Fort Lauderdale Hilton Beach Hotel, the Doubletree Bahia Mar, or even the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, although the Marina property is on the waterway, not across the street from the ocean. (It is rare for Fort Lauderdale hotels to be located directly on the ocean side of the street.) This hotel is centrally located within walking distance of nearby shops and restaurants. The strip mall shopping center behind the hotel contains a Publix grocery store, so guests can stock their room with food and beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Nearby restaurants include Waxy O’Connors, Duffy’s Sports Bar, and Fort Lauderdale Grill, among others.
Parking is not included with your room rate. It costs $16 per night for self-parking, and $21 per night for valet. Both types of parking occur in an unsecured surface lot (although a fence surrounds the parking lot, anyone can access). The hotel is located two miles from the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL), which is a 10-minute drive (approximately $15 taxi ride). When we were ready to return to the airport, we called the front desk to arrange a taxi, but someone from the hotel offered to transport us in the hotel van for $8 per person. We think this offer only occurs during extremely early or late hours when the hotel is not busy (we traveled to the airport at 5:30 am), so the hotel does not officially advertise the service.
The outdoor swimming pool area is the best feature of this hotel, along with the atrium. The pool deck holds chairs on two levels: one level surrounds the pool, and the other level is located about a foot higher. The pool area provides a contained oasis because of its attractive landscaping, despite its proximity to the parking lots and busy 17th Street. The pool features a waterfall element, and a separate hot tub / Jacuzzi is located nearby. A small building near the pool contains restrooms and a sauna. Sun umbrellas and lounge chairs are available, as well as high-top tables with bar stools. The pool area connects to the E Spot Bar, which has outdoor seating, so guests can dine with a view. A koi pond is adjacent to the pool area. Guests need their key card to access the gate to the pool, although they can enter from the bar area without using their keys. On the Sunday that we enjoyed the pool, we had no problem securing the lounge chairs of our choice; although a few guests periodically used the pool, it was evident that this is a transitory hotel.
The atrium is another attractive feature of this hotel. A glass roof encloses space that is open from the lobby level to the twelfth floor. The atrium contains rock, waterfall, and pond features, which give it a tropical feel. In the morning, a breakfast buffet occurs at one end of the atrium, and guests dine at tables positioned throughout the space. One morning, the atrium was so crowded that the only empty table we found was in the E Spot Bar; however, a table exists for everyone who wants one. Part of the seating issue occurs because guests do not bus their own tables when they finish dining. If it were readily apparent where guests should place their used plates, they would clear their tables.
Included with your room rate is a buffet breakfast (non-hotel guests can pay a fee); however, we were disappointed to learn that breakfast closes at 9:00 am on weekdays, so we were too late to partake one morning. Breakfast included made-to-order eggs and omelets, along with warming trays of scrambled eggs, breakfast meats like bacon and sausage, and potatoes. Guests are not able to serve themselves from the warming trays – an attendant dishes out what each guest requests. Guests can serve themselves from the bread / pastry bar, the cold bar (with yogurt, fruit, and cereals), and from the beverage bar (juices, soft drinks, and hot drinks).
In addition to the breakfast restaurant, the hotel offers the E Spot Bar & Lounge and the E Spot Restaurant, both of which have indoor and outdoor space. On the second floor, the hotel has indoor event space that includes an outdoor terrace. Guests can order room service from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm.
The nightly manager’s cocktail hour (called the Evening Reception) was crowded with cruise ship passengers. If guests wanted a complimentary drink, they waited for 15+ minutes; however, guests could order two drinks at a time, so perhaps the wait is not so bad. Complimentary basic snacks like tortilla chips and salsa and potato chips are available.
Even though we booked our room many months prior to our stay, the only room type available was a smoking room. Perhaps the cruise lines or travel agents book all of the non-smoking rooms. When we checked in, we asked the front desk clerk if we could change to a non-smoking room, but she rebuffed us. Her unwillingness to attempt to find an alternate room disappointed us, not only because we are HHonors Diamond members, but also because we stayed for three nights and the smell would bother us for an extended period. The agent said that a room had been we pre-assigned to us and she could not change it. (We had not used the Hilton eCheck-in feature in advance of our arrival.) We also had a badly situated room on a low floor near an elevator bank that overlooked the traffic on busy 17th Street. (Rooms toward the front of the hotel are therefore not a good choice if guests are light sleepers.) Our room smelled so foul that we walked to the nearby Publix grocery store and bought several air fresheners to position around the room. The hotel is pet-friendly, which may have contributed additionally to the stale-smelling room.
Our 1-Bedroom King Suite had a separate living room that contained a sofa bed (but no sheets to put on it), side chair, ottomans, desk / table and two chairs, and a stand that held a flat-screen TV. In the hallway that led from the living area to the bedroom was a wet bar that contained a small sink, mini-refrigerator, coffee maker, and microwave. The refrigerator (larger than a dorm-size cube) got extremely cold. The hotel supplied no plates or cutlery, so if you have leftovers, bring some disposable utensils. The living room area had a window that overlooked the interior hallways and atrium. The architectural design must have seemed like a good idea during the building process to let additional light into each room, but most guests had the curtains drawn all the time for privacy.
The bedroom area contained a king-size bed, two nightstands, a free-standing wardrobe / closet, and a bureau with another flat-screen TV. The bedroom also contained a vanity with a single sink. The actual bathroom (only one bathroom is present in these suites) was located off the bedroom area. It contained a shower / bathtub combination, toilet, and vanity with a single sink. Our unit had a small balcony (larger than a Juliet balcony but not big enough to hold a chair). Some rooms have larger balconies that contain furniture. The hotel decor looked tired, but we saw posted notices that indicated that the hotel was about to undergo refurbishing.
We would stay at the Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale – 17th Street again if we visited family nearby, but we would request a non-smoking room next time.
