33316 Travel Guide
Hotel Restaurants / Sheraton Hotels / Dos Caminos / Fort Lauderdale Hotels / → All Tags
Dos Caminos Brings Its Guacamole to Fort Lauderdale...in the Sheraton?
We guess stranger things have happened but we're still perplexed as to why one of our favorite Mexican eateries, Dos Caminos, chose the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale (formerly the Yankee Clipper) to open their fourth restaurant (the other three are in New York and Vegas.)
Located off the lobby of the hotel and right below the hotel's iconic, uh, hull, Dos Caminos is a fairly large and seductive space that serves blueberry pomegranate margaritas, freshly made guacamole and super savory fish tacos. And the Mexico City Street Corn on the cob, topped with mayo, lime, chile, and cotija cheese, may change your life. There's an outdoor patio too, perfect for warm breezy nights.
But this is not like the other Dos Caminos. First, it's in Fort Lauderdale, home to aging Spring Breakers. You can put on a tight dress and high heels if you like but most people will be wearing only slightly fancier versions of their beach attire.
Hotel Renovations / Fort Lauderdale Hotels / Sheraton Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags
Fort Lauderdale's Sheraton Yankee Clipper Re-Opens This Friday
Just in time for the Super Bowl, Fort Lauderdale gets a jazzed-up new version of an old classic, the hotel formerly known as the Sheraton Yankee Clipper Beach Resort. As of this Friday, the ship-shaped hotel will be known as the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel.
Sadly, there are no rooms available for Super Bowl weekend, but presumably a batch of NFL execs or cashed-up football fans will get to watch the game on the new flat-screens, sleep on the new Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds, and swim in the new pool, which is double the size of the old one.
W Hotels / Fort Lauderdale Hotels / Hotel Packages / → All Tags
The W Fort Lauderale Wants You To Visit Their Water Wonderland
The W Fort Lauderdale's Terrace Bar
Yes, summer in Florida is sticky and sweaty. But the still-new W Fort Lauderdale is trying to woo you down to the Sunshine State with its “W Presents Wonder on the Water” promotion.
According to the hotel’s website, here’s what you get:
· VIP Living Room table with two Coastal-politans
· W beach towel, two lounge chairs & an umbrella on the beach
· Bliss® Hot Cream Manicure $25
· Chef-guided kitchen tour with wine at Stephen Starr’s signature restaurant
· Unbelievable room upgrade!
Hotel Deals / Marriott Hotels / Bill Marriott / Fort Lauderdale Hotels / → All Tags
Sleep Where Bill Marriott Slept and Get the Third Night Free
We know that Bill Marriott and his wife like to spend half of January at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, but could that rate-free stay be affecting the hotel's business?
Why else would they try to lure guests with one of those "stay two nights, get the third night free" promotions, as well as one of those increasingly popular recession drink specials at the hotel's restaurants? Oh yeah. Maybe it has nothing to do with Bill and everything to do with the downturn in the economy.
Whatever the reason, it works in guests' favor. Through April 1, you can save up to 33 percent with the buy two, get one free promotion (rates start at $369 per night) and through March 31, get 50 percent off drinks at the resort's three restaurants.
Mr. Marriott, might we suggest similar deal-inducing extended stays chain-wide? You may be aware of how this country is in a bit of a recession? Of course you are. We know marketing didn't come up with that drink special all by themselves.
To secure the deal, call 800-222-6543 or book online using promo code B4F. For the recession drink special, just saunter up to the bar and ask.
Marriott Hotels / Room Service / Hotel Packages / National Ice Cream Month / → All Tags
Did You Know It's National Ice Cream Month? The Habor Beach Marriott in Florida Did
We've been under some rock and failed to realize that July is National Ice Cream Month--how distressing since we're half way through the month already. They were in the know at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, though, and have an ice cream special happening until the end of July, so there's still time to indulge your ice cream passion.
The Harbor Beach Marriott special is all about ice cream sundae toppings and you get free, unlimited toppings during July when you use their in-room ice cream sundae service (it's called the "Living Room Ice Creamery program"!).
Hotel Bars / Hotel Cocktails / Hotel Services / Marriott Hotels / Concierges / → All Tags
Introducing the Cocktail Concierge
Move over shopping and nightlife concierges. The newest kid on the block is the Cocktail Concierge and you can find him or her at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
Newly-appointed cocktail concierges mix up martinis (shaken or stirred), muddle mojitos and craft any number of guests' favorite libations and tropical beverages in the comfort of one's seaside guest room.
The service is available in your room from 11:30am to 1am. You can even use these cocktail concierges (who come equipped with their own Cocktail Cart) to help you pair a wine or beer with your room service meal. Try one of the signature cocktails, the Living Room Martini.
Room rates start at $299 a night and there's a standard 20 percent service charge to the drinks but hey, you'll have no problem getting the bartender's attention.
Have you stayed at the Harbor Beach Marriott? Let us know what it was like in comments below.
Hilton Hotels / Hotel Restaurants / → All Tags
China Grill Opens at the Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel; Rooms Still $199 a Night
The China Grill at the Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel & Yacht Club has officially opened, which means introductory rates of $199 are no longer supposed to be available, although the hotel's web site tells us otherwise. The restaurant recently opened its doors and is now providing all in-room dining for the hotel.
The location is a first for China Grill in that it's located on the water, offering 64 sunshine-filled seats. (Not to mention it's inside of a Hilton Hotel!) Other dining options include The G, a lunchtime lounge overlooking the resort's 33-slip inlet marina and pool area, and Antea, in the hotel's waterfront lobby, serving small bites and cocktails.
Our suggestion is to book a room before the property realizes it needs to update its web site. Hurry, go quickly!
Hotel Opening Rates / Fort Lauderdale Hotels / Hilton Hotels / Hotel Restaurants / Business Travel Hotels / → All Tags
Hotel Re-Opening Rate :: $199 at the Fort Lauderdale Grande
Barring any last-minute delays (of which there have been a few of lately), the Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel and Yacht Club should unveil its new makeover on Monday.
While the hotel is close to the Florida Convention Center and thus gets a lot of spillover business, it's also parked on the intracoastal, giving guests great water views. And the hotel has a 33-slip marina meaning you can just boat your way down to Ft. Lauderdale instead of driving on 95 or chancing it on JetBlue. (Although we doubt your boat is as big as the ones in the pic above.)
The hotel offers five categories of rooms, two types of suites and the presidential suite. The starting room, called The Fort Lauderdale Room, is about 312-sg.ft. with floor-to-ceiling windows and a full balcony. All rooms have mosaic-tiled baths, flat screen TVs and spacious work desks. That last bit alerts us to the fact that a lot of biz travelers probably will stay here.
But the hotel is not all business. When you kick it by the pool, the hotel has a Poolside Ambassador on hand to "provide you with an invigorating Eucalyptus towel or fresh Evian spray." There's also a poolside lounge and restaurant and the hotel will try to set up any leisure activities like water sports or golf.
Introductory rates start at $199 and our source says that will continue until the China Grill Restaurant opens. Yes, that China Grill brand. Also, the Fort Lauderdale Grande is part of Hilton Hotels so you might be able to use your HHonors points here.
If you stay at the Fort Lauderdale Grande, let us know how the renovations look.
Hotel Deals / Hotel Packages / Mancations / → All Tags
Mancation Alert: Marriott Harbor Beach Resort's Fishing Bonding Trip
The Mancation trend is alive and well at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Ft. Lauderdale, which has the latest tempting deal for the male species: The Fishing Mancation Package.
The guys getaway includes a two night stay, an chartered offshore fishing expedition,complete with "saltwater-savvy captain," equipment and lunch. The hotel's executive chef Dean Max will also cook any of your fresh catch of the day upon your return at the hotel's 3030 Ocean restaurant.
Of course, no Mancation would be complete without a bucket of beer upon arrival or an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. It also includes transportation to the IGFA Fishing Museum and Hall of Fame Outdoor World.
At $725 a person, er man, this mancation will totally be approved by the women in their lives as it doesn't involve nightclubs, exotic dancers or shots of tequila. But we're sure you'll find a way to incorporate those somehow.
Image via DaveMorin/Flickr
Related Stories:
· Marriott Harbor Beach Resort Reviews [TripAdvisor]
Hotels / → All Tags
Doubletree Ft Lauderdale, is it *that* bad?
(Editor's Note: Gabe, our SoFlo bachelor, is back with his take on the Doubletree Ft. Lauderdale. We broke this into two stories. Remember, as always this is only one persons opinion, but in this case it is Gabe's, so take it with maybe half a grain of salt. This story, and top five reasons to stay at the Doubletree Ft. Lauderdale are the two stories. Enjoy.)
I was quite shocked to find extremely negative reviews posted about this place on the web. From the exterior, the DoubleTree, gives off the impression of being impressively ritzy.
Hotels / → All Tags
Top Five Reasons to stay at the Doubletree Ft. Lauderdale
Top Five Reasons To Stay at the DoubleTree Ocean Front in Fort Lauderdale
· Silky toilet paper
· Young women in bikinis
· Location, location, location
· Lisa
· Moist chocolate chip cookies
Explanations, and photos of all reasons, after the jump, click on the photos for larger images.
