If you’re searching for a hotel for your upcoming cruise from Port Everglades or just need a room near the airport you might be a little wary seeing the Wyndham Garden Lauderdale near the top of your searches. The chain specializes in budget properties and is best know for its Days Inn and Super 8 brands.
There’s a Super 8 very close to this hotel, and after seeing them both nearby most people will appreciate that the Wyndham Garden brand is considerably nicer than the properties at the bottom of the Wyndham portfolio. How much nicer? Let’s take a look.
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I booked the Wyndham Garden Lauderdale for Sunday-Thursday May 8-12 while I take care of business around my home base.
Those nights booked just a few days in advance came to $117.50 per night after tax, which is a good rate for this hotel and this immediate area. Wyndham Garden Lauderdale has an Expedia rating of 8.4. Check the Expedia rates for your dates.
I chose this hotel to maximize a Wyndham promotion offering 15,000 bonus points for a four night stay. That’s enough points to stay at decent property like the La Quinta Plantation 6th St. or the Chateau Mar Golf Resort.
Wyndham Garden Lauderdale Location
Like its neighbors the Hotel Dello and Holiday Inn Express, this hotel is very popular with people seeking easy access to Fort Lauderdale airport and the Port Everglades cruise terminal. This is about as close as you can be to the airport. However, It hasn’t got the feel of being one of many airport hotels in a sea of sprawl like you find in so many cities.
The cruise port is just about a 10 minute drive away on the other side of the airport. The hotel shuttle is $15 per person to Port Everglades with no minimum, and free to the airport. Beach goers can enjoy the less-crowded beach right here in Dania or the more popular beaches at Fort Lauderdale. Hollywood beach is easy to reach too and is a nice option with its own boardwalk. You can reach Miami Beach from here but it’s not nearly as easy to get to.
Broward county transit is actually quite convenient in this location. The #1 bus stops outside the Wyndham Garden Lauderdale and runs up and down Route 1 from the central station in Fort Lauderdale to Aventura Mall. The Mall is on the edge of Miami-Dade County. Riders can transfer there to Miami transit.The Brightline train station is next door to the central bus depot and there’s also a stop near the mall. You can take the bus right to the airport terminal or to the beach to avoid parking fees.
Wyndham Garden Lauderdale Property
This is a nice little city hotel. The front door opens right onto the sidewalk on route 1 but almost everyone arrives and departs out the back door which opens into an attached parking garage. Most guests don’t arrive here with cars so there’s plenty of parking and it’s not monitored or restricted at all.
The lobby is large consisting of nearly all of the ground floor. It was also quite busy during our stay with large groups of cruisers coming, going, and waiting throughout the day.
The gym is about average for a hotel, which is to say not great but fine. The third floor pool is pretty nice but there’s no shade at all unless you’re there just after sunrise.
When we called ahead with a question a woman at the front desk was incredibly rude on the phone with no provocation at all. I hope they force her to work the breakfast, which by the way is not free here. Fortunately her colleagues are nice, normal hotel workers.
Wyndham Garden Lauderdale Guest Rooms
If this room cost twice as much and was in Manhattan I’d think it was the greatest thing on earth and would rush to book it again. Unfortunately You’ve got to bring your A game here in Lauderdale. This room is just okay in a place where much better rooms go for the same rates.
I don’t like adjoining rooms. Some people do enjoy them, but I think it’s safe to say no one would like the desk setup here, which is not a desk but a cafe table with a rickety chair. When seated you stare right at the microwave and desk lamp. You can’t turn that lamp off because it’s 1/3 of all the light in the room. It’s too dim.
I also didn’t care for the chair being built into the wall. A real armchair or chaise would be a big improvement. But I enjoyed the wine-style refrigerator and the storage unit/beverage station in lieu of a closet. Two people could occupy this room comfortably.
About Dania Beach
I’ve been familiar with Dania Beach for several years because it’s home to the AMO Union headquarters and the STAR Center. The city’s position along with neighboring Hollywood in the South Florida conurbation is very convenient. You can reach anywhere from Pompano to Coral Gables easily by car. It’s also a bit overlooked, being overshadowed by the three largest cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and the Palm Beaches.
Dania is very much old-school Florida. There’s a casino with a jai-alai fronton and an OTB. There’s a Publix and another Publix. A beach and fishing pier and a smattering of old school motels you won’t find in online searches. Once you get away from either the beach or Route 1 it’s pure suburbia, with chains and shopping centers and a million houses that look like the one from the Golden Girls.
I like it here so much that it’s become my base of operations. My storage space is here, along with my car storage, mailbox and package delivery, pharmacy, etc. Having three airports nearby and scores of hotels that cater to cruise passengers makes this area extremely convenient as a base for a nomadic lifestyle.
Accessible Suite Upgrade
On a subsequent stay at this hotel I was upgraded to an accessible suite. It wasn’t my favorite suite in the area but it is a true suite with a fully separate bedroom and closing door, making it a great choice for families. It felt a bit under-furnished bit was quite large with plenty of room for a family of four. Above is a video tour of that room.
I don’t really love being in accessible rooms and this one had an issue with water leaking out of the shower with no separation between the shower area and the floor. Sacrificing a towel to mitigate the flow worked well.
The suite had a slightly elevated bed height and probably the largest window I’ve ever sen in a hotel, about 6 feet by 25′ in the bedroom with another large window in the living area.
Bottom Line
15,000 Bonus points for a single stay is a fantastic offer. It’s a perfect example of how you can earn a free night by using free nights. I’m glad I was able to take advantage of it here. If you’re a Wyndham loyalist this property is probably your best bet in the area. You’ll be very happy with it.
If you’re not a Wyndham loyalist, there are better options right nearby. I would only recommend this place if it’s significantly less than the Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt and IHG properties nearby. Check the map and see what current rates are.
