If you’re searching for a hotel for your cruise from Port Everglades or near FLL airport you might be considering the Comfort Suites Ft Lauderdale Airport/Cruise Port in Dania Beach. You might also be a little wary of Choice Hotels properties and wondering if this hotel can justify its price tag. Let’s see if it can.
Where’s the Money? This site may contain affiliate links. Many travel sites include such links to earn a commission at no cost to readers.
I booked this hotel for just a one night stay on Thursday June 12 as part of a longer stay here in South Florida.
Tonight’s rate for a 1-king junior suite was $119.80 after tax. That’s a very low price for this particular hotel, which often approaches or even surpasses $200 a night room rates. It’s often among the most expensive hotels on Route 1 or Stirling Road on any given night. The Comfort Suites Ft Lauderdale Airport/Cruise Port has an Expedia rating of 8.6, so the folks paying that rate seem to like it quite a bit. Check the Expedia rates for your dates.
I chose this hotel because it’s right in the heart of my home base location here in Dania Beach. I’m also taking advantage of a Choice Hotels promotion to earn 8000 bonus points after staying twice. More on maximizing hotel point earnings.
Comfort Suites Ft 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 $1 per person to Port Everglades, 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.
READY TO FLY? Check out Skyscanner’s search tools for the lowest fares worldwide.
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.
Comfort Suites Ft Lauderdale Property
The hotel property here presents as fairly new and well maintained. It’s tidy all around and has a lot of space in the combination lobby and breakfast area. Like all hotels here the breakfast can be quite crowded on embarkation days. Staff was friendly and professional and speaks fluent Spanish.
The pool is pretty nice for an airport hotel but not really stunning. It’s in shade throughout the afternoon as it’s on the east side of the hotel. The fitness center is pretty poor. Only 3 cardio machines and a Smith Machine.
Free parking is appreciated and printing is available in the business center.
Comfort Suites Ft Lauderdale Guest Rooms
This is an all suite hotel and I stayed in one of the smaller 1-king suites, although I don’t think the larger rooms are very much larger. Overall the room feels clean and modern with minimal wear and tear. Bathroom was pretty average without much to say for or against it.
The sofa folds out, so two kids under 12 could fit there easily, but this room might be a bit cramped for a family of four during the day. The desk is fixed in position and you can’t sit on the couch and watch TV while someone is using the desk. Even with the desk vacant, it’s a little awkward having the TV at the foot of the bed, even though it does swivel.
The worst design feature in this room is that the air conditioner blows very cold onto the couch and desk. If you’ve got kids sleeping on the sofabed they’re practically on top of it. I had to baffle it with a towel.
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.
Bottom Line
This is a nice hotel. It looks nice from the outside and everything about the property is just as good as that first impression. If all Choice Hotels properties were this nice they wouldn’t have a reputation as a chain full of fleabag brands. Comfort would be right on par with a Hyatt House or a Holiday Inn Express.
But as nice as this hotel is I don’t think it justifies a premium over similar hotels in the area, and to be honest I preferred the other Comfort Suites in Dania.
That hotel, its neighboring Cambria, and most other hotels in Dania are typically priced below this Comfort Suites. Check the rates carefully because while I like this hotel, I don’t think it justifies any premium.
