If you’re searching for a Broward County hotel for your cruise embarkation or want a place near the airport The Sleep Inn Ft Lauderdale Airport might not be at the top of your list. But if the budget is really tight it’s worth a closer look. That’s what we’re here for today.
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I booked this hotel last minute for a Friday and Saturday June 13-14 as part of a longer stay here in Florida. Sleep Inn Ft Lauderdale is consistently among the lowest priced properties in the area which are part of a major chain. There’s an old-school Florida motel nearby in Hollywood which recently lost its Rodeway Inn flag, making this property even more of a standout if getting a rock bottom price is your top priority.
This stay came in at $111.32 after tax per night. The exact room rates were $109. 01 for Friday and $88.02 for Saturday. I’ve seen this hotel as low as $79 and it’s often under $100. Booking here could save you half compared to some other airport hotels. Sleep Inn Ft Lauderdale Airport has an Expedia rating of 7.6. Check the Expedia rates for your dates.
I chose this hotel partly because I wanted to do recon and see how viable it is for times when hotel prices spike. I’m also taking advantage of a Choice promotion that awards 8000 bonus points after two stays. More at the link about earning hotel points quickly and maximizing hotel promotions.
Sleep Inn Ft Lauderdale Location
At 2.5 miles from FLL this property is just barely close enough to be considered an airport hotel. But it does feature a free shuttle so getting there is really not bad. If you compare that to a $25 or $30 Uber ride it adds even more value to to an already economical stay.
There’s no cruise port shuttle here, but it’s still worth considering if you’re cruising on a budget. A small family or couple can take an Uber while larger groups can book a transfer service with a passenger van. If your group needs 8 rooms and you’re saving $60 per room-night by staying here over another hotel, which chargers $15 per person for their cruise shuttle, that’s $600 you have to play with in your budget. Cruise transfers start around $75, so that’s a significant savings.
Sleep Inn Ft Lauderdale airport has a nice location bordering the city of Hollywood and close to the Hollywood boardwalk and beach. There’s a Walgreens and a Walmart Neighborhood Market next door, along with a Chinese restaurant and a Latin bakery. There’s a liquor store in the same plaza as well for added convenience.
Sleep Inn Ft Lauderdale Property
This is kind of a basic garden hotel, which you’d expect at this price point. But it’s really very well maintained and doesn’t give the impression of being shabby or shady at all. The facilities, parking lot, landscaping… everything here is top notch and you can tell ownership really knows what they’re doing.
Free breakfast adds additional value to the stay, although it’s continental and the only hot item is waffles. Not a bad tradeoff for keeping rates low and the bakery next door is a good option.
The fitness center here is not really useable, being just one treadmill, one bike and some weights. It’s very small. The pool is also small, being the size of a typical Florida backyard pool, but again it’s very well maintained and in the Sun throughout the afternoon. The plants and palm trees that buffer it from the parking lot make it a pleasant place to sit and if you’ve got kids they’ll enjoy the pool.
Sleep Inn Ft Lauderdale Guest Rooms
There’s no getting around that the rooms here are of the budget variety. Furniture is generic and shows obvious wear and tear. Fixtures and the TV are really showing their age at this point. Pillows range from okay to poor. Air quality is a little musty but you get used to it after a few minutes in the room. It’s not the worst I’ve seen by far.
Bed was very soft and the mattress looked pretty good while passing a bedbug check. Bathroom is very functional with no complaints. Cleaning is only provided upon request, but most guests here are making short stays so it’s not really an issue. I have to add that on close inspection the laminate floor could be cleaned more thoroughly. They weren’t dirty but they weren’t pristine either. I’m not usually weird about being barefoot in a hotel but you’re going to want slippers or flip flops handy staying here.
The only seating is the desk chair. Overall this room is decent for one person and a couple could manage it, particularly a young couple.
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.
Check the Competition: See All South Florida Hotel Reviews
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
The Sleep Inn Ft Lauderdale Airport is about as good as a hotel can be in this price range. Nothing’s going to be perfect and some moderate wear and tear in the room is a fine tradeoff for keeping rates low in an otherwise very pleasant hotel with a good location.
If you’re used to Hiltons and Marriotts this probably isn’t the place for you. But if you’re traveling on a tight budget or cruising with a large group and looking to manage total cost this is a very viable option.
It’s not going to be near the top of the list for me going forward, even during Choice Hotels promotions, but it’s great to know that it’s a viable option when prices are temporarily inflated. Check the rates for your dates and keep this place in mind to save some money.
