If you’re searching for a Fort Lauderdale hotel in the mid to high end range you’re probably looking for something on the beach. Most off-beach options are at budget brands such as those covered extensively by this site. But the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina is a bit of a Goldilocks property. It’s got a luxury feel but being on the ICW instead of the beach means prices can be approachable here. Should you approach? Let’s take a look.
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I booked this hotel for one night on Saturday August 9 while passing through Fort Lauderdale after arriving in the US from Colombia.
That night came to $136.96 after tax and including the resort fee ($30/night). This stay triggered the quarterly credit on my Hilton Surpass card (review), making my total cost only $86.96. The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina has an Expedia rating of 7.8 from 1552 reviews. Check the Expedia rates for your dates.
It’s important to note that 7.8 is an exceptionally low review score for a property of this type. Many reviewers are (justifiably) unhappy about the parking and resort fees and lowered their scores because of it. So the number is not reflective of the overall quality of the property, which is high.
I chose this hotel because for a last minute booking because even the full price was less expensive than most of the Hamptons, Tru’s and Home2’s in Broward County. Staying in Lauderdale as often as I do, I know where I can park for a night to save on the $59 parking fee.
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina Location
For cruisers this is as close as you can get to Port Everglades. As a seaman there are times when I’ve walked out of the port and to the bar in this hotel after watch. It’s likewise close to the airport but the shuttle to FLL from the hotel incurs an extra charge.
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A highlight of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina is the free shuttle to the beach, which runs daily at 9:00. 1:00 and 3:00. You can also take the water taxi to the beach, as there’s a stop on the hotel property.
With lots of shops and restaurants on 17th Street this is a great location for both cruisers and beach goers. Unfortunately with the parking fee it’s not so great if you’re coming with a car.
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina Property
The hotel is quite large and covers a lot of acreage on the ICW. There’s a restaurant and breakfast service on the second floor, and many large meeting rooms/ballrooms for events. The onsite marina primarily serves people arriving to the hotel by boat.
The highlight of the property is the resort pool, which is surrounded by various wings of the hotel and features a bar and lots of loungers. It’s one of the nicer hotel pools I’ve seen anywhere.
As a silver lining I received a $20 property credit here (not related to the above complaint). I’m not sure why I got that but when combined with the $15 Diamond food and beverage credit it was just about enough to cover the cost of breakfast, so I ate on property. The breakfast is a buffet but it features restaurant seating and service. It’s a very good meal but at $35 I wouldn’t be doing it daily.
Hilton fort Lauderdale Marina Guest Rooms
The room I received here was an upgrade of some sort and faced the ICW with a view of the bridge and a balcony outside.
It really felt more like a luxury condo than a hotel room and with the addition of a kitchenette I’d live in this room happily. Everything was spacious, elegant and comfortable.
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It should be noted that there’s no desk in the room. Most guests won’t miss it because the table features one chair for dining and one that’s more of an office chair. You can easily work at the table. I was also very glad I chose a first floor room in advance in the Hilton app. The property is so large that it can take quite a long time to go from the lobby to your room, and eliminating an elevator ride saves a lot of that time. Being on the first floor also means you’re never too far from the pool no matter which building you’re staying in.
I subsequently stayed in a regular 1-King room and found it very similar to the one reviewed here. The main difference being it’s a bit smaller and has only 1 chair at the table.
About Harbordale
The 17th Street Causeway features a major bridge over the ICW to the beach. Indeed, the bridge is right outside the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. So it gets quite a bit of car traffic throughout the day.
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If you’re going on foot the amenities nearby are walkable but it can be quite hot to walk very far in the sun on the causeway. If you do walk you’ll find mostly shopping centers and plenty of restaurants to choose from. Between Primo’s and Laspada’s this is a hot spot for hoagies and anyone staying here should try both.
Groceries and shopping round out the offerings here. You could easily stay a week in Lauderdale and not go any further than the beach and the Causeway.
Bottom Line
This is a very nice hotel and as a vacation traveler or cruiser would be my first choice in Fort Lauderdale.
The level of quality provided by a flagship Hilton can be expensive and this hotel can go for $300-400 a night at the busier times. However I’ve often seen rates in the $140-150 range as well, even on weekends.
The room rate I got for this stay was exceptionally low. Adding $30 or $89 a night in fees really adds up quickly and can become a dealbreaker. But if the total cost is under $200 a night this hotel is worth spending more on than its non-beach competition like the Crowne Plaza or Marriott.
Check the rates for your dates and see if you can make it work.
