If you’re searching for a hotel near FLL or Port Everglades the La Quinta Ft Lauderdale Airport may not be the most obvious choice. I’ve been staying in hotels in this area for two years and still haven’t booked it until now despite being very budget conscious. Was it worth the wait? Let’s find out.
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I booked this hotel for 7 nights from February 16-23. I’m in the process of buying a condo here and needed a longer stay while I wait for the closing date.
Award nights here are available at all times for 15,000 Wyndham Rewards points. I redeemed 105,000 total for this stay. Those nights would have averaged $248.57 each after tax at the time of booking, making the average value $0.0167 per point. The La Quinta Ft Lauderdale Airport has a Tripadvisor rating of 3.9/5 from 1539 reviews.
I chose this hotel because it’s the height of tourist season and prices are through the roof everywhere. Booking with Wyndham Rewards points was a very economical option and this is the best location for me at 15k/night.
La Quinta Ft Lauderdale Airport Location
This property is about as far as you can get from the airport and still be considered an airport hotel. It’s right on the line between Hollywood and Dania Beach and not very close to Port Everglades.
La Quinta Ft Lauderdale Airport is tucked in behind a large collection of suburban shopping centers. You’re only going to enjoy this location if you’ve got a car. The property’s airport shuttle or Uber are options during a short stay, but walking or transit would be a significant hassle from here.
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The upside is that the property fronts a large scenic lake and is surrounded by a canal on the back side. It feels very tucked-away and tropical despite being right in the middle of suburbia and near I-95.
La Quinta Ft Lauderdale Airport Property
Right away you get the impression that this property started its life as a much nicer hotel brand. It’s not hard to envision a time when the breakfast area was a full restaurant and people came to spend their whole vacation here, not just crash before a cruise.
The pool here is the nicest you’ll find at this price point. There’s plenty of seating and a broad view of the lake. There’s also separate tables and lounging areas at the lakeside. It’s a great amenity that a lot of guests used during my stay. Unfortunately pool maintenance was a bit deficient. It looked fine but had a lot of leaves in it and should be vacuumed daily. The hot tub didn’t look particularly fresh or inviting. Young kids probably won’t care about swimming with leaves but as an adult it’s a bit of a disappointment.
Aside from that the property is fine, but due for a refresh. Everything here gives the impression of being very old, although well maintained. The breakfast is bad. They have cereal and decent coffee, at least.
La Quinta Ft Lauderdale Airport Guest Rooms
Rooms here are likewise old and in need of a refresh. But they’ve got good bones. I liked my room quite a lot. The level of wear and tear was acceptable for the age of the furnishings and the bed was comfortable.
I particularly liked the layout which has a small apartment feel not found in most single king rooms. An update would make it feel like a luxury property. The fold out sofa was old and worn but very comfortable to sit on and the ottoman was great to have.
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If you’re traveling with family you can put two adults and a kid in this room but two kids would definitely be too crowded here.
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.
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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 hotel worked great for me during this particular stay. I was thrilled to be able to book a whole week on points and save more than $1000. But I’m not the typical cruise passenger or Spring Breaker. It’s not going to impress most visitors.
I liked this hotel better than other area La Quintas and better than the comparable Sleep Inn on Sheridan Road. However the Sleep Inn has a supermarket and some restaurants very close to it. If you’re redeeming Wyndham points or on a very tight budget this is a good option.
But if you’re on a family vacation or making an airport transit you’re probably going to want something a bit nicer and better located.
