This is our favorite for pre cruise hotel. I agree with all your points except one: it’s hardly ever really affordable. We pay a premium for this HUGELY convenient hotel. The amount of space you get is fantastic and worth it!
We used to stay at Embassy Suites in Ft Lauderdale but not since the cruising restart after the pandemic. The evening Manager's reception used to be unlimited drinks for the entirety of the reception. In Seattle, the reception was in the banquet facility on an upper floor and limited to 2 drinks as well. It was a zoo. We did as you suggested and went to the lobby bar. It was almost empty and a much better experience. Our experience with the buffet breakfast was similar. After a considerable search for a table we had to get our food in shifts to hold the table. We saw many people taking their breakfast back to their rooms. We are trying the Hyatt Place in Ft Lauderdale for our upcoming cruise from Port Everglades.
We've been staying there for many years because of location. We live in Florida, so we've never chceked out the pool. Agree the hotel is a little dated, the breakfast can be quite a cluster, and we prefer to skip the evening drink reception and go out instead. Front desk staff is great, even though it can get pretty intense with all the people coming and going on Saturday and Sunday. The best part about the hotel is that it's minutes from the port and the main selling point for us is that there are a bunch of bars and restaurants within walking distance, such as Waxy's, Quarterdeck, and Boatyard.
I love the location and the breakfast but I do wish they would put some money into the rooms. We had three people in our suite and the mattress on the fold out bed was gross.
Hi Sheri. I've become more of a fan of Homewood Suites. I stayed in one for a weekend trip and my last cruise with my best friend. The room layout is better at Homewood Suites. Plus the happy hour receptions had to be stopped when the pandemic hit and they never came back to being offered nightly,
Thank you so much for this video! Our cruise hotel of choice for Port Everglades area is Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport and we love it there! For all the ports in FL we have our favorite Marriott hotel.
I have stayed here 3 times and it's my favorite place in Ft. Lauderdale. Love that there is a grocery store in walking distance to buy sandwiches/snacks any items I forgot to pack also there's also a TJ Maxx too!
We stayed back in 2013 and the only issues we had was with the elevators. There were probably 8 ships in port and they only had 2 elevators going. Really loved the high floor with the view of the port. Also liked how everything was nearby.
Leaving on the Sky Princess next week from Port Everglades, pre-cruise stay at the Harbor Beach Marriott. We are Hilton Honors and Bonvoy. We will check out Embassy Suites next time we are sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale - Thanks for the information.
Always stay there when departing from Fort Lauderdale. The breakfast is great, and the pool is fine. Within walking distance, you can shop for toiletries or any last minute things you need. The carpet, curtains and bedding really need updated.
Interesting. I've stayed here many times, and each time I am more disappointed than the last time. At least when we've stayed, it's always been packed with cruisers so much so that breakfast is a total madhouse. The last time we stayed there, we even went off-property for breakfast (giving up a freebee) because it was so out of control. We've finally settled on the Hilton Garden Inn. it is also not perfect, but we like the restaurants that are near by. (Much better than the restaurants near Embassy Suites).
We stayed there in January. You hit all the highs and lows. However I will disagree on value. Our night stay came to $494 which I felt was quite high for this hotel.
So funny, we originally had a booking there once, and when we got there, we thought it was completely run down. We quickly switched to the Renaissance, just down the street. PS. Next time you are in FT. Lauderdale, you must go to the 15th Street Fishery for lunch/dinner. We absolutely LOVE it.
I checked in, got to my room , turned around and to checked out. Room was filthy, furniture had tears, and dirty dishes by the door. At that time it was independently owned under the name of Embassy Suites. HORRIBLE. So many other places to stay.
This hidden gem in Ft. Lauderdale is our goto as well. Loved the review as it what we found as well. The pool area is so great. Thanks for the honest and real review.
According to things I've read online and recent guests at this hotel, they are doing room renovations that are due to be finished by November. I'm hoping they stay on schedule as due to the renovations in progress, I've decided to try it in February next year. Thanks for the review! :-)
My husband and I have stayed there before cruising and we think the location is the best thing about it. The hotel could really use a refresh because it is really showing it's age.
I've stayed at 3 Embassy Suites, and while I liked the hotels, the food/drinks included, I thought the beds were so-so. I prefer them if I don't have a long drive the next day. $200 per night in points during the eclipse in San Antonio next April, booked a year out, Embassy Suites is getting my business for that!
The Embassy Suites was fine for us. I like the large room when you've got a lot of luggage, especially if you like to rearrange your bags between flying in and getting on the boat. The lobby was completely chaos for getting to the cruise terminal. It wasn't unbearable but it wasn't something I had planned for, so I'll keep that in mind if we cruise out of that location again. I've also stayed at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina that's almost directly north from the ships. There is far less to walk to nearby (no Publix) but the views are amazing and there's a water taxi stop right there. If you like to watch boats in the marina, it's a really fun location.
We had a bad experience, the room was dirty, we had to beg for bath towels. The night snack was carrots and celery. Breakfast was so slow not enough staff. The taxi was much cheaper than their shuttle. We will find a new hotel for next time a shame cause we love embassy suites
We've stayed at the Embassy Suites on 17th Street for the past 4 or 5 cruises. It is dated, no doubt, but it is clean, convenient, and is in a great location. Publix is right behind them along with TJ Maxx and total wines close by.
Hey Sheri, must admit I got a giggle when you said a long travel day. Melbourne Australia to Miami is about 24 hours flying time with stop overs. Need to book a good hotel after our flight. Do the same rules apply? Your awesome vlogs are viewed world wide. Cheers Matt
Oh wow! That is INDEED a long travel day! Yes, same rules, but we have a whole article coming soon on good FLL area hotels if you want to see more options! Maybe some by the beach! appreciate you, Matt!
My wife and I go to a conference every year at an Embassy Suites outside of Nashville. Sheri, your review would have fit the one we go to in Murfreesboro exactly. Very comfortable, same amenities and same buffet and drinks aspects. The one we stay at in Murfreesboro is looking a little outdated as well. Very clean, but starting to look a little worn in rooms and common areas. I wonder if the outdated issue is reflected of Embassy Suites as a whole and not just the Ft. Lauderdale location. Overall, however, my wife and I LOVE Embassy Suites and will be staying at this one when we depart out of Ft. Lauderdale next year. Thanks for making us aware of this hotel!
It may be! Thanks so much for weighing in on this! I love these properties because of the big rooms, and its comforting when you know there is one in a city you're visiting!
Thank you so much for this video! I am booked to stay at this hotel in July before our Disney cruise! The biggest draw for me to book this was the pool. My daughter loves to swim and most of the other airport hotels had small, wimpy pools! You had some great info, thank you!
Stayed here before a cruise in 2022. The social hour....I agree was chaos. There is a great Japanese restaurant in the same strip mall with Publix. The TJ Max in the same strip mall came in clutch. Pool area is amazing! Agree with being dated. I frequent Embassy Suites it a great value with the social hour and breakfast..used to be top class..lately not so much😢 for 2024 I suggested to my husband we try other options. Had a bad stay at the ES close to the port in New Orleans July 2023 as well. So sad I used to love love ES!
They are starting room renovations! They desperately need redone. Toilets are very low! Rooms are huge! There is also a Whole Foods about 2 blocks west on 17th street. You can go out on balconies by elevators on east side upper floors to get better views of ships.
We have stayed there probably a dozen times over the years (and eaten at that Outback many times too) but we decided that our last stay in January 2020 was it for us until they do a major rehab. It was looking pretty shabby back then. Plus unlike yesteryear, there are now other equally good newer options in that area. And yes while the breakfast is comp, it was a total mad house. We too have noticed as well that many Hilton properties no longer have any in room dining service. Some of the higher end Hilton properties still do thankfully but I think with the popularity meal delivery services, room service and even some dining venues are just going by the wayside, especially in all suite hotels.
We stayed there a few years ago and it was very convenient. We went to the grocery store as well and got protein shakes and snacks to take on the cruise! Love this hotel.
