Best Fort Lauderdale Resort

I am considering taking a trip to Fort Lauderdale during the first few weeks in March of 2016 (early, I know) and want to start getting an idea of the resorts in the area. Are any of the Wyndham resorts better than the other? I was looking at Palm Aire, possibly the two bedroom presidential unit. Have anyone ever stayed in this unit type before? Any advice for the resorts? I own in Access, so I'm not sure if this unit type is even included in access, especially with the week being in prime season.

Yes, technically, Palm Aire is in Fort Lauderdale .... but it is 6+ miles DUE WEST on Atlantic Ave from the Atlantic Ocean and the waves & beach sand.

The 3 Pompano Beach Wyndham's are either on the ocean or just across the street from the ocean. But they are 6 miles NORTH of the city line for Fort Lauderdale (all in Broward County). If you are looking for the beachfront city life and multiple public dining spots, or walking along the beach and sand ... the energy & activity ... you truly want a Ft Lauderdale destination. Pompano Beach is the suburbs with high rise condos on the beach, with 1960 ranchers crowding up & around the intercoastal waterway and pizza places in strip shopping centers which you need a car to reach.

When I want to be in Ft Lauderdale - I go to the Ft Lauderdale Beach Resort ... trades with RCI Weeks, RCI Points, II, VRI ... 1/2 block off the beach, but there are NO businesses, homes or condos ON the BEACH .... just Ocean Blvd with fulltime lifeguards year round. No rental car needed.

We love Palm Aire for the variance of Suites. We book a 4 BR Presidential every year. A lot of the rooms are modern and there's a great swimming pool. Not next to the ocean but we drive to Sea Gardens, park there and enjoy the ocean. Plus better specials for Palm Aire.

I would listen to Linda's advice. She knows the Florida area pretty well.

Recently, I went to Wyndham Palm Aire in Pompano Beach, FL for a 3 night stay. I am glad it was just 3 nights - let's say I was unimpressed. It is nothing like Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL- where I have an ownership interest.

Check-in was awful and was the worst Wyndham experience I've ever had. Just one woman wearing multiple hats. No staff - just her. She couldn't even find my room right away. It was way past the check-in time and she needed to call over to housekeeping to see if it was ready? Very disorganized and an awful 1st impression. There is a reason why this property is RCI silver crown - and I don't even think it is worth that! Sorry folks - just my opinion.

The location is not too great either. Kind of in the middle of nowhere. They have horse races and a casino across the street. There is Walmart and a strip mall with a Winn Dixie supermarket at the corner.

The pools were average at best. I did not like the crowd at the pools either. Not my thing. Getting a pool towel was sad too - they run out of fresh towels and say sorry to people if you want to exchange yours.

I almost decided to give up my Wyndham time share ownership because of this resort experience. It took almost 1 hour to check-in! My opinion: Use RCI if it brings you a higher quality property. Better to be happy on vacation.

On the plus side, the room was clean, updated and decorated nice. We were lucky to have the washer and dryer in our room. We had a room in the Areca Palms building which was recently renovated. I am so glad for that!

My daughter wanted to go to Ft. Lauderdale and Miami Beach. I would highly recommend listening to Linda and staying over in Ft. Lauderdale (if that is what you are wanting) versus Pompano Beach. I drove 25-30 minutes and took the highway to Ft. Lauderdale. We went to Las Olas Blvd and the beach which were simply wonderful! Miami Beach was almost one hour away.

Ft. Lauderdale is a very different feel compared to the Pompano Beach area. I have not stayed at the other Wyndham properties in Pompano Beach and never drove over to view any of them. I would imagine that the Wyndham's on the beach would be better, but why not stay in Ft. Lauderdale if you can? If I ever went again, I'd stay in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami or Boca Raton.

Cynthia T.

Vacationfuntips said:

I would listen to Linda's advice. She knows the Florida area pretty well.

.....Cynthia T.

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Thanks, Cynthia ... for your review of Palm Aire and its neighborhood. I am sure it was a long 3 night stay. :ignore: Yes, there are enough people who stay at Palm Aire that is always booked full in February and March.

Miami (South Beach) and Ft Lauderdale (the Ocean Drive area) is a hip & upscale area - a city scape with outdoor dining from 7AM breakfast to midnight snacking. The classic movie from the 1960's (Where the Boys Are) is still happening in March - except the crowd goes from 21 to 81. The timeshare resorts welcome all these ages - college students and grandparents' with their extended families. And surprisingly, both groups enjoy their vacations very well together.

My Pompano choice would definitely be Royal Vista if you have to use your Wyndham points. If you are exchanging in then for that city vibe, like Linda said stay at Ft. Lauderdale Beach resort or the Marriott BeachPlace if you can do II.
Lots of night life South beach vibe going on near these two resorts. Only negative is they are not technically on the beach so you gotta schlep your beach chairs and gear a little further than if you stay on the beach side.

If you want something in between sleepy Pompano and rowdy Ft. Lauderdale then try Lauderdale by the Sea. Nice beach, some nightlife and good restaurants. The resorts are older converted motels but a few are on the beach side. I have an upcoming stay at Costa del Sol thru II. Looks like my kind of place. http://www.costadel.com I have also stayed at Native Sun which I like a lot which is on the beach in Lauderdale by the Sea. http://www.nativesunresort.com Free beach chairs, no schlepping your chairs.

And if you are willing to go a little south of Ft. Lauderdale, stay at my home resort Enchanted Isle. http://www.eiresort.com Great beach, great location, and close enough to walk to the Hollywood boardwalk for a little night life. Free beach chairs and friendly staff. Just can't beat it for a laid back beach vacation. Available thru RCI pretty easily. Hidden gem area IMO. :ignore:

On many trips to the Fort Lauderdale area I exchanged into the Silver Seas. Although the rooms are pretty much equivalent to those at a Motel6, I always felt the advantages made this ok. Location is 100 yard North of Marriott Beach Place, Resort is directly across the street from a nice wide beach, nice pool. and most important to me, free street level parking behind the Resort.

George

Vacationfuntips said:

Check-in was awful and was the worst Wyndham experience I've ever had.

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Cynthia is absolutely right here. We had the rudest check-in agent. I called and asked for the manager, and she was great. She had to ask, "How many are in your party/rooms did you book?"

When she found out we had 5 rooms (4-2 BR's and a 4 BR Presidential Suite) she immediately took action. I told her I'm not a VIP or anything, and she asked, "Do you know how many rooms you booked to have to deal with a bad check-in?" Her point was you booked 4 additional rooms for your guests who aren't owners, who now a a negative view of Wyndham.

I was amazed she pulled the lady off the front desk immediately. When we went back 4 months later, same lady at the counter. She recognized me and quickly adjusted her attitude.

We stayed at the Wyndham Santa Barbara a few weeks ago and loved it. The experience reminded me of a small boutique hotel. Staff was wonderful. Enjoyed the pool and used the on-site gas grill. Short walk across the street to enjoy the beach at the Royal Vista. We checked all the Wyndham's in the area and felt that they were just too busy for us to enjoy our vacation time. Even if we took the kids and grandkids we would go back to the Santa Barbara and not even consider the other 3.

Believe this or NOT, Royal Vista has ONLY 6 more units than Santa Barbara ... 90 at Santa Barbara; 96 at Royal Vista.

Very different experiences as for a vacationing stay. Santa Barbara can barely have an open Tiki bar for a couple hours a days during the week (no business) while Royal Vista's Tiki has 2 full time bartenders. SB has a part time activities person and Royal Vista has 2 fulltime people running around.

Royal Vista has a "market" for snacks & food - Santa Barbara has a soda machine (I think it is still there).

I have stayed at Royal Vista and Sea Gardens and like them both. Royal Vista is not included in the Access program for ARP reservations, but you should have no trouble at Sea Gardens for an ARP reservation. I don't have ARP privileges at either one and can generally get the March reservations I want at Sea Gardens at 10 months out. Royal Vista is all on the beach side of the beach highway (Rte. A1A). Sea Gardens is on both sides of the beach highway but the beach units are all studios. The two-bedroom units in the Ocean Palms building are very well-appointed and the ones on the ocean side above the sixth floor have a good view of the ocean. Since you are a Platinum VIP, you can ask for unit 756, 758, 856, 858, 951, 956, 958, 962, 1051, 1056, 1058, or 1062 and put a "Do Not Move" hold on the unit.

If you trade your points into RCI, any timeshare you get is going to require the additional $200 reservation fee which I think is a ripoff. Also, you can "cancel and rebook" at two months out (if you dare!) and get half your reservation points back!

The Tiki bar at Sea Gardens is open from noon to 8PM.

I always stay at Silver Seas.

Older but you can't beat the location.

We stayed at Royal Vista in July of 2013 and the Tiki Bar was closed most of the week we were there because of the weather.

When I have stayed at Santa Barbara, their Tiki bar is almost always CLOSED. To see it open is RARE!

But I have had multiple drinks at the pool area --- it is a short ride up to the unit and its refrigerator ... suits me just FINE!