We really enjoyed Sea Gardens--so much so that we have subsequently purchased a fixed week (resale of course)! There are five distinct areas--as mentioned, the studio units on the ocean side of the road, and then on the other side is the Cabanas section (converted motel units), Waterfalls (very nice!) Ocean Palms (newer high-rise, also very nice, where we bought) and off to the side, the Key West units. There are four pools and three hot tubs. They have one of the best and most fun activity programs we have ever experienced . If you have a choice of units, I would avoid the Cabanas- they have been nicely renovated inside but still, it's a motel conversion where they combined two rooms into one unit. I understand they have substantially rehabbed the Cabanas after Hurricane Wilma (our stay was right before the hurricane hit). We stayed in a Cabanas unit and enjoyed it but our friends' unit at Waterfalls was much nicer.
When we pulled up to the Sea Gardens the first time we were sure we were going to hate it--very dated entrance, and it just looks like a faded old motel at the front. But once you walk through the entrance area, the pool and waterfalls landscaping backed by the Ocean Palms building gives you a nice resort feeling.
As mentioned, the studio units are the only ones with an ocean view. You have to cross the road to get from the other buildings to the beach.
The resort isn't far from Fort Lauderdale airport. We rented a car and were glad we did because we liked driving around. We did meet some folks there who had taken a taxi from the airport (it's not that far) and were using the local bus system for transportation. We prefer the convenience of a car and there is ample free parking. If you don't like to drive you can still enjoy a lot of things directly through the resort--at the time we were there they offered airboat tours of the Everglades, a party cruise and many other activities where transportation was included (all for a fee of course).
There is a small cafe-type restaurant with limited hours onsite, and tons of restaurants in the area. Lots of options for delivery if you don't want to drive. They provided some really helpful restaurant guides when you check-in -- or I should say after you check-in and endure the bogus parking pass run-around where they try to sign you up for a "tour" or "update." One of the restaurants we found in the guide was called Catfish Dewey's- we had a great all-you-can-eat crablegs meal there!
You'll have a great time at Sea Gardens.
