Review - Home2Suites Ft. Lauderdale

Great hotel, perfect for a "night before the cruise" stay!

Overview
As we've discussed before, flying in the day before a cruise is a very good idea. If you're anything like us you want that night before to be affordable, but still feel like you're on vacation. This can be a tough balance, but if you're cruising out of Port Everglades in the Ft. Lauderdale area the Home2Suites by Hilton might just be the perfect property for you!

Our requirements for a night before stay include a pool, breakfast in the morning, and both an airport and cruise port shuttle. We're of course also looking for a clean, safe property at a good price, preferably under $150. Jesse spent a good deal of time researching this part of our trip and found the brand new Home2Suites to be our best option. This is a newer brand of Hilton properties that caters to the more stylish extended stay traveler. Their rooms are all suites, so they also have great appeal for families as well. Being a party of 4 for this portion of our trip, we fell into the family travel group and this property was exactly what we needed!

Shuttle Service 
After landing at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport and claiming all of our luggage we headed outside to the designated shuttle waiting area. We found a spot and Jesse called the hotel to request the shuttle. The front desk transferred the call to the driver's line and Jesse left him a voicemail (we presume he was driving). We waited for about 15 minutes and then spotted the Home2Suites shuttle. We boarded with a few other passengers and were on our way. In total the wait and loading of luggage took about 20 minutes, which was just fine with us since we saw Venus Williams while waiting! She had her dog with her and was taller than we realized. We didn't want to bother her for a selfie, but just seeing her was an exciting start to our vacation!

Check-In
After a quick 10 minute ride we arrived at the hotel. The hotel is located just off a main road, behind another hotel. There is a gas fire pit and comfy outdoor furniture in the front, giving a modern impression right off the bat. Inside, the lobby continues with the same modern, comfortable atmosphere. We arrived at around noon time and we able to get into our room right away. We were also gifted a small bag at check-in with a bottle of water and a bag of cheeze-its, for being a Hilton Honors member.

We inquired about the morning shuttle to the cruise port and the very helpful front desk attendant suggested that we use a taxi service instead. She informed us that the cruise port shuttle through the hotel is $10 per person, but a taxi for 4 people is only $23 total. We were happy to take her suggestion and she called and arranged the taxi for us. The taxi was there on time the next morning (actually, he was early!) and the very friendly driver got us to the port comfortably and on time.

We were very happy with the service we received at check-in and throughout our stay.

The Room
After saving some money at check-in we headed up to our room on the 6th floor. Our room was spotless and large. We booked a room with 2 queen beds and a pull-out sofa. The room also had a kitchenette with full-sized fridge, microwave, sink, dishwasher and kitchenware. There were electric burners available for free use through the front desk, but we didn't need those for our one night stay.

We loved this suite! Perfect for families.

We've stayed in many a "2 queen bed with a sofa-bed" suite before, but the design and style of this one was unmatched. Instead of a typical closet near the entry to the room and bathroom, this suite had a built-in that functioned as a closet at the other end of the room. This freed up space near the entry and made the room feel larger. Also, between the pull-out and the beds there was a curtain that could be pulled closed for privacy or left open for an airier feeling. This particular feature was super convenient when you had 4 people needing to change into bathing suits to head down to the pool!

Everything in the room, from the carpet to the hard-surface counter tops to the bedding to the bathroom, felt fresh and modern. It was also comfortable and spacious - perfect for a multi-generational family of 4.

The Amenities 
Checking-in at noon left us with an entire afternoon to have fun, so our first stop was the pool. The pool at the Home2Suites would be your standard outdoor hotel pool, if not for the waterfall and covered patio area. The patio area added privacy from the parking lot beyond and the waterfall added flare and a relaxing sound track. The furnishings in the pool area continue the modern theme, complete with bright colors and, on the patio just adjacent to the pool, comfy cushions.

We didn't have a car, so we were limited to restaurants within walking distance. For lunch we walked over to Mr. M's Sandwich Shop. They had everything you'd expect from a sandwich shop and we were very happy with our order. The walk took about 3-4 minutes and we didn't have to cross the busy road, which was nice.

For dinner we did cross busy Stirling Road and we were very glad we did! We had one of the best meals we've ever had at Las Vegas Cuban. The food was authentic, the portions were huge, and the prices were reasonable. The service was excellent as well, the waitress even hugged us as we left! We can't recommend this place enough. In addition to this restaurant, there were fast food options such as Burger King, Chipotle, and McDonald's within walking distance as well.

After dinner and one more dip in the pool, Jesse and I put my mom and our 15 year old son to bed and headed out front to the fire pit for a few minutes to wind down by ourselves. If the hotel staff found it odd that guests requested the fire pit be turned on in South Florida in August they sure didn't show it. The fire pit area was comfy and private, with just the security guard and an occasional guest passing through. It was a nice way to end a busy travel day.

In the morning we used the fitness area and had plenty of space (and the right equipment) for a good workout. In terms of cardio equipment they have bikes, treadmills and an elliptical machine. They also have free weights and a weight machine with multiple uses and attachments (anyone know what these wonder machines are called?). They only had one yoga mat for our ab work, but for some reason that seems to happen often at hotels and on cruise ships.

After showering and packing up, we were ready to grab some breakfast and get to the cruise port. Breakfast featured hot and cold options, make your own waffles, coffee, and a few juice options. Jesse and I heated up 2 of the frozen egg, veggie and meat bowls and they were delicious. The rest of the family had fresh fruit and cereal. The staff were very on top of things, bringing out more items as guests finished them. Despite a lot of people eating at once, the area stayed clean and well-stocked. With the patio area out front, there was enough seating for everyone to be able to enjoy their breakfast.

Summary
This hotel was the perfect blend of convenience, affordability and stylish amenities for a "night before the cruise" stay. The service was excellent, the facilities clean and modern, and the waterfall pool was a great bonus for our family. We highly recommend this to anyone traveling through the Ft. Lauderdale area. As always, we're happy to help you find rates and availability for your own stay.