W Fort Lauderdale Hotel: Among the Best South Florida Has to Offer


When you think of epic beach and nightlife scenes, where does your mind instantly draw to? South Florida, of course. Now that we have this luxury hot spot on your mind, let’s go one step further and give you a prime location to visit – the W Fort Lauderdale Hotel.

Since the W Fort Lauderdale Hotel’s new 55-million-dollar renovation, the property incorporates and tantalizes all of your senses from hearing the waves crash in the ocean in a pet-friendly suite, to sights of the vibrant epicenter of the fashionable Fort Lauderdale downtown. Not only is the vibe of the boutique resort beautiful, the design and architectural landscape will have each visitor captivated.

I won’t be shy on my favoritism of the W Hotel chain, whose properties share my initial placed atop all its buildings. Other than the distinctive W logo I am always fond of seeing throughout the property on my visits to their hotels wherever I travel, the interior design, minimalism and serene atmosphere is very much my kind of style. I fell in love with the brand during my first stay at the W Atlanta Perimeter Hotel in 2008. The Fort Lauderdale W Hotel is by far the most remarkable of the franchise I’ve have visited thus far.

The property boasts in accommodating suites and rooms for resort guests, while providing a spectacular sight of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal from the oversized balconies. After soaking in the views, guests can mosey down to the pool deck where they can sit out in the sun or take a dip in the outdoor pool to take a load off from a day of travel and grab a cocktail from the WET Deck which sits five floors above sea level.
Ahead of my visit, my flight from LaGuardia Airport lifted off just two hours ahead of a major snow storm that blanketed New York City. Two and half hours later I found myself in sunny Florida with temperatures in the 80s.

My visit for the grand reveal (whih also happened to be on my birthday) included a star-studded array of guests – Miami’s socialites. They arrived fashionably impressive, mingling in the lobby for photos, cocktails and evening conversation. Blending in with the locals made for a fun time. However, I was warned by one that to get too friendly was a mistake if you’re from out of town. The thing is, locals know that snowbirds eventually go back home so they can be guarded with their friending. All in all, people were very hospitable and made the evening enjoyable.

The evening continued around the outdoor pool on the WET Deck with an exclusive live concert by singer-songwriter Sabrina Claudio. It was quite the treat to stand just feet away from Claudio as she performed her sexy and romantic hit ‘Stand Still’.

After dancing the night away with your friends and loved ones, the next day, you can try one of the few restaurant options on property. You can sit down and have a classic weekend brunch and a toast at Steak 954 and indulge in a prime steak or a variety of flavorful entrées. If that is not tickling your fancy, you can lounge and have a celebratory libation with Mexican flare at El Vez.

Service at the Living Room Sushi Bar was a bit disappointing. I arrived during a change in shift and servers were slow to, well, serve. There were just two on hand and they not only had to tend to the bar but also to guests on the WET Deck above which made taking orders and delivering dishes a challenge for them. The sushi itself did not rank high on my list of favorite sushi bars.

Thanks to VIP passes provided by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Conventions & Visitors Bureau, we took a drift fishing trip aboard a charter boa with Catch My Drift. The charter taxes a scenic trip out to the Atlantic, about three-quarter of a mile off the Miami Beach shore line. Although I didn’t catch any fish, everyone else around me did, some people pulling in 3 or 4 of all sizes. A venture with Catch my Drift includes bait, tackle, licenses rods/reels and coolers with ice and parking at the marina during the trip. The excursion is about 4 hours. Sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended and no experience is necessary. Catch My Drift is located at 301 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Contact Captain Andy at 754.214.7863 or fishingheadquarters.com.


While Summer is coming up quickly, it is time to start thinking about your next getaway. One that should be on the top of your list is the W Fort Lauderdale Hotel. Become one of the locals for a few days and experience all that Marriott and South Florida have in store for you.

To learn more about the W Fort Lauderdale Hotel and Marriott, visit their website at http://www.Marriott.com.