I go to Fort Lauderdale a couple times a year and always stay at the Elysium, but decided this time to go somewhere quieter. Based on the reviews from this site, I chose the Coral Reef.

All in all, I was very pleased with my choice. And the ways in which I wasn't pleased generally had to do with wishing I was someplace a little more festive. I can hardly blame the resort for that.

It's a very nicely kept, clean, quiet resort with terrific, friendly help. Wayne and Harry were, hands down, the most accomodating hosts I have ever met at such a resort. They really knew how to make me feel comfortable and at home without being intrusive.

The highlights: A friend of the owners has a yacht and on one of the days he took it out and we were all invited to come along. I didn't go (I was in the midst of a nice nap when they left) but it was nice to be invited and everyone said they had a good time.

One day I took a bike (they have two and they're in pretty good shape) to the beach. It was about a two mile ride and it was a really nice way to get around.

It's really nice that they have a communal refrigerator with drinks and some snacks. Many resorts have soda machines, and it's nice not to be nickeled and dimed to death when you want a water or a soda, or even a beer! Their breakfast, unlike some other resorts nearby, includes a bowl of fruit salad nicely prepared each morning.

The people were varied in age and were from all over: Canada, Scotland, different parts of the U.S.

Now for the (slight) negatives. The hot tub and pool are connected and they seem to think the hot tub will work as a heater for the pool. Not so much. It was quite brisk and on 75 degree days it was a bit too cold to swim for my taste. Also, I asked upon checking in if they were sold out for the weekend, and was told they were, but clearly they weren't. I would have liked to have known that before forking over the other 50% of my money. While I am glad I stayed there, I didn't appreciate not having the right information. Still, it's a niggling point. Real minor.

If you can help it, try to stay in a room other than #4. It's not bad, but it's quite small and the ice maker (on the other side of the wall from the bed) makes a lot of noise.

All told, this was a great place to stay and I'd stay there again. Probably next time I'll bring my partner, because it's definitely that kind of place.

I've stayed at the Coral Reef twice now, and was even more impressed on my second visit than I was on my first. I've stayed at about six different gay men's resorts in Fort Lauderdale, and Coral Reef ranks at the top. It's a handsome property, nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood (Bayview) accessible to Wilton Manors, the beach, restaurants, and shopping - but removed enough to deliver privacy and relaxing quiet.

The Coral Reef is run by two really friendly guys, Bruce and Frank. They took the property over a couple of years ago, and created a very classy oasis, beautifully landscaped, awash with live orchids in the trees and in the rooms, and as relaxing as you could hope for.

The entire property is kept spotlessly clean - inside and out. No smokey or moldy smells haunt the rooms. It's a small, intimate sort of property, with about eight or nine rooms. So, the attention is personal and informal. There is a breezy friendliness to the place.

The staff of the hotel - when I was there Harry and Wayne, both really great guys - were extremely attentive, without being intrusive. Offering a bottle of iced water by the pool, or a mid-afternoon snack as they went about their work on the property was really pleasant and welcomed. (Some guest houses I've stayed at have vending machines on site if you want to get a bottle of water by the pool.)

The rooms are spacious and clean - each equipped with a television, VCR (there is a film library on site), a small refrigerator, microwave, and of course, air conditioning - and arranged around the pool and hot tub. There are no high-rise buildings surrounding the hotel, so clothing optional privacy is pretty complete if you're looking for an all-over tan. The lush vegetation provides areas of shade, but most of the pool area gets good tanning sun much of the day.

The pool offers just enough length to swim some laps, and is kept at a comfortable, heated temperature. There are ample pool towels for the lounge chairs, and to help prop your head for poolside reading.

The hotel has a guest computer, available 24 hours/day, as well as 24 hour Wi-Fi access in guest rooms and public areas of the property, if you have your laptop with you.

Near the pool is a kitchen area where a superior breakfast selection of pastries, yogurt, cereals (including non-sweetened!), and fresh fruit salad are available, as well with snacks and beverages during the day or evening hours. All of it is high quality, which I especially appreciated. The breakfast time is not so fixed that if you go out at night and sleep in late, you'll miss breakfast, as is the case in some places. And coffee is on the brew most of the day.

Evenings are very quiet, with the sound of quietly gurgling ponds (there are two) and gently singing resident frogs (I think they sound like night birds) punctuating the evening air. Perfect for a midnight swim, or a soak in the bubbling hot tub, or just gazing at the stars.

Bicycles are available if you ask, and you can cycle to the Sebastian Beach or to Wilton Manors in about 15 minutes.

If you find the pool just too relaxing, you can also ask for a pass to the Main Street Gym, the local gay workout center, which is about a ten minute drive away, where the Coral Reef has arrangements for its guests to use the facility at no charge.

When it came to checking out, even though my room was booked for the next evening, they gave me a place to shower and change for my flight home some hours past the official check out time, so I could spend much of that last day at the pool.

Ease of check in and check out, accommodations, attention to detail, friendliness, cleanliness, and amenities such as the gym pass, on top of the wonderful (really!) service make the Coral Reef a great choice for a stay in Fort Lauderdale. All at a price that beats a stay at a less personal chain hotel anywhere else in town.

Just got back from my trip to Fort Lauderdale - splitting my 8 days between 2 different gay resorts: Coral Reef Guesthouse, and the Cabanas of Wilton Manors.

Already having stayed at 9 or 10 of the gay guesthouses in Fort Lauderdale, over the past 5 years, this was my first stay at the Coral Reef - and I have to say, I walked away VERY impressed with the place. My initial impression was that it was smaller than expected - but that feeling soon evaporated, when I started zeroing in on the quality of what I was seeing. And, quality is what this guesthouse is all about.

The Coral Reef is classy. No real other way to describe it. When I was lounging by the pool (at night), everywhere my eyes landed, the place looked like a Hollywood movie set - beautifully landscaped, dramatic lighting - "classy". The pool itself is a nice sized pool, with an unusual curved design to it. The hot tub, connected to the pool, is a good one, too. My room was tropical looking - very clean, bed comfortable, air conditioning good. The grounds are landscaped well - providing great screening, total privacy for the clothing-optional crowd.

The breakfast was surprisingly above the norm. The owners go out of their way to make sure there is a plentiful array of muffins, fresh fruit, yogurt, cookies, juices, cereals, nuts, raisons... much more than your average guesthouse down here. VERY impressive. PLUS - the kitchen is open 24-hrs, with snacks (and a guest computer!) available at all hours.

The owners/staff were always friendly, helpful, welcoming - no sign of pretense or attitude anywhere to be seen.

The location of the Coral Reef was also a pleasant surprise. Only a few blocks (easy walking distance) to the Galleria Mall, Gateway Cinema, coffee shops, deli, etc.

I highly recommend the Coral Reef. After my first introduction to this place, it's suddenly on my list of top 3 gay guesthouses in Fort Lauderdale.

My partner and I wanted a weekend getaway, even though we reside in Fort Lauderdale. We chose the Coral Reef guesthouse and thankfully pleased that we did. From the moment we arrived, our every need was anticipated. This is a 8 room guesthouse decorated in the style of Key West with lush grounds, a pool and a jacuzzi. I cannot say enough about their staff and their attentiveness to their guests,it rivals a 5 star resort.
If you come to Fort Lauderdale, do yourself a favor and check this
place out.