This gay resort is an outstanding establishment. The rooms are extremely clean and furnished beautifully. The grounds are well kept and very attractive. The staff is ready to help yet never "under foot". Has to be one of the best gay resorts anywhere!

The Flamingo Resort – Inn Among The Flowers, Fort Lauderdale

In May 2005, I booked the least expensive room in this resort for $150/night. This Out&About 5 Palm rated men-only guesthouse is amongst the elite few high end properties in the area, the others being Pineapple Point and the Royal Palm.

Last year I stayed and reviewed the superb Pineapple Point Guesthouse, and could not fault that property in any way, despite its location a few minute’s drive from the beach. This time I checked out the Royal Palm, which neighbours the Flamingo a few block’s walk from the beach, but the it felt very 1980s, and lacked the high end feel of PP and the Flamingo.

If calling for reservations, or as a late arrival, note the office is open only from 8am to 7pm. With around 20 rooms, my midweek shoulder season stay meant only a few other people in residence, and there was a friendly “country club” atmosphere.

You enter the exclusive, walled compound into beautiful gardens, a sparkling crystal clear pool leads onto a fabric draped gazebo, surrounded by bright yellow sunbeds, giving the place a Georgio Armani Beverly Hills feel. In the courtyard, fountains gurgle, with calming music playing quietly in the background.

At check in I was greeted by name, despite never having stayed in the property before. As I had a guest arriving the next day, the front desk manager upgraded me for free to a junior suite, as he said the room I had booked would be a little tight for two.

The garden view ground floor room I received was sizeable, dominated by a magnificent wooden four poster bed, draped in muslin. There was a desk, sofa and coffee table, and a kitchenette with well stocked and sensibly priced mini bar. The shower (no tub) and bathroom fittings were modern and clean. There was a TV with DVD and VCR.

If I have two small comments, the pillows were rather foamy and not comfortable feather, which I personally prefer. The hot water was also rather lukewarm, which is not such an issue in summer time, but would have been annoying in cooler seasons. I raised this with the front desk, but nothing could be done to improve the situation.

Other facilities include a strong WiFi signal ($7.95 per day) throughout the property. A large selection of general, gay themed and XXX DVDs and videos is available from the front desk on an honour system basis, and if you are lucky enough to be staying a few days, there is a comprehensive library of recent books.

A turndown service, with Belgian chocolates, is offered nightly, and throughout the day complimentary lemon iced tea and homemade biscuits are available by the pool. Expanded continental breakfast is served in the West Indies themed lounge area until 10.30am, and from 5.30-6.30pm happy hour cocktails are brought to your poolside sunbed.

Lunch can be delivered from many local eateries, and staff provide plates and glasses under the gazebo, with many other fellow guests ordering together. The pool area is clothing optional, with about half the guests making use of this option.

Other reviewers have commented on the massage therapist, a tall dark haired young guy. Massage is a very personal experience, and one person may greatly dislike what would be perfect for another. All I can say is I felt the $100 for an 80 minutes Swedish (ie gentle) massage was money well spent, there was certainly no pain and at one stage when the pressure was uncomfortable for me I simply asked him to ease off a little. He has very big hands…!

Having requested a late check out at 3pm, and whilst lounging round the pool James from the front desk spontaneously delivered a chilled coconut, cut that morning from the palm trees on property, with a straw from which to drink the milk inside, as going away present. Wow!

VERDICT: A high end property for men only, with beach proximity, supremely helpful staff and luxurious rooms and grounds, attracting a friendly professional clientele. The Flamingo is a great place to spend a vacation from which you will emerge relaxed and refreshed. It is wise to call ahead and ask for specials and deals to secure the best rates.

This Men's boutique hotel surprised me from the moment we arrived. I imagined we would happen upon a "circuit guy" nightmare when I was "buzzed" through the gate. However, once inside we were greeted by who could be described as Sean Connery's impeccibly dressed twin with the accent and everything.

It happened to be happy hour, and our bags were whisked away, and were immediately offered complimentary cocktails (an every-night affair). What a welcome! The courtyard is very attractive with the water features, and the cozy pool. The grounds are kept beautiful, the pool sparkling, and the furniture clean. There is also new age spa music piped throughout the grounds. When we got to our room (the most basic room) we were surprised by the "Island Traditional" decor, and how tastful the rooms were. The linens were white, crisp, and notably immaculate like the rest of the room. Although our room was very nice, it was a bit cramped for 2. The next night we upgraded to a junior suite. It was even nicer with it's canopy bed, kitchenette, and european balcony (a sliding door with a guardrail on the other side of it) right over the water fountain. The other hotel guests were so friendly, we soon had dinner plans with a group of them the next evening. All were very nice, and down-to-Earth guys, and we had an even better time because of them. The staff were most helpful in every way, even with dinner reservations and local info. Each morning there were fresh towels folded over the back of the lounge chairs, a nice touch, as well as a pretty decent continental breakfast (complimentary) served in the common room, and eaten wherever. Most went poolside. There is also a complimentary iced tea and cookie bar set up and replenished all day long. All hotels should have this by their pools! Although the pool is clothing optional, we rarely noticed anyone going in the buff during the day. If at all, it was at night, and very discreet and respectable. Speaking of night, it was very quiet, as hotel patrons partied elsewhere. Only the occasional noises of people coming back. Many other positive things to write about as well.

Okay, the cons:
Got a "Deep Tissue Full-Body" massage by one of the "trained therapists". I guess my hands, feet, face, head, thighs and buttocks are not considered my body, because he didn't touch them. I don't think he was being pretentious either, because I am in great shape and in my twenties. He also left my back bruised (and I mean really bruised) and welted from excessive force. I am used to, and enjoy being worked on with a lot of pressure, but this was a BAAAAD massage. I didn't complain at all, I will let the next victim do it. Just avoid any tall, dark haired therapists in case he's still running the torture tent.

On our second stay, the hotel was the same as we left it, but came with a new type of guest we, and presumably the hotel staff, couldn't stand. A loud group checked into one of the suites. They were rowdy, and took over the pool. They were just having a good time, but this hotel beats to a different drum. Peace and quiet is the theme here. There's just something odd about a guy screeching at his buddies across the courtyard with Enya and wind chimes playing in the background. It is more a place for couples. We did not enjoy our stay here this time because of the rowdies.

Also, there is no hot-tub/whirlpool as of my last visit. Although lack of this feature alleviates seedy behavior, it would be nice to relax in one before you turn in.

If you sleep in past the time that the cleaning crew comes by, you can forget about getting your room made that day. However, they do have a turn-down service with chocolate treats left behind on your pillow.