Ok, first of all, I want to agree with a lot of what the other reviewers have said about this place. . .it is safe, it is less expensive than a lot of the other places around, the owner and staff are nice, etc.

However, I think that some important points need to be made about this property:

#1. LOCATION: overall this is a selling point of the property. However, the construction across the street is quite loud and the entire block around the construction site is quite dirty. I know that this is not the fault of the property and will not be a long-term issue. But, for those going to Ft. Lauderdale in the next few months, beware.

#2. HOTEL AMENITIES: this is probably one of the biggest disappointments for us, as we read the previous posts about the heated pool. The pool was quite cold when we got there. Right before we left, several guests complained about the pool and it was determined that the pool heater was turned off. When the heater was finally turned on, it never was as warm as billed but at least it was bearable. I just wish they had discovered the error sooner. Hopefully, this won't be an issue for future guests. The other complaint I have with the pool is that the management did not apologize or offer a discount; instead they just complained that some guest must have turned it off.

The other amenities of the property are quite minimal. The property does supply beach towels and beach toys for kids; they are not very new, however. By far, the best selling point is the beach, which is a 2 block walk away.

#3. SERVICE: This is the biggest problem of the property, specifically the poor maid service. As mentioned above, the best thing going about this property is its close proximity to a gorgeous beach. But, no matter how careful you are, you always end up with some sand in your room. Our room's floor was never cleaned and our sheets never changed during our 5 day stay. We ended up having to wear socks around the rooms. When I did ask for new sheets one afternoon (after our room was "cleaned"), all I was given was one topsheet and no offer to change the sheets. I could understand this if this property was a condo or timeshare, but it is not.

#4. ROOM DESCRIPTION: This is another big problem with the property. These rooms are very dated and need some TLC. Our room had blinds falling down (they actually did fall several times with minimal provocation), light bulbs were 75% blown out, and all the walls needed repair and new paint. Also, there is too much furniture in each room, leaving barely any space to walk. The furniture, too, is dated and needs repair (2 of the dressers had handles coming off or drawer damage). Now, some of you may be saying at this point that my expectations are too high for the low room rate. Also, some of you may argue that this is an older property with "character." I disagree; this is basic stuff that should be fixed no matter the room rate.

Overall, this place is definitely not a dump and is a good find in an area of high-priced hotels. However, it clearly does not deserve a #3 ranking in the trip advisor list. The dated, crowded rooms need renovation and the maid service is sub-standard. Also, the attention to detail (i.e. not allowing the heated pool to become frigid) is lacking.