We were planning to stay at another hotel, also our favorite chain (3-4 star) hotel for another two days. However, after the first two days, we decided to stay at St. Regis for two more days, though it cost us $130 more each day. The room is spacious and the view is beautiful. The bedding is excellent! The bathroom is stylish and huge. we had a room above the patio and pool on the 7th floor. The pool and jacuzzi outside are open 24 hrs. You can acces the beach from the 7th floor. The catering for the meeting is OK. We only had one room service for dinner, which is good. The water taxi stop is 5 min walk from the hotel. The staff is just great. The concierge arrange a rental car for us. We picked up the car in the morning at hotel and dropped it off in the evening at hotel, which was just convinient. The service there is of first class. If youcould find a price you can tolorate, stay with them!

i was upgraded to an ocean-view room (initially booked an inter-coastal view room). I have asked the agent for the ocean-front room but she would not upgrade me (which is fine because the view from the side oceanview room is fine too). I was on floor 11.

There was no line at the front desk when we checked in or checked out. When we saw other people checking in the next day, they were getting a personal butler who would take them to their room. We did not get it, I guess they were short on butlers that day. overall, a pretty good check in and check out experience.

pros:

- the service here overall is very solid. every request is greeted with an "absolutely."
- the TV in the room had an entertainment center (DVD player, etc.).
- the hotel has bottled water in the room.
- the mattress is amazing. what a night's sleep!


cons/interesting observations:

- wifi is $15 per day. (but if you go on the balcony you can pick up wifi for free from different networks.)
- the hotel doesn't have chair service across the street on the beach.


Overall, it is a very nice property and we would be very happy to stay in this resort again.

We often stay at luxury hotels and we were extremely disappointed with our stay at the St Regis Fort Lauderdale. Having experienced other St Regis hotels we were very surprised this hotel is considered one. The service was sub-par. The space not nearly as elegant and well designed as others and the food and cleanliness hit and miss. Just to be clear our attitude on vacation is we will pay an unlimited amount to be pampered.

The pool area is very small and not pleasant at all. The cushioned chairs were torn, stained and very faded (odd for a hotel only a year old). Plus it lacked ambiance, it had a few palm trees but could have been better landscaped and had a nicer pool deck. The pool service was unbelievably bad. First the pool person did not escort us to a chair just handed us a towel and we had to find our own seating. (On other days we were seated). After waiting 30 minutes without anyone offering to bring us a drink we went to the bar to order. My boyfriend ordered a Gin and Tonic (the bartender brought him water by "accident" I've travelled the world and no bartender I've met has ever made that kind of mistake worse he did not apologize for the error). I asked if they had a drink menu and was told they were at the printers (what?!) but he assured me they had a full bar and could make me anything I would like. On that note I asked for a fun tropical coconut drink (we were in Florida after all) and was told he could give me some coconut rum on the rocks (no thanks!) but that the only mixer (in a box) that they had with coconut was pina colada mix. So much for fresh exciting drinks -- I did notice they had a couple of coconuts growing on the palms.. but unlike other places where they climb the palms and bring you drinks in fresh coconuts this is a place that serves pre-mixed drinks. So I acquiesced and asked for a pina colada. We ate lunch by the pool twice. The first time my food was awful the Feta cheese looked and tasted like blue cheese the arugula was wilted and worse soggy from sitting unused somewhere in the kitchen. The second time we had lunch at the pool bar it was better. But still a place like the St. Regis should serve consistently good food. They also are very short staffed at the pool. Meaning often it is easier to go to the bar for water, etc. than wait for them to notice you.

The elevator from the pool to the beach was not working when were there so we had to walk across the busy street to look at the beach and as many others have mentioned the surrounding area is designed for Spring Breakers. They had private cabanas for $250 for rent with mini bars and flat screen TV's we thought about renting one for the day but the service was so bad that we couldn't imagine enjoying it (we feared we'd never get lunch as they'd forget we were there). Not to mention that the cabanas aren't near the beach or the pool. A tmost places we do rent cabanas.

We tried many of the spa services "fit for a king," "st regis signature facial," etc. The facials were nice, however, there spa consists of a nice changing room and a plain coed waiting room with tea and water. Needless to say given the lack of extras (steam room, sauna, indoor Jacuzzi, etc) I would have expected the waiting room to at least have sliced cucumbers for the eyes, snacks, cold towels and hot towels (something more special than water and tea).

The room itself was very nice. The bed extremely comfortable and the bathroom with separate shower perfect. However, their technology worked intermittently, the TV had to be rebooted. The touch screen did not turn the lights on or dial the number indicated. The cleaning service was also superficial. Yes, they came twice a day - once to clean and once for turn down service. But they did not clean the floor the whole time we were there - it was sandy and you had to wear slippers to keep your feet clean. I found nuts under the bed (before checking out I always make sure nothing has slipped under the bed). They did not have shower caps in the bathroom (I imagine because they forgot to replace them from the last guests) nor did they replace cotton swabs in the bathroom the whole time we were there (a small thing but a nice touch when done). The balcony was nice but they are separated by cloth (a cheap solution) from the neighbors and thus you can hear every conversation out there (I think they could be more private). The room service was wonderful. We did have breakfast on the balcony twice and both times it was lovely (aside from the street noise and neighbors).

The lobby has a restaurant, bar and "wine room." However it turns out not to be a wine room but a true "bar." If only the drinks from this bar were served at the pool it would truly change the experience. Here we found the most amazing mixologist a true rare gem so talented that he could out mix any New York City bartender. His name is Herman and I'm not sure how long he'll remain hidden away in the "wine room." His drinks were made with fresh juices and herbs. He is the only reason I would recommend this hotel to anyone. Otherwise the restaurant and bar were OK we tried both and enjoyed them both.

Normally we call someone to help bring our bags to the lobby when we check out. As we were tired of the mediocre service we decided to bring them down ourselves. To my amazement as staff saw us doing this no one even offered to help (again just bad training). Others have mentioned that their cars were brought to them right away. We always called in advance for our car but on the day of our checkout it took them an hour to bring us our car - we stood outside and waited in the heat - they did not offer us water, or to sit inside and call us when our car was ready, etc. it was just another example of their poor service training and left us filled with bitterness. We have no intention of ever visiting this hotel again. In fact as soon as I returned home I started looking at Ritz-Carlton hotels for my next trip as it will not be a St Regis hotel.

I was very much looking forward to a five star romantic, luxurious weekend away with my husband. Based on what I have heard about other St Regis' resorts throughout the US and Bora Bora, I had high expectations for the newest Fort Lauderdale Resort.

I would be wrong. As a guest, I felt like a completely unimportant afterthought from start to finish.... First off, the lobby and reception area when you walk in is dry and sterile. The receptionist who checked us in was rude and argumentative. Then we went to our room... once again sterile and unremarkable.. small and average. The intracoastal view room we had faced a few unattractive commercial buildings. We put our bags down and went for lunch at the pool area, in an effort to decide what our next move was going to be.

And THIS is when we decided to leave.... Get this: The beach is no where near the pool. This is important to understand. If you use the pool (sterile and with few attendants) and decide to go down to the beach, you have to put all your clothes back on, go down in the elevator 7 floors, walk out through the lobby, and walk across two lanes of major traffic to an ugly, public beach. There is no service on the beach for St Regis customers.... Side note: When I spoke with the manager though, I was told that you can rent a beach chair or umbrella. Was surprised since this is a St Regis...

We were out of there and back at the Acqualina. Had a blast and salvaged our weekend. Would recommend that or the Fairmont Turnberry. This hotel may be better once the walkway opens but for right now, the St Regis needs a lot of work.