Ok, so this hotel offers nice bedrooms and good food in a pleasant surrounding. However, we encountered a couple of problems. Firstly the hotel website suggests that 'Beach Place' - for shopping and restaurants is 1 mile away, but it is actually over 2 miles away and we decided to get the bus (not that the hotel we're able to offer any details of bus times). These are the nearest shops and restaurants - so do not attempt to stay at this hotel without a vehicle.

Our second problem, although minor related to another 'error' on the hotel website which suggests that one of the swimming pools is olympic sized, but when we challenged the manager that the pool was infact 20m too short to be 'Olympic' he stated that they used this term for an oversized pool.

In summary, if you want to enjoy the shops and restaurants of Ft Lauderdale - stay somewhere else.

We stayed here during the Ft. Lauderdale boat show, and I honestly can say the property and the rooms are absolutely gorgeous (I do NOT understand the reviews that say it should be torn down, unless those people like a contemporary look better). Yes, it is old, but in a classic way (think beautiful mosaic tile in the lobby, carved moldings, wood paneling).
It is probably the very best place in Fort Lauderdale right now, and the only real complaint I had was the pool. PEOPLE TURN ON THE POOL HEATER PLEASE!. As for service, it could be better, and the food is "just okay", nothing spectacular. But then again, who goes to Ft Lauderdale and eats at the resort?

After four delightful days onboard the QUEEN MARY 2 and dining in the Princess Grill we hoped to continue our vacation experience in a top notch Ft. Lauderdale hotel. I chose the Lago Mar because of its location near the ships' entrance in and out of Port Everglades. It is a bit away from other hotels and restaurants, but I realized that when I booked the room. Without a car, and needing to rely on taxis or walking, this secluded location can be troublesome.

I was very impressed with the welcome from the front desk, and even though it was only 10 AM our room was ready. The physical plant and grounds are well maintained, and the front desk staff very helpful. The room was clean, spacious, and the amenities in the room of high quality.

My complaint , and it would stop me from returning to this hotel again, is the poor food and service in the dining room. The food was very expensive, and the service indifferent at best. The quality and delivery of the food was not what I would have expected in such a hotel nor for the $106.00 price for two. The food was uninspired, and its preparation lacking in attention to detail. The service from the waiter Guy was equally uninspired. The waiter would bring one course before the preceeding one was finished and other courses rerquired a long wait after the previous one was finished.

Also the only choice for breakfast in the dining room was a buffet. Once again the food was uninspired, and unless one is truly ravenous, in my opinion, not worth the $16.70 per person charge. Here again the service was lacking in keeping the water glasses and coffee cups full.

If one has their own transportation and is not reliant on the hotel's food service a stay at the Lago Mar could be enjoyable. If food is an important part of your vacation experience, and you must rely on others for transportation, i would think twice before staying at this property.

Okay, my family has been staying at Lago Mar every April for years and there are a few things in other reviews I would like to clear up.
First of all the resort is very clean, I have never had a problem with this. Housekeeping always has our beds made up and rooms cleaned before 1pm, they even do our dishes.
Yes the hotel charges 18% gratuity on meals and in the spa. Not for food you buy in the little grocery or in the gift shops.
As for the beach chairs there are two types, the ones they charge for are full sunbeds. There are tons of free blue canvas chairs and they do recline. They will help you carry them to a spot you like on the beach.
The staff has always been friendly and helpful, my husband was body surfing and scraped his side on the shore, the lifegaurd came right over and helped him clean it off and put on cream and a bandaid. We didn't alert him, he just saw what happened and came right over.
The bellmen are always ready to tell you the best places to eat and if there are any activities in town you might like. They saw that I was expecting my third baby last time we were there and told me about a baby fair that was at the convention center, I was able to go and got a 4D ultrasound and found out that I was having my 3rd girl! I would have had to wait 6 more weeks for my Dr to tell me that!
The hotel is great for famlies, there are tons of things to do there. My kids are 9, 4, and 1 and they always have a great time. There is a side of the hotel that is more recently renovated but the older side is still great, large clean rooms with very nice balconies.
We will never stay anywhere else in Fort Lauderdale!