Just returned from 3 nights at the Marriott. Put very simply, almost Ritz Carlton. The service, food, property, spa and beach were fabulous. Hidden secret - for $30/day or included with a spa treatment, you have full access to an excellent fitness center, locker rooms, healthy eating restaurant and private outdoor pool and whirlpool with comfy lounge chairs and relaxing music. Worth every penny. Room service food was excellent and prompt. If I had to come up with a negative, it would be double beds instead of queen beds, but I had trouble finding any beach hotel in the Fort Lauderdale area with queen beds. It's a little difficult putting two 6' sons in a double bed together. We ordered a rollaway which was delivered promptly and at no charge.

The beach and pool areas are beautiful, but the room was just a hotel room, nothing more. Also, at the prices charged, it was dishartening to be nickel and dimed for everything--renting an umbrella, using the business center computers, parking, bottled water in rooms.

I just returned from a stay at the Harbor Marriott (March 19). Let me just say that I am a fairly easy-going person when I travel, which is often, and I don't look for every bad thing, I am not a high maintenance traveller...BUT.....if I book a non-smoking, ocean front room at $600 a night, I expect to get that upon check-in. Guess what? Didn't happen. We arrived by airplane and got to the hotel about 6:00 p.m. We were promptly checked into an ocean front, smoking room. I don't smoke, don't want to smell it, and was offended that I'd gone to the trouble to book a non-smoking room, and never informed that I'd get anything BUT a non-smoking room, but was put in one anyway. When I complained, a young manager type came over and matter of factly said they didn't have any non-smoking rooms and I could have another room but not with a view. Basically, he knew that I was stuck between a rock and hard place, and he couldn't have cared less whether I walked away or not. Of course I was furious, but I took the musty cigarette smelling room and was miserable for the next few days. So here's the thing...according to the manager, there is really no guarantee for a non smoking room. If you arrive and they don't have any, thats just your tough luck! And thats exactly the way you will be treated about it. And they WON"T tell you this when you make the reservation. So non smokers BEWARE. I did write a letter to another manager upon leaving and told him that I would write up my experience on Trip Advisor.com .....quite frankly though, I don't think they care.

A couple of other observations. This is a hotel for families. My husband and I are in our 40's, and have raised 4 children. Children are not a problem. But if you would like a quieter scene, this is NOT the hotel for you. There is a crazy amount of jockeying for a chair at the pool. ID checks every time you come around the pool. Lines for lunch, $20 charge to play on the tennis courts, extra charge for internet use, parking charges, charges for this, that, and everything else! I wouldn't stay here again. Too much craziness. Felt like a cruise ship experience on land, I'm sure some of you will know what I'm talking about when I say that. Hope this is helpful.....

My twin and I are 17 and we recently went to ft lauderdale for one week for winter break. We also stayed there with our parents in the summer for one week. The beach was our favorite because there were many water activities (parasailing, bannana boat, jet skiing) for a decent price. The beach area was clean and not croweded, a great place to relax. However the pool was extremely coweded and VERY hot during the day time. The cool part of this hotel is that there is no curfew. We sayed on the beach all night and swam in the cooled water of the pool. The sea food resturant near the lobby was delicious. Personally our favorite was a Starbucks located in the lobby. The spa was phenomenal! The staff was helpful and made our stay enjoyable. The rooms were clean and had a great housekeeping servace.The buffet for breakfast was excellent and had a wide variety of foods. Overall this hotel was amazing. We rate it a five star hotel.