We stayed at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort before leaving for a cruise to the Bahamas. We stayed two nights with no problems at all. Our check in was fast and we actually got to check in earlier then 4:00. The rooms looked brand new , we were in room 1018. The beds where really nice with lots of pillows and a down comforter. The pool area was wonderful!!!!! We love to lay out all day on vacation and listen to music and watch the activities that are going on.
They had a dj that played music during the day and had activities for kids and adults . They have free cookies and lemonaid at 4:00 by the pool. We ate at Cascades for lunch both days, its the pool bar resturant. Food was really good and they give you plenty. Meals are prices normal for resturant thats by the pool at a resort. Mixed drinks on the other hand are outrageous in price. We got a long island icetea and a miami vice and it was 22.00, needless to say we only had one drink each and switched to beer which wasnt much better they were 5.25 for a "can". All and all the hotel is was great. I always expect the very best when we go on vacation and this hotel in my opinon was excellent.

Our family of 4 stayed for 4 nights and had a great time. The hotel was very clean and service was very accomodating throughout our stay. The beach and pool were wonderful, and there were always plenty of lawn chairs and towels during the day. The only downside was that the pool towel counter was not open in the evening even though the pool is open until 10:00pm (we liked to swim after dinner), so we started bringing towels to the room with us when we'd go get ready for dinner. I agree with other reviews that you have to walk/drive through a construction zone and the back of other hotels to get to the hotel from the main roads, but other than that the grounds are beautiful. Food is expensive in the hotel, but we also found the food to be on the high side at area retaurants as well. We had a late flight on checkout day, and though we had to be out of our rooms by noon, our luggage was stored by the bell captain and the fitness room facilities had wonderful showers and lockers so it was not a problem staying the day. My husband loved the spa area and work out room--said this was the best part of the vacation, even though there was an extra fee for this as well. Here's a tip, if you can get a package that includes the breakfast buffet, I highly recommend it. The food and selection were excellent and we never felt the need for anything but a snack before dinner! We would definitely stay here again if we are in Ft. Lauderdale.

Let's start with the positives about this hotel:

Location, the ocean is literally steps off the lobby and the public areas although not spectacular are okay , other than that there is nothing else great about this property.

I am not even sure that this hotel really caters to businesses as we were part of a 200+ guests incentive group and we have never been so dissapointed and experienced such aphatetic attitude from a hotel's front desk staff as we did here.

The night before our arrival I called the hotel directy to confirm our reservation and to request a king size bed.

Upon our arrival there was a bed leaning on our doorway and several bags of dirty laundry piled in the corridor across from our room.

After my husband removed the bed and opened the door our dissapointment was enhanced by the dinginess of the room, which was outdated, except for the bedding. Did I mention no king size bed but two small beds that I don't think even qualified as full size?

The carpet was worn and soiled, the furniture and the walls were scuffed, there was a heavy smell of mildew and after inspecting the bathroon we found out why... there was a fresh leak in the ceiling, most likely from a bathtub in the room above us.

My husband inmediately contacted the front desk and requested a different room and we received a very curt response to the effect of "the hotel is completely sold out and there is nothing else available"

We attended our company's dinner at the hotel's grand ballroom...dissapointment stroke again... service was slow and the food was nothing to rave about.

Knowing that we could not possibly sleep in the room we had been given we decided to check out about 11:30 PM and drive home.

Again, the front desk's clerk who checked us out was rude and surly and could not get rid of us fast enough...I suppose so the other guests who were arriving late and were waiting to check in would not know what kind of surprise awaited them.

We are lucky that we only live 20 minutes from the hotel and had a short drive home, but I feel for the tourists who arrive at this property with high expectations.

When in Fort Lauderdale, do yourself a favor, book any other property and you may have a better chance of getting your money's worth...

We stayed at the Harbor Beach Marriott for 3 nights following a 2 week break in Orlando.

On arrival, the first thing I noticed was that this hotel has no "presence" on Holiday drive. It is instead tucked down a side road, around a corner. Approaching by car, you find an external wall in front of you and an entrance to an underground parking lot. Hardly an imposing hotel frontage.

Once parked, we took the lift (or elevator for you American folk), to the lobby. The lifts were small, very hot and very smelly and were not a good welcome to the hotel at all.

Once we walked into the lobby, we could see this was not a vacationers hotel. Everything here is aimed at the convention market giving it a very impersonal feel - which was even more marked having come from a Disney hotel in Orlando.

The check-in process was fine however the hotel seemed to have no knowledge of the free parking arrangement reached with our holiday operator (Virgin Holidays) and it was only after we pressed them on this that they double checked and agreed to give us the free parking to which we were entitled (saving approx $100 on a 3 night (4 day) stay).

All of the public areas seemed to be full of business people and as a result, there was no "holiday" atmosphere. Other services were functional rather than friendly and I felt that I was away on business rather than on a vacation.

Both the pool area and beach however looked great (although the pool looked smaller in real life than in the pictures) however as it was pouring with rain when we arrived, we used neither.

I was also disapointed that there was nowhere open to get a snack, unless you want to pay the extortionate prices for room service.

The hotel was also too far away from Las Olas Boulevard to walk meaning you either drive or get a cab (or water taxi). Again, as the hotel appeared to have no noticeable front entrance, it always felt like we were coming in the back entrance whenever we returned to the hotel.

As for the room, the beds were large, comfortable and very well dressed. The rest of the bedroom however was quite dated and in need of modernisation. The air con seemed to be from the dark ages although it worked fine. The bathroom was however very well appointed, spotlessly clean with plenty of towels, shower gel, shampoo etc.

We used room service once and found it overpriced though no more than you'd expect from this type of hotel. Service was however very quick and the food quality was good (although nothing to get too excited about).

The hotel has 2 gift shops and a Starbucks on site. The Starbucks served horribly strong filter coffee which was disapointing. Coming from England, we're used to bad coffee but this was only drinkable by emtying a small sugar mountain into it! The downstairs gift shop appears not to sell much more than aligator related products. The gift shop near the main lobby however was better stocked and staffed by a very friendly and helpful lady.

In summary, if you are looking for somewhere to hold a convention or business meeting in Fort Lauderdale, look no further than this hotel (so long as you don't want an impressive hotel facade to pull up to on arrival).

If you're going on vacation however, book somewhere else!