We stayed for 2 nights during Christmas week. We booked the older section because it was less expensive but were immediately upgraded to an ocean view room in the newer tower. The room was clean and large. The only minus side was the water coming out of the facuets...I guess it's Florida water that looks yellow, because the bathwater had a yellow tint. I asked the front desk and they said that is what it looks like. That was kind of disconcerting. So we made sure we had bottled water all the time. The pool was nice and access to the beach was great with an overpass. It was very close to Las Olas Blvd. with all the restaurants and shops.

Parking was $18. I wasn't aware that we had to pay when I booked the hotel. That was the only other disappointment.

My wife and I just returned from a two day stay at Bahia Mar. While we have had greater disappointments at other resorts, this hotel just begged for a realistic review on this site.

We booked our trip from Hotels.com and it was listed as a 4 star resort. No way!

Let me cut to the chase. First, book an extra day-- the elevators are so slow (there are only 2), you'll be waiting for 5 or minutes every time you want to get back and forth to your room.

The outside of the facility looks OK. But get to your room (we had a front, ocean view room on the 10th floor) and you will see a tired and dirty place. The carpeting was so old, it was like walking on sand paper. The paint at the bottom of the room door was peeling, as was the 'finish' in the bathtub.

There was a louvered sliding door to close the bathroom...there was so much dust (literal dust bunnies) in these louvers, I would say they had never been cleaned. The metal rod of the towel rack kept falling down.

Room service didn't clean our room until after 2 PM. They left all our old drink glasses on the table and they left the towel rack broken.

My wife and I travel quite a bit and this was the first hotel in memory that wouldn't let us have a late checkout of any sort. Then again we really didn't want to stay that much longer, but it would have been more convenient for our travel plans.

Add to this the unnecessary $18 per night parking charge and I would tell you - if you want a great experience, stay at their competitor, Lago Mar. And for better value at much reduced cost, stay at the Holiday Inn....at least you'll get free parking and a continental breakfast.

Just returned from a very nice 3 night stay at the Bahia Mar. We had great weather, which helps. This is a good hotel with a good location at a good price.

Tennis courts, free internet on 4 computers in lobby, a mini market/
deli, great views of marina and ocean, bar at the pool and very good hotel gym. Service was great.

We had no car, walked to Coconuts, Oasis Cafe, Casablanca Cafe, Lulu;s and Howl at the moon at the Beach Plaza. The Casablanca and Coconuts are the best. Lulus and the Oasis are ordinary food quality.
Howl at the moon was weak. Took the water taxi to the riverwalk, which
is a nice boat ride. You can walk to the Intl Swimming H of F and swim
there in their 50m pool.

What this place is not is ,well landscaped, or intimate, or spotlessly
clean or ostentatious. It is just real good at a lot of things.

Stayed for 1 Week at the Bahia Mar and couldn't really fault anything. Room was in tower block, large bright and very clean. The maid made a great job everyday. Plenty of clean white fluffy towels. and nice clean crisp bedding. Coupled with great view over beach. Would have been nice to have had a second armchair in room, but only a very minor point. Hotel staff very helpful and friendly. Pool Area very good, plenty of loungers and clean towels always available. Pool bar served good food, the portions could have been smaller, lunch filled you up for the rest of the day.Never used the hotel restaurant which was more of a coffee lounge so couldn't comment on this facility although bar service etc were fine. Restaurant not important as there were so many options within 10-15 minute stroll. However we found a gem of a restaurant called Coconuts less than 5 minute walk. Fantastic waterside location great food and very friendly young staff.So good we ate there 5 nights out of 7. Avoid Los Olas Blvd if you want to eat. Great place to go and people watch but be careful which restaurant you chose, we may have been unlucky. The one we picked just wanted to feed you take the money and fill the table again.This reflected in the attitude of the waiter.
Would fully reccomend the Bahia Mar in a great location for aperfect holiday