We stayed for 5 days and loved it. Within walking distance to the beach, restaurants and shopping. Clean rooms, clean bathrooms, clean hallways and extremely nice people. The front desk gave us directions to several different places that were right on the mark. The walk way over the road to the beach was a great way to go back and forth. The pool was clean and the water warm. Our Iron was not working and within ten minutes of our phone call we had a brand new iron. The view from our room was awesome. We were on the 15th floor and watched the speed boat races. We will stay again and again!

My wife and I just got back from a 4 day getaway to Fort Lauderdale, and I would like to address the wide array of reviews for the Bahia Mar. As any traveler to southeast Florida either knows or will soon find out, the choices for accomodations can be so vast that they can be overwhelming and make the decision difficult. I can see how it's easy to get caught up in the hype and be disappointed. As a former resident of the area as well as a former hotel employee on the "Strip" in Fort Lauderdale (back in the early 80's), I would like to give the readers of TA the reasons I choose Fort Lauderdale for vacation and why I chose the Bahia Mar, and perhaps, if your vacation criteria is similiar to mine, why you should choose the Bahia Mar also.

First of all, I believe that Ft. Lauderdale is one of the most complete vacation destinations in the U.S.A., if not the world. It's easy to get to, has a beautiful beach, world class fishing, diving, shopping, dining, sightseeing, sports, night life, and on and on. It's safe, family friendly and relatively inexpensive - especially for Americans given the current value of the dollar abroad.

As for the Bahia Mar, the first thing I consider is the location of a hotel when I choose, and that could be the Bahia Mar's best asset. Across the street from a clean, protected beach, adjacent to a marina with any kind of water sport or sightseeing you can imagine, and an easy walk to any kind of restaurant or shopping you want. From the airport it's a $20 cab ride to the hotel (including tip) so unless you really need to travel outside the immediate area, you don't need to rent a car which will leave more spending money in your pocket (especially since regular gas is $3.85 per gallon in the area as of 5/9/08). I would highly recommend a water taxi ride during your stay which stops at the marina about 100 yards from the front door. They can take you to the Galleria mall (Sack's 5th ave, Nieman Marcus, etc) the shops of Las Olas (art galleries, boutiques, restaurants - the locals like to refer to it as there version of Rodeo Drive) or several other stops but the sights along the way of the homes and yachts is breathtaking and is well worth the $13 ride all day ticket. The Bahia Mar property also offers many recreation opportunities on the properyt as well. Tennis courts with lights, swimming pool deck overlooking the marina with a gym and a bar/restaurant with reasonable prices, an elevated walkway to the beach where you'll find brand new lit basketball courts, a fitness obstacle course, picnic tables w/barbeques, and a real nice playground. **NOTE** We went fishing one day and caught 5 nice snappers and Frank, the cook at the pool restaurant cooked them 3 different styles for us with a nice presentation, sauces and cole slaw for only $10 bucks!! Also on the property is a very nice market/deli that makes a great breakfast sandwich for $4 and has a very good lunch menu featuring top quality Boars' Head sandwich meats, salads, beer and wine, etc., again at very reasonable prices. ( I knew it was going to be good when I saw all the fishing captains and yacht crews going there for lunch).

As for the inside of the hotel and the rooms, yes, this hotel is about 40 years old and even though there have been a few remodels and touch ups over the years, you will see some chipped paint, dated furniture, worn handles, but the rooms, bathrooms and public areas were clean and secure and the beds were comfortable. My biggest complaint was that the balconies in the main building were too small for a chair - strictly Juliet balconies.

The personnel we encountered were very friendly and helpful. we had an early flight and they allowed us to check in at 9AM! Thank you Rey at the front desk. Keep in mind that these are regular folks, many of them rookies and not polished professionals that you would find at the St Regis or the Breakers.

When I read the negative reviews of the Bahia Mar they all seemed to center on the worn condition of the property or some inconsistant or rude service and I can understand how this can happen. If you demand and expect five star quality, than perhaps The Bahia Mar is not your place. I did walk through the St Regis and it is beautiful and you should consider it. However, I booked my stay through the hotel's website (which I recommend because you do not have to pay in full in advance like the other internet travel sites) and only paid $93 per night. Now, if you're like me and don't plan to spend a lot of time in the room, than I just don't see the need to spend $500 per to be up the street at the St Regis. Just give me a nice clean, safe place in a good location at a fair price and I'm happy. I would submit to you that in Fort Lauderdale, that place is the Bahia Mar Resort.

My friend and I just got back from Fort Lauderdale and stayed at the Bahia Mar for 4 nights and I have to say we had an amazing time! We stayed on the 7th floor of the tower building. No, it's not the Ritz Carlton, but it was very clean and had everything we needed! It was close to the beach and has a pretty short breezeway over A1A to get there and the pool area was very nice as well. It's also a short walk to some decent places to eat. The staff was great and very helpful. On the morning we were checking out I noticed they charged me for 3 days of valet parking when we had no car there, they were very willing and quick about taking it off the bill. The only down side was really the elevator situation! It can take up to 10 minutes to get on one! The balcony was extremely small, enough room to only step out side to see the pretty amazing view of the marina & ocean. It seems like a great place for anyone, families, couples, a group of friends young or old. I would caution that if you are used to staying at the "Ritz" then it may not be the place for you. All & all...GREAT stay at the Bahia Mar!

After reading the previous reviews we were a little worried about what we might encounter at the Bahia Mar. We were pleasantly surprised. We arrived early and requested an early check in, but went with the advice of the employee to wait for our room on the 15th floor instead of taking a different room on the 7th. Room 1511 was at the end of a hallway on a nonsmoking floor. It had a kingsize bed, minifridge, and small balcony to enjoy the view of the ocean and marina. It also had a large closet and small room safe. Sure, the carpet had begun to fray at some edges and there were a few scratches in the tub, but nothing to ruin your vacation over. All the employees we dealt with were very pleasant. Jose and Melissa at the concierge desk were very helpful with restaurant suggestions, directions, and running routes. We ate at the deli a few times for something quick and found the breakfast and lunch sandwiches to be acceptable. We ate a decent salad at the hotel restaurant and had good service. I never had a hard time finding a lounge chair by the pool, never waited long for an elevator, and the gym was hardly ever full. The walkway over the road to the beach was very convenient. The water taxi also stops at the Bahia Mar marina and makes for a fun way to see the waterfront mansions and million dollar yachts. There are lots of great restaurants within walking distance or easily accessible by water taxi or by beach trolley. May we suggest The Floridian for breakfast. It is a diner style restaurant with awesomely huge omelettes. Next, try Promanti Brothers for lunch. This Pittsburgh joint is famous for serving its large sandwiches with coleslaw and fries inside the bun. For a romantic dinner, you must try The River House which is stop #11 on the water taxi. This historical waterfront house serves the most delicious fish dishes around. We started off with an escargot potpie then I had the swordfish and my husband had the seabass. The menu changes weekly to take advantage of the local fresh fish. Our service was right on, even though you could tell they were busy. After dinner take a stroll down the river front to enjoy live music and people watching at the local bars and clubs.
If you are looking for a high end luxury resort, this might not be the place for you. The location and proximity to the beach, restaurants and shopping make Bahia Mar a great choice and value.