We stayed at The Elysium last October and I have always wanted to write a review for this place and was reminded when I was searching for another place to stay this October.

We were disappointed with our stay and frankly, it's our fault for not letting the management know.

The pool water was absolutely freezing and we felt like we were Thanksgiving Dinner when we went up to the nude pool on the top level. All eyes stared and we really did feel uncomfortable.

The Continental Breakfast was nil. Nothing there but leftover crumbs. Another disappointment.

The only good thing was the location. A few blocks from the beach which was nice but parking was tight at the hotel, the pools were freezing, the employees at the desk took forever to say "hello" when we arrived and were too busy talking to friends on the phone.

We would never stay there again.

My partner and I spent a week at the Elysium and were not the least bit disappointed. The property, though not sparkling new, is well-maintained. Our room was immaculate and nicely appointed. Service was friendly and helpful. Continental breakfast is no-frills but nicely presented. Seems to cater to a clientele of mixed ages and interests. As the real estate folks love to say-------- location, location, location! If that matters, then the Elysium is the perfect place to book!

I stayed at this "99% men-only" resort for two nights in June 2004, when it had recently opened.

Because it was off season, the prices were extremely economical, at $80/night. From May-September there is often a stay three nights, get fourth free, so worth holding back your reservation till this offer appears.

I chose this resort as it is the largest in the area, being two Art Deco 1950s resorts moulded in to one to create a 36 room property. As a consequence there is plenty of landscaped outdoor space and two sparkling bright pools. Plenty of parking and easy to find opposite the Grand Resort. It is a short five minute walk to the beach, which is a major plus point.

The website photography (and ridiculously gorgeous male models..) is superb, but does present the property in a favourable light. The grounds are lush and well cared for, but the impression I gained from the website was more high-end than my experience of staying there. Those in search of luxury should check out Pineapple Point or The Flamingo Inn Amongst the Flowers.

There appears to have been some failure in operational management's interaction with guests, from reading other reviews. I am sure this has been looked into. I never experienced any problems with front desk staff, who were more than helpful, and would not single out any individual staff members for criticism, which I believe to be inappropriate on a public forum.

The guys who have invested in this property have a great vision, and are slowly renovating all the rooms, and once complete this should be a pleasant place to stay.

I had an unrenovated room, which was unremarkable, with TV and VCR. No WiFi, as an internet terminal is available free of charge near the front desk. I had a 1950s style tiled shower room, and a well performing shower (no tub), but it was not I do not think, what most travellers would want nowadays. You will probably have a much better stay if you request a renovated room, though comfort and function still predominated over style and sophistication in the one newer room I saw.

Guests were generally younger than average in Fort Lauderdale, with most being in their 20s (like myself) and 30s and personally I believe Elysium could do well to focus on this less demanding and more budget focused clientele.

The trashpop radio piped around the pool can be distracting and it is a shame staff have not in the past been receptive to reducing the volume or being considerate of guests' dissatisfaction.

The gym was not that impressive, in a small room to the side of the jacuzzi area. The large 10 man tub was particularly busy in the balmy Florida evenings. During my stay a chemical imbalance caused by high alkali levels caused one jacuzzi-dedicated resident to lose all his leg hair....although this imbalance was remedied by a pool attendant after a day once reception were informed. The leg hair took a little longer to recover!

The expanded Continental breakfast was superb.

Other positive factors were that fellow residents were friendly. Quite a bit of alternative activity in the evenings.

I hope I have managed to state the facts, and an honest impression of a resort which has many plus points, and will improve as the owners continue their ambitious renovation programme.

VERDICT: A great place for the undemanding budget conscious younger traveller, with great beach proximity, two pools and a jacuzzi, and plenty of other fellow residents with whom to make friends. Elysium is ideal for those wishing to enjoy an extended stay in Fort Lauderdale, especially if you will be spending most of your time at the beach and out at the bars.

I had to respond to the negative reviews of the Elysium. We stayed there for two nights prior to a cruise. For the price, it was more than an adequate accommodation. Yes, one of the owners is a bit bristly, but that's just his personality. His hospitality was unwavering nonetheless. I would equate it more with him being very serious and dedicated about representing his hotel. There were always clean towels by the pool. Really nice continental breakfast. They have a large, secluded jacuzzi, and lovely well-kept garden pathways. The resort complex is very secure and you will receive your own key for the gates. It's close to the beach. We had a third floor suite which had a great beach feel. We would definitely return there.