We have been to the Villa Caprice on an annual vacation for the past 5 years. We have hoped it would be a tradition in aour family forever! The Villa Caprice is magic! The setting is idyllic - it is peaceful, family-oriented, friendly, and relaxing. We booked our trip for this year and were very saddened to learn that this is the last year we will be able to do this. The Villa Caprice has been sold to a new owner and in October it will be torn down and replaced with a 4-story condo building. My son and daughter both cried and cried when they heard the news. My daughter asked for the name of the owner so she could write a letter imploring them to change their minds. Our hearts hurt - we wish we had known it was for sale - we would have found a way to buy it and keep it as the special gem that it is.

We stayed at the VC fron December 26th to January 8th. A lovely spot, not without a few nuisances such as a few sugar ants in the kitchen, a common Florida problem. Sticky doors, locks not functioning on bathroom doors, a broken coffee maker decanter and a worn out teflon pan. Minor annoyances that were regulated as soon as brought to the attention of the helpful staff. Another complaint is the request for payment in full upon arrival. My credit card was charged upon check in. I've never experienced this in previous Florida visits.

Despite the above The Villa Caprice is a lovely property, with a clean pool and tidy deck, a lovely manicured oceanfront lawn. Fresh fruit, coffee and the local newspaper are compliments of the house every morning.

Here's the bad news the VC has been sold to a developer, and will change hands in June 2005. He plans to run it as is for five months, then demolish the resort to build townhouses or condos. Such is the fate of other properties along oceanfront ElMar Drive such as the Sea Lord. Lauderdale by the Sea will never be the same, as eventaully more properties are victim to the wreckers ball. I am told the ultimate aim of town officials is to upscale the community perhaps to be the next Los Olas bustling area.

So if you plan to visit, go soon. It's lovely just the way it is.

My boyfriend and I stayed at the Villa Caprice for 5 days at the end of October 2004. I booked a room based on the excellent reviews on this website - and must say that we were NOT disappointed. This hotel is a little gem. The first two nights, we stayed in a beachfront room w/ our own private balcony. It was absolutely wonderful. The second two nights, were were in a one bedroom apt. This was much more spacious (w/ full kitchen) and still provided an ocean view. The property sits directly on the beach; it has a lush lawn that you cross over to access the beach, which is so nice that many people simply relax there instead of on the sand. The rooms were immaculate, clean, beautifully furnished, and very comfortable. The staff could not have been more friendly and welcoming. If I ever return to Ft Lauderdale, this is where I will stay.

I went to Ft. Lauderdale to work as a poll monitor for the election and stayed at "Villa Caprice" based on its Tripadvisor reviews. What an idyllic place! We booked the "smallest" unit, a hotel room (they also have efficiencies and one and two-bedrooms) but it was quite big and beautifully decorated, with two easy chairs, a bistro table with two dining chairs, real night tables, a large mirrored dresser, a good-sized TV, and a huge california king bed. There were double-curtained windows on all three sides, including a picture window facing the ocean. Behind a separate door was another room with a wall-to-wall mirrored closet, cabinets, a microwave, coffeemaker, and small refrigerator. Past this room was a lovely bathroom with a window, Caswell-Massey toiletries, and a vanity full of extra paper supplies and thick white towels. Everything was immaculate.
But the setting is the real magic of "Villa Caprice". We had our own private curved staircase leading up from the ocean-fronted lawn to our small balcony (with two chairs) and the entrance to our hotel room. I felt like I was in an aerie. The grounds were beautiful and seemingly secluded. Although the hotel looks like nothing from the street, going around back is like entering an enchanted world.
Unfortunately, I was working most of the time and barely had a chance to take a walk on the beach. I would love to go back, get the same room, and not leave the hotel at all.