...Considering we paid twice as much as a couple of reviewers say they paid, we stayed on a Wednesday night (September 26th). Our flight got in later than expected, so after getting a rental car from SIXT (new to the U.S - but great) we got to the hotel a bit after midnight to find to doors on Las Olas Street locked. After a long, delayed flight, this was the last thing we wanted to see. Long story short, there was another entrance we were not aware of around the back that wasn't locked. Why wouldn't they post a sign on their front door to come around the back??? That's inexcusable to waste are time like that. The room was okay, but smelled a little musty. The elevator was tiny, we barely got ourselves and two bags in for the ride up. Self parking & Valet seemed a bit too pricey for this place (I paid just two dollars more for valet at Loews in South Beach). I give this place a "one" for service just because of the locked front door with no sign to direct us to another entrance.

We took a chance on a Hotwire listing for a 3.5 star hotel in the downtown area of Fort Lauderdale and were very lucky to have booked a Saturday night's stay at the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Blvd. The listed price was an incredible $59!! The hotel is approximately 4 miles from the airport and very easy to get to. Fatima at the front desk was extremely pleasant and accommodating. We asked about upgrading to a Tower room, as many of the TA folks suggested, and we got a 10th floor balcony room with a view of the river for a mere $20. The king-size bed was very comfortable and the view was, indeed, spectacular. We could not only see the waterway but could see clear thru to Port Everglades, so we watched cruise ships embark and disembark right from our balcony! We did not eat or drink at any of the hotel's restaurants or bar but we did take the short walk (a block and a half) to catch the Water Taxi. This is a beautiful and inexpensive way to see Fort Lauderdale!! Keep in mind that to park at the Riverside it is either $23 to valet or $17 to self park in the garage across the street. We did not swim in the pool, which is also across the street, but not too inconvenient at all, but I did sit poolside for a little while in the afternoon and watched the boats and yachts pass by immediately beyond the gate surrounding the pool. All in all, our stay at the Riverside was thoroughly enjoyable and I would recommend this place to anyone and would definitely stay here again! FYI, we stayed in room 1021. Odd numbered rooms face the river.

I stayed here Oct 1-5 and I overall really liked this hotel. The staff was very friendly and accommadating. I got this room from Hotwire for $60 per night, so I knew they were going to stick me in the older rooms. The rooms were clean but kind of musty smelling. I had to be switched rooms the second night because twice in one day, in the showers, a huge cockroach came out of the drains. My second room produced no such problem but was still musty. I also was jumpy for the rest of the trip in my rooms and my showers weren't enjoyable because I kept staring down at the drains to make sure nothing came out. They were really apologetic about the situation but I wish they would have offered me something like a free meal or that night free. It's okay though. I loved the location, so much to eat and a quick 7 minute bus ride to the beach, which was beautiful and had so many options to eat, drink, and shop. If I stay here again, I would pay the extra money to be in the new tower rooms.