We are considering booking an itinerary that includes a 6+ hour layover in Fort Lauderdale near the beginning of a long set of flights, Tampa to Cuiaba, Brazil.

Would it make sense to leave the airport for that length of time? Is there anything you'd suggest we do if we do leave the airport? The beach holds no particular appeal since we live in Florida, and have to avoid too much sun exposure anyway.

Your thoughts?

FLL is a horrible airport in which to have a long layover, so I'd certainly try to get outside. On cruise days it's overrun with people and simply can't keep up ... not to mention generally abysmal food service. Perhaps you could go see Bonnet House if your bags are checked through. I'd definitely leave for 2 or 3 hours, but if it's a cruise day, be sure to get back to the airport with plenty of time for the long security lines.

Living HERE I have to say that the airport has made some improvements perhaps since MR Stallings actually used it. I gather he has been in all FOUR terminals, too, but you can let him comment on that.

I will say that in Terminal 3 the food is not very good and he is also correct that the place can get VERY busy and crowded on so-called "cruise days." After all, one weekend last year the airport handled almost 60,000 passengers in a two-day weekend period. AND there have been days when the TSA Pre-check line was closed, too, which can be a pain.

However, you could leave for a couple of hours but I am curious as to which airline you are flying out of here on.

Azul, Dukey. And it will be a Wednesday in July--will that make any difference?

I suspected it wouldn't be a great airport to spend 6 hours in, although we can always just hunker down and read. And we'll have dinner on the next leg, which will be to Sao Paolo...

Tell me more about Bonnet House, please! Also, maybe a place just to go have lunch and come back?

Any additional thoughts, regarding Azul, or Bonnet House, or anything?

Check Las Olas blvd. Lots of restaurants, shops, galleries. Good people watching. An easy cab ride from the airport.

http://lasolasboulevard.com/

Thanks, mcheryl!