greetings,
anyone have a recommendation for a hotel in fort lauderdale as a stop over to the airport. i was thinking along the water for convenience to the tourist sites but i want 5 star at good prices? can it be done? also has anyone taken a tour from here. i would be interested in a water tour of famous homes
thanks

We were in FLL in Feb. Don't know about 5*, but we enjoyed our stay at the Doubletree Oceanfront. The room is fine, but the location can't be beat. Directly across Hwy 1 from the beach, and On the backside faces the intercoastal waterway. Catch the water taxi/tour right out the back and across the street. Located on the best few blocks of beach.

If you want 5 star stay at the Marriott Harbor Beach or Lago Mar-both are on the ocean and very convenient to the airport-about 10 min. drive. The Paddlewheel Queen has a good tour of the canals and homes. It leaves from Bahia Mar marina-about 5 min. away from hotels.

Would definitely second the recommendation for Lago Mar. It is the best value in FLL. We have stayed there four times in the executive suites and loved it. It is on the water taxi route which means that you can get over to the tour on River Queen without a car. Water taxi actually depends on the tide as there is a small bridge it has to clear, however the tour is within easy walking distance of the resort. See http://www.lagomar.com

Harry, I am wondering when you last stayed @ Lago Mar b/c when we were
there in May, 2001 water taxi had been discontinued. We are going back again in May & it wld. be great if the water taxi is up & running again! I wonder if you cld. post bcak here & let me know. I may also call LM.
Thanks!

We were there also last May for four days (last three days of May) & there was no water taxi that we knew of either. I'll 3rd the recommendation as well because it is a lovely place. Get the super deluxe 1 bedroom suite on the 1st floor so you can roll out onto the short grass right onto the beach. They can nickel & dime you a lot, but want a nice place. You are not to far from Las Olas for some fine dinning & shopping either. If you have dinner there they sometimes want you to wear a jacket, no tie, for evening dinning. I didn't have to they said a nice golf shirt will do. A lot of people dress up there for dinner.

Susan, You're right. We were just at Lago Mar last week and the water taxi has been discontinued. It's now a "water bus" and no longer stops at the Lago Mar dock. The closest hotel where it stops is the Hyatt Pier 66. We did love the Lago Mar and the prices may drop a little now that Easter is over. The Carrie B is a paddle wheel ship that does a water tour past the famous homes. The Jungle Queen does the same thing but is a little more "touristy".