Fort Lauderdale in April
 

OK, last April I went to Paris and had wished I was in Florida...so April,2005 is Fort Lauderdale for me...
Anyone can tell me what is special in this particular city. I am staying it Palm Air Resort ( I am sure I spelled it wrong)
Thanks in advance

Well for starters I suppose you know that much of Ft. Lauderdale is about the beach and Palm Aire can be nearly an hour drive away in season? Are you golfers? That's the only reason I can think of to stay there, unless you know someone there and it is free.
Sorry if that seems brutal, but I can't imagine going to Ft. Lauderdale and staying so far inland, especially with that traffic. The only reason I say this is because my partner's parents used to have a condo at Palm Aire so in our Ohio days that's where we'd go. We put up with it because it was free, but otherwise. . .

O, thanks a lot, Patrick...I am looking to change it right NOW...gosh, I am glad I asked.Thanks

PATRICK!!!
Just called Resort...it is 10 min away from beach and shuttle available for no charge...Whoof...

PATRICK!!!
Just called Resort...it is 10 min away from beach and shuttle available for no charge...Whoof...
OK,

PATRICK!!!
Just called Resort...it is 10 min away from beach and shuttle available for no charge...Whoof...
OK, now

PATRICK!!!
Just called Resort...it is 10 min away from beach and shuttle available for no charge...Whoof...
OK, now what else

PATRICK!!!
Just called Resort...it is 10 min away from beach and shuttle available for no charge...Whoof...
OK, now what else is

PATRICK!!!
Just called Resort...it is 10 min away from beach and shuttle available for no charge...Whoof...
OK, now what else is at

Sorry..what happened? I satrted to type what else about Forth Lauderdale except beach and it went postpostpost...

Ziana, the Palm Aire Resort is not located in Ft. Lauderdale. It is in Pompano.

The hotel is about 4 miles from the closest beach. It is west of Interstate 95.

Agree with Patrick, unless you are going there specifically to golf, I'd stay elsewhere.

What are you looking for?

Forgot to add, the hotel is about 10 miles northeast of Ft. Lauderdale.

Wouldnt 10 miles northeast of ft lauderdale be in the Atlantic ocean?

If you'll be in Lauderdale in April, you might see if you're there for Spring Break week. Personally, I'd avoid that time, unless you enjoy lots of college kids falling down drunk and puking on the beach! (I exaggerate, but only slightly.)
There are certain spots in Florida, like Ft. Lauderdale and Daytona Beach, that really get overrun with college kids. Last spring break, I met my daughter in Cocoa Beach for a laid-back mother/daughter get-away. Cocoa was a good place to go, because it's much less hyper there, not fancy or glitzy, more family-oriented.
One other thing-- IMO, a 10-minute shuttle may sound ok, but when you're there, it's a bummer. It's best to be able to just walk out the door and on to the beach. Then you can go into your room at your leisure to grab something or get a drink, etc.
At Cocoa, we stayed at the Hilton, and its location was perfect. Right on the beach, with a big deck and outdoor cafe. Although the property itself was in need of a major facelift. They were starting to do just that right after we were there, so it must be done by now. The only other thing we didn't like about the Hilton, though, is that they don't have any balconies. We only ended up there because it was available and reasonably priced for our very last-minute trip.

We enjoyed Ft. Lauderdale. Was there last November. Had a great time. Shopping, boat tours, restaurants. We stayed right on the beach at Marriott Harbor Beach resort. Check priceline. We got a good rate from priceline for this resort. Only resort hotel on priceline for Ft.Lauderdale beach resort area. Also check out biddingfortravel.com

Have fun!

I think GoTravel meant "northwest" of Ft. Lauderdale.
Ten minutes to the beach? Did they build a new super highway since we were there? I remember being stopped in clogged traffic the whole way. I do realize you can get to Pompano Beach in less time from Palm Aire, but it was a long drive to the center of Ft. Lauderdale or the Lauderdale Beach where we wanted to go.

How about the Sheraton Bal Harbour... right in front of the ocean... walk across the street and you have Bal Harbour Mall... best stores, best restaurants and best all in North Miami ...

Thank you Patrick, northwest.

Maureen, I think you are under a misconception about Lauderdale in April. There are some college students, but the place is not overun by them like we saw in "Where the Boys Are" ;-). Daytona is also discouraging spring breakers. The only city I know of in Fl that welcomes the breakers, is Panama City Beach. Judy

Daytona may be discouraging the spring breakers, but judging from the news coverage I saw there last spring break, they were losing the battle. It was still overrun with students and they left a big mess on the beach at night, in addition to other unpleasantries.
Having been a college student once, I understand their exuberance, but I just want to avoid it at this stage in my life!

I here you Maureen. Youth is wasted on the young;-).

I have one word for you:

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL

5 miles north of Ft. Lauderdale city and a lovely beachtown that doesn't allow any place of accommodation to be more than 3 stories tall so everywhere you walk you feel close to the ocean, the crowds are sparse. Next time in FL this is where I am heading for again.

Ok, thanks everyone
I have a timeshare and Palm Aire was one of my choices, that is Resort, could it be different then what you are talking about?
Spring break intentionally my choice as my daughter on the break and we go FL on spring break every year, never was a problem. We always stay in Resorts with awesome comfort.

My question however was about what to do in F.Lauderdale except beaching (lol) as we stayed until now in Orlando.
I have no idea what type of place is F.Lauderdale and what is the best thing to do when not on the beach?
Thanks (I hope my msg is not gonna quadrouple this time)

Yes, Ziana, this is the time share place as well as condos. Look at trip advisor for some very mixed reviews (put Palm Aire Resort in Google and you'll get the Trip Advisor first).
It's been too long for me -- but I didn't like it years ago. Sounds worse now than then. And despite what they say -- it is nowhere to stay if your main goal is beaching.

2,5 out of 7 are negative, so I think I'll think about it, still WHY everyone said it is 10 min from the beach and you are insisting on impossible beaching? With all the respect, thanks

Yeah, btw, all Fairfield Resorts we are stayed were immaculate with friendliest service ever, so it might changed from when you've been there.
I'll let you know when I return.

Ziana, beach isn't impossible it is just a PIA from where you are staying.

The resort is WEST of Interstate 95 which is a parking lot from about 7AM to 10PM. Traffic in that area is very very heavy.

The hotel is NOT in Ft. Lauderdale but north in Pompano. During peak season, your quickest ride to the beach would be 30 minutes. The people at the resort are not telling you the truth.

The only way you can make the beach in 10 minutes is by helicopter.

Have you looked at the Ramada Inn on Hollywood Beach? It isn't your normal Ramada. It is an old renovated hotel from the 1920s.

OK, Ziana, call them and tell them when you arrive you'd like one of them to drive you to the beach in 10 minutes. Tell them if they can't get you there in that amount of time that then they should give you the room for free for the stay. See what they say to that, since they are so sure it is only 10 minutes away.

To answer your original question about what to do while in Pompano Beach/Fort Lauderdale, I'd like to try to help you.

Butterfly World/Tradewinds Park is in the are where you will be staying.

Find a way to Ft. Lauderdale Beach (you can go to Galleria Mall and then catch the Water Taxi and take a tour of the scenic waterways of Ft. Lauderdale, which is called "The Venice of the Americas". You will see the magnificent mansions and stop along the way to sightsee. Las Olas Boulevard area is a great place to stop for shopping, lunch or dinner, and entertainment. Riverwalk area on the Water Taxi route is also a nice place to catch a movie, sightsee, shop, have a drink or meal, etc.

If you give us an idea of what you like to do, we might be able to help you a little more. It sounds as if you want to stay at Palm Aire because of your Fairfield Timeshare, so I don't understand why everyone is making such an issue out of getting to the beach. Whether it takes 10 minutes or 45 minutes, no big deal if you want to get there. It all depends on how heavy the traffic is, what time you go, etc.

Have a nice vacation!

Thank, Heartburn!
We'll be there for 11 days and I don't think we'll be getting to the beach like every day, so I was asking what to do in F.L and you told me.
Now, we would like to relax and my daughter is 10 so, anything will do like sightseeing (I'll make sure I went everywhere you told me to), shopping, anything interesting that major tourist attraction will do, if there is more - please, tell.
Good Day
P.S. Do you think shuttle from hotel will marinate ppl on the bus for 45min?

If you are a big shopper don't miss Sawgrass Mills Mall which is one of the biggest and nicest outlet malls. It is about a 20-30 minute drive from the beaches. There are nice restaurants at the mall as well.

Thanks and keep them coming....

I would like to ask Janny,who got to stay at Marriott's Harbour Beach with Priceline,what she paid for the room in November.

We have a condo in Pompano and Palm Aire is definitely in western Pompano. I could nver think of staying there on vacation. In fact, there is a nursing home on "the resort" where my grandmother spent her last years. It is all highway and nothing to walk to during day or evening. Stay in Fort Luaderdale at one the the beautiful beach resorts. You can take a water taxi, shop, eat and have a great time. Don't stay at Palm Aire. I wouldn't go to Florida if I had stay there.