Radisson Bahia Mar Ft. Lauderdale
 

Thoughts? Anyone ever been?

Our family stayed there for a week a few years ago. It was a lovely hotel located right on A1A with a cross over directly to the beach. We found it to be close to all the things we were wanting to do, plus it was a water taxi stop. We enjoyed our stay there very much.

It's not only a Water Taxi stop, but the office for the Water Taxi is right next door, so it's very easy to get your tickets.

I live in the Ft Lauderdale area and stayed there two nights just for a weekend getaway to the beach. Ask for a room facing north on the upper level so you can see the ocean, marina and intracoastal waterway. I think I was on the 7th or 8th floor and it was a great view! The pool is on the second floor, so it's very private. They also have a nice excercise room and bar a the pool. Check out VISA.COM and find out under their offers if they still have the buy one night, get one free offer. Any days after two and you have to make other arrangements. You can always check out and check right back in, I suppose. You just have to use your VISA card when you make the reservations. Also, you could just switch to another hotel and get a little variety after the two days. Be creative and have fun!

PS: The Bahia Mar is next door to the marina being used for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in late Oct/early November. Just thought I'd let you know this in case that's when you were planning to visit. I assume rooms will either be booked up or very expensive at this time.

Its a dump.

Interesting comment, mrt. We stayed there for just an overnight about two or three years ago and had a wonderful room. When was the last time you stayed there? Was it before or after renovations. Want to give us any details that make you call it a dump?

Yeah, mrt, enlighten us. I stayed there about 2 years ago and it was beautiful. The balcony was extremely small (one person at a time, please), but that's the only downfall it had. Maybe you had a room on the lower level with no view? That is the only reason I can think of that anyone would call it a "dump". I've never seen a bad post about it.

O.K: the room was average at best with signs of wear and tear. The pool is a basic pooj on a deck with no view and little vegetation. There was a ping-pong table with paddles that were about 20 years old ( not a major factor in my evaluation. The lobby is small and in need of renovation. Generally there is nothing attractive about the place other than some rooms have full or partial ocean views. By the way, you need to run across the street at great risk or trek the 3/4 of a block over the pedestrian bridge to the beach.

If you have the money honey-stay at the Mariott Harbor Beach.

Would have to say that most all the hotels on A1A are "tired" and need of a major facelift. We stayed at the Sheraton Yankee Trader the one that sits right on the beach. It was right across the street from the Bahia Mar. It is sure nothing special from the outside and I would have to agree if you can swing it, I would choose the Marriott Beach towers. This is the most decent looking hotel on the that strip that I saw. The location of the Bahia Mar is good but it is across the street from the beach. The Sheraton at least sits on the beach. It is in a better location.

MRT -- when I was there two years ago the lobby appeared to have been recently renovated and I didn't see a ping pong table. I thought the pool area was nice being on the upper deck. Also, I didn't mind the trek across the overpass to the beach. I had a good room with a good view. The staff was very nice, also. You never said when you were there. It sounds as though it may have been prior to the renovations. My friend thought it was a great place, too.