Stepping Out From My Comfort Zone
I am a huge fan of the big brands and the perks that come with joining their loyalty programs, but there are occasions when it just makes sense to look elsewhere. Only recently have I started to look at other options other than familiar hotel chains for my out of town stays. An apartment for the weekend worked out well in Nashville during the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament. This most recent trip to Fort Lauderdale was another step away from the familiar choices. We had considered the Lago Mar Resort for previous trips to SoFla but would always opt for other properties based on either budget or brand name comfort. This trip we were wanting to avoid the busy A1A strip along the beach and had also considered a few Hollywood Beach properties. When we found the Lago Mar rate comparable to some of these other properties we decided to pull the trigger and leave our comfort zone.
Quiet Yet Still Close
If you have kids, and are looking for a place to avoid the rowdy crowds, then this is your place. The fact that I just typed that previous sentence makes me officially feel old. I've been visiting Ft. Lauderdale for thirty years with friends and family and there was a time or two when we ran with those crowds. Don't get me wrong, I still like the nightlife that Ft. Lauderdale has to offer, but I now prefer to keep it as an option rather than a requirement as it seemed to be in my younger days. While I typically like the convenience of having things within walking distance, the location of this property wasn't a big issue. We used Uber for the few trips when we left the property with our largest fare being about $15. Our Deluxe one bedroom suite came with a kitchenette area so we ordered groceries through the Instacart app. The app told us we would have our items in just over an hour (which was accurate), so we spent the hour walking the grounds and checking out some of the amenities. It was great to be able to not have to spend our vacation time grocery shopping and I will be using the Instacart app again.
Family Friendly Relaxation
While there were a number of adults there traveling without kids, the Lago Mar was primarily made up of families. I was struck by the number of people that were return visitors. If you read through some of the reviews on TripAdvisor you will find many stating they have been coming here for years. My UK shirt drew the attention of a couple who, as it turned out, live about a mile from us. The wife had stayed here over 30 times and her mother over 60 times. Her husband, who has stayed at many nearby hotels, told me that he would rather pay to stay at Lago Mar than stay for free at any other property. That's a strong endorsement. The property offers enough in terms of amenities and dining options, that you would never need to leave if you were there for a short stay. There are two pools, a 9 hole mini golf course, tennis and basketball courts, among other things. I liked the cashless system of just charging everything to your room. The only thing you need to carry with you is a room key, which I lost in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Price Was Right
I realize not everyone's idea of a good value is the same. The fact that we booked this resort at a price similar to what other hotels were asking for their basic rooms, felt like a pretty good bargain to us. The moment we entered our spacious suite, although some furnishings may be a bit dated, I knew we had made the right decision.
Quick Afterthoughts
There were only a few things that I would consider a negative to the property. While the private beach area is rather large, it has a number of rocks that sit right along the shoreline and made it a challenge to get past them. This did seem to get better with each day of our stay , so it's likely not an everyday thing. As with many of the beaches in the area, they prohibit the use of coolers on the beach. If you have a smaller insulated tote bag like the one my wife carries, the Picnic Time 'Topanga' Insulated Cooler Tote, St. Tropez
