Accommodations near Fort Lauderdale Beach can be quite pricey. I’ve stayed in a few places in this location and pricewise, La Casa del Mar is one of the more moderate ones. It is a small guesthouse-type accommodation and is just a few blocks from the beach.
It’s walking distance to the little strip near Ft. Lauderdale Beach with all of the restaurants and little shops (which to be honest isn’t much) and also to a cute little restaurant and bar called Casablanca Cafe with an outdoor patio and “ocean view”.
The hotels and restaurants in Fort Lauderdale Beach, keep in mind, are usually across a rather busy street from the beach proper. After visiting Hollywood Beach not too far from here, I have to say I much prefer that location to this one, but for all intents and purposes, if you have your heart set on Ft. Lauderdale Beach, here is a little place you should consider.
La Casa del Mar is next door to another little hotel called the Granada Inn. They’re both very similar but the Granada Inn has a rooftop lounge area. To be honest, when I reserved my room at La Casa del Mar, I thought I was booking the Granada Inn (which has a bit better reviews on TripAdvisor).
The lounge areas near the pools and the common areas here were mostly filled with younger people but the crowd and vibe was mixed. There were also some people out smoking somewhat often, so if you don’t like smoke you may be a bit put off here. There were lots of places to sit and “hang” around the property.
There is parking for free at the hotel, although keep in mind the spots are very small so I don’t think you’d want to park a large Ford F150 there or anything. I arrived late in the day and there was still an open spot. If you’re arriving after their “office hours” which are somewhat limited, the front desk will leave your key and a map to your room in the mailbox for you. The next morning you can go finish your check-in process—it’s actually quite convenient.
The staff was pretty helpful and I even got a little mini tour when I checked in the following day. That was a nice personal touch and the little dog following us on the tour was the cutest. The pool area was really nice and there was lots of foliage and a big fence for privacy–I don’t think the pool is heated though, so in November when I was there it wasn’t really prime weather for it.
If it’s not IMPERATIVE for you to be ON the beach and you’re open to walking a block or two, this hotel is in a great spot. There isn’t any complimentary breakfast (which is true of most accommodations in this area) but the room was adequate with a kitchen sink, mini refrigerator, microwave, and small table with two chairs. I stayed in the least expensive room type but I know there are suites with full kitchens on the property too.
One of my critiques on this property is that honestly, the rooms weren’t spotless. The bathrooms in particular needed a bit more attention. I found hairs in the shower and there was quite a lot of dust all around the unit. Beds were nice but could use a soft mattress cover or something to make them a bit more comfy. My room was also quite bright in the morning and I would probably have appreciated some light-blocking curtains.
I did speak to some ladies who said they had to move rooms because they didn’t do well with the stairs (there are no elevators), so keep this in mind and you may want to ask for a ground floor room.
Overall, La Casa del Mar did the trick and was a great value for the money. My room for the night was only $138 including tax and for the location you can’t really beat it. I hope this review is helpful, as I try to be as honest as possible. If you have any specific questions about this accommodation, please don’t hesitate to leave it in the comments!
Another couple of hotels I might recommend to check out–Snooze (budget-friendly) which is actually attached to the Casablanca Cafe I mentioned; and Lago Mar Beach Resort (I stayed there a few years ago–it’s beautiful, higher end, and right on the beach).
Keep on Keepin’ On!
CAITLYN WITHOUT A COMPASS
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