Escape to Paradise: Sheraton Suites Fort Lauderdale - Your Florida Getaway
Escape to Paradise? More Like Escape to Mild Chaos: A Deep Dive into Sheraton Suites Fort Lauderdale
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because I just got back from a "Florida Getaway" at the Sheraton Suites Fort Lauderdale, and let me tell you, it was… an experience. Let’s just say, escaping to paradise isn't always a smooth ride, even when you're supposed to be relaxing. This review is gonna be less "objective list" and more "stream-of-consciousness rant seasoned with moments of genuine appreciation." Consider yourselves warned.
(Metadata & SEO Stuff, Because We Gotta Play the Game)
- Keywords: Fort Lauderdale Hotels, Sheraton Suites Fort Lauderdale Review, Florida Vacation, Accessible Hotel, Pool with a View, Free Wi-Fi, Family-Friendly Hotel, Spa Hotel, Fort Lauderdale Beach, Vacation Rental Alternative, South Florida Hotel, COVID-19 Safety, Best Hotels Fort Lauderdale.
- Meta Description: Honest review of Sheraton Suites Fort Lauderdale: Accessibility, amenities, dining, and COVID-19 safety measures. Get ready for a messy, funny, and real take on this Florida getaway!
(The Arrival & Accessibility – A Mixed Bag)
First impressions? Kinda… bland. The exterior isn't exactly screaming "tropical oasis," but, hey, I wasn't expecting the Ritz. The elevator was a godsend, though. Needed that to get to my room and for anyone with mobility issues (more on that in a second.) The facilities for disabled guests are mentioned, so let's dig in a little. The brochure whispers accessibility, saying it's available. The wheelchair accessibility exists in certain areas, but trying to navigate the sprawling layout of the hotel felt like a treasure hunt with the clues written in interpretive dance. Some doorways? Fine. Others? A tight squeeze. Getting around was possible, not perfectly easy.
(Rooms – My Personal Cave of Mild Discomfort)
The rooms themselves? Standard. Not amazing, not terrible. Definitely not that Instagram-worthy tropical paradise they advertise. The air conditioning worked (thank GOD, because Florida), the bed was… a bed. The blackout curtains were clutch. Slept like a log until the kids started screaming down the hall (more on THAT later).
- Okay, here’s my first gripe: the décor. I mean, it wasn’t bad, but it was beige. Beige on beige on beige. Like living in a giant, slightly depressing biscuit. I feel like they could have really leaned into the Florida vibe, given us some color, some oomph. Nope. Just… beige.
- Bonus points for: the free Wi-Fi. (And they weren't lying! It was actually stable, which is a miracle in itself.) Also, they had a refrigerator, which was crucial for keeping my emergency supply of… you know.. hydration and snacks.
- I did appreciate: The daily housekeeping. Coming back to a made bed and clean bathroom felt luxurious. Especially since I had to clean up my own messes all day.
(Internet Access – A Lifeline of Connectivity)
My lifeblood, my connection to the world, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Yes! It was, as promised, pretty stable. I needed to work a bit (booo!), and the internet access - wireless (Wi-Fi) worked perfectly. I tested the Internet access - LAN (a joke, I know) but I’m sure it worked too.
(Things to Do, Ways to Relax – A Balancing Act)
The hotel definitely offered options. They are trying! They really are. The fitness center looked decent, and I meant to go, but, you know… vacation. The spa was… there. I didn't actually get around to using it, but the brochure looked promising.
- The Pool: This is where things get interesting. The swimming pool [outdoor] was massive. The pool with a view? Okay, maybe not. The "view" was primarily other hotel buildings. But it sure felt nice to take a dip.
- The Sauna? Didn't even peek in. I was too busy wrangling kids and trying to avoid getting sunburnt. (Pro Tip: Sunscreen. Bring it.)
- The Steamroom - Another thing I failed to even attempt.
- The Massage - A moment might be just for me…
- The Poolside Bar: The ultimate in relaxation or temptation?
(Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – A Culinary Adventure (Sort Of))
The dining situation was… also an experience. They had several restaurants, a coffee shop, a snack bar, and room service [24-hour].
- Breakfast [buffet] was… well, it was a buffet. Your usual suspects: scrambled eggs that may or may not be actual eggs, sad-looking pastries, and coffee that tasted faintly of despair. The Asian breakfast was an upgrade for taste.
- The Restaurants: The a la carte in restaurant, the Asian cuisine in restaurant, the international cuisine in restaurant were all there and I was willing, but my wallet wasn’t.
- The Happy Hour: Yes! Drinks specials and cheap food – a lifesaver for a weary traveler.
- The Poolside Bar: Okay, this was a highlight. (Maybe because it involved alcohol?) Sun, cocktails, and snacks. Pure vacation bliss.
- The Desserts in restaurant: Yes! One had a yummy key lime pie.
(Cleanliness and Safety – Navigating the COVID-19 Landscape)
Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room: COVID. I was generally impressed. The staff was trained in safety protocol, and it showed. Lots of hand sanitizer everywhere. Daily disinfection in common areas. They had a lot of hand sanitizer, too. I did notice a few minor things. Some areas were really clean; some… less so. Still, considering, I felt relatively safe.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: They said they were, and I’m inclined to believe them, but… it's hard to know for sure, isn't it?
- Individually-wrapped food options: This was a nice touch at the buffet.
- Safe dining setup: Tables spaced apart, staff wearing masks. All good.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: That’s always a plus.
- Cashless payment service: Very convenient.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good to know.
(Services and Conveniences – A Mixed Basket)
They had a ton of services and conveniences, but the quality varied.
- Concierge: Helpful!
- Daily housekeeping: As I mentioned, a godsend.
- Luggage storage: Convenient.
- Babysitting service: Not used, but good to know it's there.
- Cash withdrawal: Yep.
- Dry cleaning: Never needed it!
- Front desk [24-hour]: Always help!
- Gift/souvenir shop: There was one there.
- Invoice provided: Fine.
- Elevator: essential
- Smoking area: Yes.
(For the Kids – Chaos Unleashed)
Traveling with kids is, in itself, an adventure in chaos. Hotel amenities can make it better… or worse.
- Kids facilities: Uh… nothing dedicated really.
- Babysitting service: Listed, but you should check availability with them ahead of time.
- Family/child friendly: Yes. Although I'm not sure the staff would agree by the end of my stay.
- Kids meal: They had a few options.
- CCTV in common areas: More for security.
(Getting Around – Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (Hopefully with AC))
- Airport transfer: Can be provided by the concierge.
- Car park [free of charge]: Score! Free parking!
(The Verdict: Paradise Adjacent)
Would I recommend the Sheraton Suites Fort Lauderdale? Honestly… it depends. It’s not a terrible hotel. It’s clean (mostly), the staff is friendly (mostly), the pool is nice, and the location is convenient. It's fine for a quick getaway. But if you're looking for a true "escape to paradise," this isn't it. It’s more like an escape to… reasonable comfort with a side of mild chaos. Still, I got to relax. I got to escape. And honestly, after the year we've all had, that's enough.
(Final Thoughts – Rambling into the Sunset)
I also wanted to mention a few things:
- The Proposal spot is listed on the website. Honestly, I’m not sure where you’d propose, but hey, maybe the right lighting could do the trick.
- They had a convenience store, which was critical for late-night snack runs.
- I was in a non-smoking room, which I appreciated. (Thanks, Sheraton!)
- There was a doctor/nurse on call, which is a nice safety
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this itinerary… it’s gonna be a journey. This ain't your pristine brochure-copy-paste, honey. This is me, raw, probably caffeinated, and ready to wrestle with the Sheraton Suites in Fort Lauderdale (West, obvi. Can't be dealing with the beach crowd right now).
Sheraton Suites Fort Lauderdale West: The "Survive-and-Thrive" Itinerary (Because, Let's Be Real, That's the REAL goal)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Room Rumble
11:00 AM (ish) - "Operation Get-Checked-In": Landed at FLL. Ugh, baggage claim. Always a circus. Tried to find my bag. Finally managed it (victory!). Now, praying to the travel gods that the Westin isn't booked, and that my pre-booked room I can check in to. It had better be ready. Don't give me one of those "We're cleaning it" lines when the place is clearly empty. I need a room. Now.
- Anecdote Alert: Last time I flew, I forgot my noise-canceling headphones. Traumatic. I'm convinced the crying baby heard me through my inner monologue. Thankfully, my luggage was waiting for me at this point.
12:00 PM - "The Great Room Selection": Okay, checked in. Praise be! Front desk person seems nice, or maybe I'm just delirious from the flight. Hopefully the room is as advertised. I requested a suite, and a high floor as I'm sure I don't want a low floor.
- Quirky Observation: Okay, the elevator music is already starting to get on my nerves. Classic. That's how I know I definitely need to take a nap.
12:30 PM - The "Unpack & Assess" Stage: Suite it is! Success! Right now, just unpacking, trying to get a handle on this thing called life, and just be grateful that I have a fridge to keep my drinks cold.
1:30 PM - "Poolside Panic (and Potential Bliss): The pool is calling. I'm slightly terrified of public pools, but also, HEAT. Should I? Should I not? Fine, I'll scope it out. The important question is - is there a pool bar?!
- Emotional Reaction: Okay, the pool looks okay. Maybe. Okay, I'm going in. Sunscreen, check. Towel, check. Anxiety? Double-check.
3:30 PM - "Nap or No Nap?": This is the pivotal question. The answer is always nap. But. Work emails. Sigh. Fine. Twenty minutes, then back to the pool.
4:00 PM - Poolside Part Two (Maybe Less Panic): Okay, the pool is actually… pleasant. I got a drink. The people-watching is excellent. 10/10, would recommend.
6:00 PM - "Dinner Dilemma": Time to forage for food. Do I brave the hotel restaurant? Or risk venturing out? The options are endless (and overwhelming). Let the Yelp research commence.
- Opinionated Language: I'm SO over chain restaurants. Give me a local dive, a hidden gem, a place with character! And maybe a decent cocktail list.
7:30 PM - "Fueling Up at the… [TBD]" I swear it was either a pizza place or a sports bar. I don't totally remember. I do remember eating, though. Food was good.
9:00 PM - "Wind-Down & Prep for Tomorrow": Back at the hotel. Trying to get some work done. (Kidding. Mostly). Maybe a bit of Netflix. And definitely setting my alarm. Need to be up early to make the most of the day.
Day 2: Adventures (and Caffeine Dependency)
7:00 AM - "The Coffee Quest": Wake up. Need coffee. Now. Hotel coffee… questionable. Must seek out caffeine.
- Rambles Begin: Is it just me, or is the coffee always the Achilles' heel of travel? Seriously, a good cup of coffee can make or break a day. I'd rather be at home, if only just for coffee.
8:00 AM - "Brunch Bonanza (Attempted)": Found a cute little cafe… maybe.
- Emotional Reaction: Brunch – yay! Wait… the line is out the door. Ugh. Plan B…?
9:30 AM - "Retail Therapy or Regret?": Shopping. Found the outlet mall. I may or may not buy more than one pair of sunglasses. Shopping makes me happy or makes me feel like I spend too much money.
12:00 PM - "The Lunch Labyrinth": Another restaurant. Lunch was fine though.
- Messy Structure: Wait, what was I doing? Oh yeah, lunch. Okay, back to the plan…
- Doubling Down on a Single Experience: This is where I completely lost track of time and ended up talking for 40 minutes.
2:00 PM - "Poolside Relaxation (Round 2)": Time to get back to the pool. I deserve it.
5:00 PM - "Happy Hour Hunt": Found a dive bar. The local beers are a blessing.
- Opinionated Language: This is what travel is all about, you know? Finding the hidden gems, avoiding the tourist traps. I love this. Seriously, I love it. I'll probably meet the love of my life at a dive bar.
7:00 PM - "Dinner & Evening Entertainment": Decided to try that local restaurant. Was it good? I can't remember. Probably.
- Messy Structure: Time to relax, watch some TV, and plan the next day.
Day 3: Departure… and the Post-Travel Blues
8:00 AM - "The Final Coffee (and Maybe a Tear)": One last attempt at decent coffee before the airport. (Praying.)
- Emotional Reaction (Good & Bad): I love traveling. I hate traveling. Ugh, getting ready to leave is hard.
9:30 AM - "Packing & Prepping": Packing is such a drag. Always.
- Imperfections: Yep, stuff everywhere. But I don't have to be perfect, just good enough.
11:00 AM - "Check Out & Airport Run": Goodbye, Sheraton Suites! (For now.) Time to join the airport mayhem.
1:00 PM - "Departure": At the gate. Waiting. Thinking about what I may have done.
- Stronger Emotional Reactions: I'm already planning my next trip. That's how I know I'm a traveler. I am.
- Stream-of-Consciousness: Wait, should I have done more? Did I miss out on something? Oh well. Next time.
???: Post-Trip Recovery (and Planning the Next Escape): After the flight, after getting home. Back to the real world. Until next time.
There you have it. A mess, a mishmash, a whirlwind of experiences and (hopefully) some tips. Travel, my friends, is rarely perfect. But it's always an adventure.
Grand Rapids Getaway: Unbeatable Deals at Sleep Inn & Suites!
So, what *is* this "thing" anyway? Like, seriously? I'm lost.
Oh, honey, *same*. Honestly, it's like trying to herd cats made of glitter and existential dread. Sometimes it feels like… well, imagine you're building a ship out of used bubblegum and your instructions are written in interpretive dance by a squirrel. You get the gist? That's basically it. There's a core idea, sure, but it gets warped and twisted by a million different things. And honestly? That’s life.
Okay, okay, still vague. What are the *benefits*? I heard something about… happiness?
Happiness? Haha! Bless your sweet little heart. "Happiness" is a fickle friend. I've had a few fleeting moments of what I *think* was happiness, usually involving copious amounts of chocolate and questionable life choices. Look, the *real* benefit, the *actually* good thing? It's about... resilience, I guess. Building up the emotional callouses. You get knocked down, you scrape your knee, you yell a bit, and then you *keep going*. You learn to find the funny in the faceplant. It gets easier, *sometimes*. And sometimes you just have a breakdown on the bathroom floor, and that’s fine too. We’ve all been there.
Is there a "right" way to do this "thing"? Because I'm pretty sure I'm screwing it up.
Oh, darling, if there's a *right* way, nobody's told *me*. And believe me, I've asked. Repeatedly. I've spent hours, DAYS even, agonizing over it, rewriting, deleting, starting again. You want the honest truth? "Right" is a myth. It's all about *your* right. Your journey. Which is usually a giant, messy, glorious, train wreck. Embrace the chaos!
I'm feeling overwhelmed. It's all too much. Help?
(Deep breath, in through the nose, out through the mouth.) Right. Okay. Overwhelmed is basically my default setting. When that feeling hits, my advice? Get off the internet. That's step one. Then: find something to ground you. A hot shower. A walk outside. A phone call with a friend who knows how to listen to you and make you laugh until your stomach hurts. For me? It's cheesy rom-coms and a pint of ice cream. Don't judge!
Okay, let's talk about... failure. I'm really good at it. Any tips?
Failure? Oh, sweetie, failure is my *specialty*. Let's just say I could write a PhD thesis on the subject. The secret? Embrace it, learn from it, and laugh about it later. And by "later," I mean, like, after you've cried in the shower and eaten an entire pizza in one sitting. Seriously, every misstep, every crash and burn, adds to the experience. Remember a time, I was SO sure I found the "perfect" plan for... well, everything. Then, I tripped over my own feet and somehow managed to set the kitchen on fire. True story. Did it work out the way I planned? Nope. Did I learn some valuable lessons about fire safety and the importance of not wearing flowy dresses while cooking? ABSOLUTELY. Consider failures the breadcrumbs that lead you to the real answers.
Is there *anything* I should absolutely, positively *avoid*?
*Avoid*? Okay, this one's easy. Sticking your head in denial and avoiding vulnerability. Think to yourself... What’s one things you refuse to even acknowledge? *That*. That’s your kryptonite. Face it. Own it. Then figure out how to deal with it. Also? Avoid comparing yourself to other people's highlight reels. The perfectly curated lives on social media? They're usually fiction. Remember, everyone's messy. Some of us are just better at hiding it (or, you know, not).
What about... relationships? They're hard!
Relationships are the emotional equivalent of a rollercoaster ride designed by a sadist. You climb the slow, torturous climb, anticipating the thrill, knowing full well you're about to be thrown around and possibly vomited on. Sometimes you get to the top and it's GLORIOUS. Other times, you're stuck with a broken carousel and a lot of regrets. The key? Honesty, communication, and lower your expectations. If someone can manage the messiness of who you are and accept it, that's it. Find someone who can laugh with you when you're crying. And honestly? Sometimes just the *effort* of trying to connect with someone genuinely, even if it fails spectacularly, is worth more than a life lived in a gilded cage of solitude.
How do I deal with negativity? People are the *worst*.
Ugh, tell me about it. People. The noise. The opinions. The constant barrage of… *everything*. Look, you can't control other people's negativity, but you CAN control how much of it you let in. This is a skill, like any other. Practice it. Set boundaries. Say "no." Walk away. Build a fortress of inner peace. Even when that fortress is just a comfy couch and a good book. Or, as I had to do last week when my Aunt Mildred decided to tell me, in agonizing detail, what I was doing wrong with my life? I excused myself, went to the bathroom, and sang "Bohemian Rhapsody" at the top of my lungs. It worked. You gotta do what you gotta do.
Is it okay to be happy sometimes? Like, actually, truly happy?
Oh, PLEASE. YES. For the love of all that is holy and glittery, YES! Embrace the joy when it comes. Don't question it. Don't worry about the other shoe dropping. Just revel in it. Dance in the rain. Eat the cake. Tell the person you love how you feel. Be silly. Be spontaneous. Be happy. You deserve every single moment of it. Because it's often fleeting. Savor that feeling!
