Book the W Fort Lauderdale starting at $227 per night
If you were priced out of Miami, know that W Fort Lauderdale is a lot like staying on South Beach. The lobby bar, Living Room, is a hot spot for both hotel guests and locals, and there's an all-glass rooftop WET pool that's a whole party in itself.
The hotel has a lot of vibrant energy, from its electric pink, blue, orange and green decor to its large Wonderful, Spectacular, Fabulous, Cool, Marvelous, Wow or even Extreme Wow rooms and suites (those are the actual room categories). Wake up and walk straight to the beach or take advantage of the AWAY spa. Whether you get steak at Steak 954, Mexican food at El Vez, or cocktails at Living Room, you'll enjoy panoramic, floor-to-ceiling views of the ocean just steps away.
As mentioned, the pool is the main social event here with 360-degree views of Fort Lauderdale and Fort Lauderdale Beach, and covered in daybeds available by reservation only. They fill up quickly, so make a reservation early to make sure you don't miss out.
Because of its party vibe, this hotel attracts a lot of groups of young friends, bachelorette or bachelor parties, young couples, and solo travelers. It's a fun, stylish, trendy hotel but it's not a place for a quiet beach retreat or serene, romantic getaway.
Trip Advisor Ranking: 47 out of 134 hotels in Fort Lauderdale
Booking.com Rating: 8.0 out of 10
Pros: Rooms come with fun perks like plush robes and a Bluetooth speaker system, and all have floor-to-ceiling windows with city or Atlantic Ocean views. At the pool, large daybeds are only $150 (which is cheap for a trendy beach hotel like this) and include four premium water bottles, a bowl of fruit, and a bottle of Prosecco.
Cons: Some rooms have smaller balconies, so if you plan to use one constantly, make sure you spring for a room with a bigger balcony.