Resort Report: Margaritaville Hollywood Beach

For my husband's birthday, I wanted to plan a little getaway for some much needed R&R, somewhere warm and sunny with a beach and nice pools to lounge by and sip fruity drinks.  After scoring some cheap flights to Fort Lauderdale, I settled on Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, and we were not disappointed!



This 369-room property is situated on the legendary Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, with gorgeous ocean views of the Atlantic on one side, and spectacular sunset views of the Intracoastal on the other.  The vibe is casual-coastal inspired, well-themed and what you would expect from the Margaritaville brand without being over the top.  We arrived very early, before 11am, and were able to store our bags and explore the resort until our room was ready.  The lobby is gorgeous, with plenty of seating areas, a coffee shop and gift shop.





We headed across the street for some lunch at Le Tub, a popular waterfront hangout offering world-famous burgers.  As we were walking back, we were alerted that our room was ready, so we headed up to get settled in.   

We opted for a Sunset Intracoastal King, and were thrilled to get a room (#1529) with an extra large balcony (most intracoastal rooms have a Juliet balcony).  The room was spacious and very clean, with a bright, tropical décor, and was equipped with mini-fridge, coffee maker and bathrobes.  Oceanview rooms and suites are also available.
 




Views of the intracoastal were spectacular from the 15th floor.  We enjoyed sipping our coffee in the mornings, watching the yachts sail out of the harbor, and the sunsets and nighttime city views of the Miami skyline were breathtaking.


After unpacking, we checked out the pool options.  The beach level has two island-inspired, lushly landscaped pools - a family-friendly pool featuring waterslides, FlowRider, and LandShark Bar and Grill, and a more laid-back pool featuring the Lone Palm Beach Bar.  Both pools offer plenty of lounge chairs and private, full-service cabanas.  On the 11th floor is the rooftop, adults-only pool and License to Chill Bar with sweeping ocean views (this was our favorite hangout!).  Guests of the hotel also receive complimentary beach service.  





If you are craving a bit more activity, you can rent paddleboards and kayaks, or sign up for a guided tour directly across the street at the Five o'Clock Somewhere Bar and Grill, a waterfront dining spot with live entertainment nightly.  We enjoyed a peaceful morning kayak paddle through the mangroves.  The resort also offers free bicycles to cruise along the 5 mile broadwalk.   Fitness center, group classes and spa services at the St. Somewhere Spa are also available.

There are several dining options on the property, as well as numerous restaurants and shopping along the Broadwalk.  We enjoyed the resort's classic Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Restaurant, and on our last night, we treated ourselves to JWB's Prime Steak and Seafood.  Locally we lunched at The Taco Joint, Broadwalk Restaurant, and Florio's of Little Italy.



If you are in search of a tropical beach getaway for couples, singles, families and Parrotheads, Margaritaville Hollywood Beach definitely fits the bill!   It had the feel of a Caribbean resort without leaving the US.  The resort is 6 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.  There was plenty to eat, see and do (or do nothing) all within walking distance so a car rental isn't necessary.  The service was outstanding, from the concierge to the bartenders to the beach staff.  We are already planning another visit!





 


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