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The Best Cheap Hotels in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Dont break the bank on a trip to Fort Lauderdale with a stay at a budget-friendly beachfront hotel
Don't break the bank on a trip to Fort Lauderdale with a stay at a budget-friendly beachfront hotel | Courtesy of Fortuna Hotel / Expedia

On the Atlantic coast north of Miami, the sandy beaches of Fort Lauderdale attract thousands of visitors to the Sunshine State each year. Despite the area’s popularity, it’s still possible to find affordable accommodation in this part of Florida, with a plethora of varied inns, motels and hotels. Read our guide to the best cheap hotel options for when you’re staying in Fort Lauderdale – bookable on Culture Trip.

Ocean Beach Palace Hotel and Suites

Hotel, Chain Hotel

Outdoor pool area at Ocean Beach Palace Hotel and Suites with orange deckchairs and palm trees
Courtesy of Ocean Beach Palace Hotel and Suites / Expedia

This simple, motel-style property stands in the city’s Galt Mile neighborhood a block back – and a five-minute walk – from Lauderdale’s vast sandy beach. Functional rather than palatial, the decor might seem rather dated but it’s neat and well-maintained. Some rooms have hot tubs and kitchenettes, and the central garden-courtyard has a heated pool with loungers. If the tiki bar’s not operating, the sister property’s bar and restaurant lie a short walk away.

Fortuna Hotel

Hotel, Chain Hotel

Twin room at Fortuna Hotel features vibrant yellow and blue furnishings and quirky art
Courtesy of Fortuna Hotel / Expedia

Billed as a boutique hotel, the Fortuna has remodeled its old-school motel look in favor of a fun, almost 1950s, vibe with bold colors and monochrome palettes. Two pools plus several room and apartment options cater to a broad clientele, and Lauderdale’s golden sands are barely a skip away. Las Olas, a particularly popular retail and al fresco dining area with a notably lively beach scene, is just south of the hotel.

Casitas Coral Ridge

Hotel

A wooden bridge walkway through Casitas Coral Ridge with palm trees and blue glass pebbles
Courtesy of Casitas Coral Ridge / Expedia

In a quiet neighborhood several blocks west of the ocean, Casitas offers neat, compact rooms and suites framed by lush lawns and shrubbery. There’s a heated pool in a separate annex, a nearby cafe that offers discounts to guests and the large mall down the road likely covers most bases. Numerous restaurants line the main boulevard a block to the south.

Hollywood Beachside Boutique Studios

Boutique Hotel

Outdoor pool area at Hollywood Beachside Boutique Studios with white sun loungers and palm trees
Courtesy of Hollywood Beachside Boutique Studios / Expedia

Lying midway towards downtown Miami, Hollywood is one of Fort Lauderdale’s best-known neighborhoods. Its ocean-side aspect backed by the expanse of North and South Lakes lends a particular appeal. Beachside’s accommodation is arranged across several motel-like buildings with hints of Art Deco – rooms and studios are practical and uncluttered. The famed beach-front Hollywood Boardwalk – with seemingly endless bars, grills and cafés – is a stone’s throw away while the nearby Anne Kolb Nature Centre beside West Lake offers walking and trails amidst the mangroves.

Tranquilo Fort Lauderdale

Resort, Hotel

Plain double bedroom Tranquilo Hotel with view of palm trees and nearby buildings
Courtesy of Tranquilo Hotel / Expedia

Backed by the mangrove-lined gardens of historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, Tranquilo boasts an enviable location in a quiet neighborhood two blocks from the ocean. There’s a wide range of rooms and suites with kitchenettes in its various adjoining buildings, plus several small heated pools. It feels like a slightly upscale motel and the surroundings’ open aspect virtually guarantees sunny courtyards and terraces for most of the day.

Breakaway Inn

Hotel

Red and white exterior of the Breakaway Inn with palm trees and gated pool area
Courtesy of Breakaway Inn / Expedia

Bastion of a low-rise Old Florida vibe, Lauderdale-on-Sea is now a northern suburb of the city – yet retains a semblance of its own town-like character. Just a few minutes’ walk from the pier and small umbrella-decked square, Breakaway Inn is a family-run property on a quiet residential street with studios and apartments, all of which have kitchens. Russet roof tiles and whitewashed balustrades framed by neat gardens lend a slightly old-school Florida air.

If you decide you’d rather treat yourself and splash some cash, check out our guide to the best luxury hotels in Fort Lauderdale – and book your stay on Culture Trip.

About the author

Freelance travel writer, copywriter, copyeditor and photographer. I've contributed features to most of the UK broadhseet newspapers and quality travel magazines. I'm also a contributing photographer to AWL Images, a specialist travel picture library.

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