The Best Hotels With Suites to Book in Fort Lauderdale

Boat and beach lovers throng to this resort on Lago Mar Beach, which also backs up onto a network of Fort Lauderdale’s marinas. It’s tucked away from other shoreline resorts, hidden in the Harbor Beach neighborhood, and 500ft (150m) of the beachfront is private, so tanning time equals quality time. Suites – all 200-plus – are a mix of Mediterranean and Key West in their decor, pairing custom wood-and-rattan headboards with carved pineapple-topped chairs and kitchens loaded with microwave ovens, sub-zero fridges and freezers, as well as double-burner stovetops.

If you’re looking for the cozy urban feel of a boutique hotel with the bonus of being right on the beach, look no further. Sun Tower is a six-floor spot with only 23 rooms (all with beachfront balconies), making your stay feel totally tailored. Rooms follow the pleasant, standard hotel format, but the Sun Tower really stands out for its palm-shaded freeform pool and seafood and burgers at the restaurant on the second-story sun deck. What’s more, amenities include kayaks and paddleboards to take out on the ocean.

Couples and singles fit right in at this tiny white-and-turquoise motel-style villa, steps away from Hollywood Beach, about 10mi (16mi) south of Fort Lauderdale in the adjacent city of Hollywood. Rooms are no-nonsense by design, but maximize space with features including convertible daybeds and wall-stretching kitchenettes with microwaves, full fridges and double-burner stovetops. You’ll definitely want to step out to try the nearby restaurants, for mouthwatering bites – go for Turkish classics at Istanbul Restaurant or Peruvian at family-owned El Tayta on the Beach.

If you’re flying out early or in town to board a cruise ship, keep this Residence Inn off the I-95 in mind. You’ll have your choice of a studio, one-bed or two-bed suite, complete with a flatscreen TV, full kitchen and tranquil views of the outdoor saltwater pool. It’s tailor-made for ease and comfort – pick up a grab-and-go breakfast before heading out on your trip, or drive 15 minutes to the shore and Dania Beach Marina, so the children can watch the huge, elegant yachts glide, swan-like, in and out of the port.

In the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s Central Beach neighborhood, the Atlantic Hotel & Spa is all surf and sun, all day long. The boutique hotel has 124 suites, all with ocean-view balconies, all spacious and traditionally chic, with black marble floors and dark carpets, soaking tubs and full-size kitchens or kitchenettes – expect mini-fridges and coffeemakers serving up Italian brews. The hotel spa is a standout, performing pulse-slowing treatments. Try a signature massage, tailored facial and/or anti-aging mask.

The Conrad is a swanky Hilton property in Central Beach facing the shoreline, with beach access and 290 splashy suites tailor-made for rest and recuperation. They are decked out in sleek, modern furniture in soothing creams and browns, with kitchens or kitchenettes, Nespresso machines and sanctuary-like bathrooms with white-and-gray marble and soaking tubs. Additional amenities like beach chairs, umbrellas, morning yoga classes and complimentary bike loans make the Conrad a hotspot in the area.

Head up the coast for this favorite, which has a trump card in its 500ft (150m) private beach. Suites are beachy without being over-the-top, and elegant touches include storm shutters along the sliding balcony doors, woven rugs, ottomans and palm-print pillows. Take a daily dip or two in the zero-entry pool, have a float along the lazy river or grab a chair and umbrella for an afternoon sitting in the shade on the private beach. When your internal dinner gong strikes, visit OCEAN2000: it does a fine bone-in ribeye served with lobster butter, black-truffle mashed potatoes and roasted bone marrow.

May-Dee Suites is a low-slung, two-story spot in Hollywood right off Hollywood Boulevard, just a short drive from the beach. It exudes all the charm of an old-school motel while delivering the benefits of a top-of-the-line renovation – in essence, it’s perfect for extended stays. In fact, you probably won’t ever want to leave, what with the outdoor pool and patio, the suites equipped with kitchenettes or full kitchens and attractive decor, with cool blue walls as well as TVs in the living room and bedroom.