Hotel Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale Plantation (Plantation, USA)

Though the hotel's exterior and hallways are not particularly inspiring, the guest rooms have been fully renovated, and recent guests rave about the fresh, modern look, as well as the practical layout with its large seating area and well equipped kitchen. Families of five have plenty of privacy and space in the two-bedroom suites, which offer multiple televisions and two bathrooms.

The front desk staff receive many positive reviews for their professional, friendly, and helpful customer service. The hot breakfast buffet is widely described as sufficiently varied for all tastes, and guests also love the fresh popcorn in the lobby, a fun and hospitable touch.

Though some guests have trouble spotting it from the street at night due to poor signage, the hotel is actually about five minutes from the I-595, offering easy access to the airport, Miami, and West Palm Beach. Travelers say it takes about 15 minutes to get to the Sawgrass Mills Outlet and 30 minutes to the Dania/Hollywood Beach. The Broward Mall is within a short walk.

Guests in rooms facing the interior courtyard with the pool have been disturbed late into the evening by the sounds of their fellow travelers swimming or enjoying the bbq area.

Though many recent travelers have reported very clean rooms and friendly housekeeping personnel, a smaller number have reported the opposite. Several have reported a "musty" odor in the hallways, possibly due to the overall age of the building.

Though convenient to the highway, some guests have safety concerns about the hotel's surrounding neighborhood, often noting the shuttered restaurant out front and a few "unpleasant" fellow travelers hanging around the common areas.