Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The sun. The surf. The soft, sandy beach-all just steps away from the laid-back sophistication of Sonesta Fort Lauderdale hotel. With sweeping beachside views, unforgettable service and winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence-it's clear why we're a preferred destination for Fort Lauderdale hotels. Find stylish, newly renovated accommodations and a haven of relaxation and warmth the moment you arrive. Walk along miles of warm, white sands. Lounge on the sundeck by our newly renovated outdoor pool. Bask in the ocean breeze and dine on delicious cuisine at Steelpan, a Caribbean-American fusion kitchen and bar, serving up a menu influenced by the multicultural island flavors of South Florida. Step outside for shopping, entertainment, food, and art all within reach. Celebrate a wedding or hold a meeting in our new 10,000 square feet of elegant event space with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
The Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach hotel is lauded for its fusion of contemporary chic and warm nostalgia, offering stunning ocean vistas and lively musical entertainment that contribute to its inviting atmosphere. Despite some reports of fluctuating room temperatures and sporadic noise, guests typically enjoy the comfortable rooms with their impressive views. While the beachfront location is a hit among travelers for its access to sun, sand, and local dining, additional costs for amenities and parking have led to perceptions of the hotel being somewhat pricey.
The cleanliness of the hotel generally receives high marks, although a few guests have encountered variations in housekeeping quality. Service at the Sonesta is often described as both friendly and efficient, though not without the occasional lapse. Amenities such as the proximity to the beach are popular, yet guests are less enthusiastic about the extra charges for items like beach umbrellas.
Location
Beachfront
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Limited
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveller reviews and learn more about how the site works.
Lovely hotel located at far end of beach boulevard from cruise port. Our room was clean and tidy and room overlooked the beach . Reception staff were helpful. Special mention to Evelyn who made us feel very welcome. Nice bar/restaurant area looking onto the beach. The pool was located at the back of the property and was a good size with access to the pool bar. Its location doesn’t mean you are short of places to eat and within a short walk is Nanos bakery for breakfast items or snacks. We walked to Archibald’s bakery and had some lovely breakfast rolls and coffee. I wouldn’t recommend the Pittsburg pizza place around the corner, it’s not great although is open 24/7. The resort fee is a bit of a stinger, as we arrived at 9pm and stayed 2 nights and were charged $92 resort fee for use of pool/gym/wifi/beach chairs . Seems harsh when we were only there for 1 full day and couldn’t have used any facilities on the night we arrived or morning we departed. We were told on arrival it was $46 for both nights as I checked this with reception staff but we were charged this for each night.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Arron TEAGUE, Guest Services / Front Office at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Responded 23 Mar 2024
Sheila, Thank you for your review. At Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach, we work hard to offer high- quality service to every guest. We made sure to share this feedback with Evelyn to give her the recognition that she deserves. Evelyn was delighted to hear your feedback
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed at this hotel for 5 days before Easter. We had a room with 2 doubles for myself, my husband and my son, but the beds are the smallest I've ever had in the States, neither myself nor my husband are large adults but any movement meant you woke each other up during the night. The bathroom was very basic and small and the wardrobe doors didn't open and close properly. The air conditioning was also a bit erratic, but overall a quiet hotel in a great location right on the beach with shops, the mall and bars and restaurants all within a few minutes walk. Breakfast was good, we never ate lunch/dinner here as we prefer to eat out. The bar area was nice and there's also a small swimming pool out back with limited number of sunbeds. The hotel charge a staggering $51 a night to park your car, and all sorts of hidden taxes as always with the States adds $100's to your bill at checkout so beware. Also you are provided with 2 sunbeds per room for the beach across the road (helpful if there's 3 of you that have paid to be in the room !!) , but beware if you want extra beds/umbrellas, the beach guy charged a different amount every day, some sort of scam we guessed. A great location and a 3* at best for the bedrooms although communal areas of a higher rating, staff were helpful and courteous. Other places to stay that are nicer in the area.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Arron TEAGUE, Guest Services / Front Office at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Responded 16 Apr 2024
Thank you for taking a moment to share your experience at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach. Our team is so glad to hear that you enjoyed staff and the location . We hope to see you again in the near future.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
A great memory that will last. The Sonesta is situated right across from the beach and if you're in a suite, you get sweeping, spectacular 160 views of the water and the beautiful palms. The front desk staff SHENOYA and JET, were exceptional. They deserve a raise! They were naturally welcoming, gave wonderful recommendations for excursions and restaurants. And as a visitor in an unfamiliar part of town, I felt safe following their recommendations - which were spot on. I had an issue with my room upon arrival, and it was taken care of so wonderfully and gracefully by Shenoya that it was as if it never happened. Thank you from Cherry. Beautiful staff, lovely hotel, lovely views, good breakfast on site. Valet parking was a little pricy, but the cost is worth the safety and not having to worry about the car. Thank you Sonesta. My husband and I were grateful to have spent his birthday there.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Arron Teague, Guest Services / Front Office at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Responded 24 Dec 2024
Thank you for sharing a review of your recent experience. Our team here at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach are committed to providing high- quality customer service and we're thrilled to hear that we made a good impression on you. We hope you'll visit us again soon.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Well… how do I start? 1.- this hotel is pet friendly, I’m not against it, but I will love that that was included in the description. 2.- when you open the door of your room is like entering the aisle of Clorox, lit is unbreathable. Ps: the room doesn’t include windows that can be opened. 3.- well if you think that it has a great location, you are right is in front of the beach, but also is in a terrible neighborhood lit you can go outside torn left and you have a tarot reader and as well a main avenue. Ps: if you come with a sooo workaholic person this hotel has a great solution, you could finish the construction of the parking lot. 4.- if your thing is not the ocean or beach you can go to the pool of this hotel, but keep in mind that the size of the pool is almost a bird bath. At least the showers of the pool are private and good in general. Ps: If u r frying in ur room at night because of the hot air, u can go and seat at the corner of the pool and have some fresh air. 5.-you have included a 2 beach chair and 2 towels per room, but if you want one with a beach umbrella you must break your pig and take the money because you will need it. Ps: this chair is available until 16:30, so you better wake up with the rooster.
ROOM 1.-my family and I started in a room on the 12 floor, good news you don’t need and alarmed. The hotel or the persons that are on floor PH will start to move things or make noises. 2.- if you don’t like to be next to or light by fake sun, don’t worry, most of the lamps in the room are not working. 3.- if you like extreme weather temperatures this is your hotel, the air conditioning is just unreasonable. You could be in the Antarctic and in a few minutes be in a tropical jungle. 4.- if when you were little like playing with Polly Pocket o Barbie house, this bathroom is your dream come true. First, you have a half-tinted window that is directly to the bed so you can see the shadows and smell them very well. And if you want to do hard work you could repair the bathroom door, because it sounds lit if you have entered to the 3th movie of the exorcist, and the lock of the door has the same trust as you can have with Judas.
RESTAURANT 1.- the breakfast is understandable as tropical weather food, someday there will be a buffet and other are with a menu, so test your luck. 2.- if you are a pepper lover you will be in your sauce.
POSITIVE 1-. The receptionists are so sweet, helpful, and nice, with any problem you have they will give you a solution. I have to recognize and highlight Margo, she is the type of receptionist that you have dreamed of having. 2.- the view of this hotel is so stunning that you feel like you are in paradise. 3.- the housekeeper does an excellent service, nothing to complain about. 4.- the welcoming of the staff is just a feeling I can’t explain, some members of my family don’t speak English, the employees have so amazing attitude with them, trying to explain in Spanish even if they don’t know or are trying to understand, that really makes the difference for the reason that they make them feel included, listen and that your opinion or needs matter.
In the end, our stay including all the negative aspects was great and we had a lovely and wonderful vacation. Ps: Mostly because of the beach, not the hotel.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Read the tips of my review
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Arron Teague, Guest Services / Front Office at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you for taking a moment to share your experience at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach. Our team is glad to hear you had a wonderful vacation.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I stayed here for four nights and had a generally good experience, but there are a few areas that could use improvement, especially considering it’s advertised as a four-star hotel. The location is excellent, about a 20-minute drive from the airport and very close to the beach, which was a big plus. However, there aren’t many highly rated dining options nearby, so be prepared to explore a bit if you’re looking for good food.
The resort fee was a bit steep and didn’t cover extras like beach umbrellas. You get two chairs per room, but if you need more or want an umbrella, it’s an additional $20 per chair and $30 for the umbrella. A staff member comes around asking for your room number and last name to confirm you’re a guest. I’d recommend buying your own if you have more than two people.
One thing to note is that you’ll need your room key to access most areas of the hotel, so make sure to have it on you at all times.
My biggest complaint was the cleanliness of the room. For a four-star hotel, I expected a higher standard. There were several areas that weren’t properly cleaned, such as men’s hair on the sink, water stains, dirty buildup in the corners, and a bottle cap left by a previous guest. Also, since this is a beach hotel, there was nowhere to hang wet swimsuits in the room. It would be helpful if they installed a clothesline in the shower.
While the hotel did hold my luggage before check-in, the room wasn’t ready until exactly 4 PM, so don’t expect early check-in.
The “ocean view” room was more of a valet parking view with only a partial ocean view, so keep that in mind if you’re expecting an expansive view of the water.
The beach is close and convenient, though traffic lights nearby is slow. Overall, I had a good time, but for the price, the hotel could definitely improve in the cleaning. These aspects are key for a four-star experience which it lacks.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Arron Teague, Guest Services / Front Office at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Responded 4 days ago
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear about your recent experience. This does not reflect the standard of service that our customers deserve. We hold ourselves to the highest standards . Please give us another chance to prove ourselves in the near future.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We arrived for our 1 night stay at 1:30pm and asked if our room was ready could we go in early. We were told that there is a $ 15 charge to check in early even though the room was ready. We were told that there is a $10 charge if you want to check out late which was not our plan. We then found out that there is a charge to park. The use of the “free laundry is $3 per load. Dogs are welcome for an additional $75. Housekeeping is provided once every 7 days. The trash can was completely full under the sink. Ridiculous.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Â Be prepared for extra charges
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Arron TEAGUE, Guest Services / Front Office at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Responded 13 Apr 2024
Thank you for taking the time to provide valuable feedback about our product and services. We apologize that your experience was less than ideal, and we hope you give us another chance to prove ourselves.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
First the good! The location is a 9.5 out of 10. Close to the beach, and shopping and restaurants within 100 feet of the hotel. The building is old, but very well cared for, ample staffing, Rooms were spacious and clean with sufficient outlets near the desk in ths room and the bed. The bathrooms have been updated with large walk in shower with adequate water pressure and temperature. Free beach towels and lounge chairs were available The, and the pool area is great.The only negative was no hair dryer, and the bellhop constantly reminding us that he works for tips. (This was after I gave him what I thought was pretty generous tip.) All he did was take our luggage from our rental. We took it to our room ourselves. The hidden charges is definately what drove the lower rating. I booked this through a third party. They noted a resort fee of $43.00, which was actually higher. There was no mention of paid parking ($50.00 valet) nor did the desk mention a $50.00 early check in fee. In all, I ended up paying $163.00 in extra charges in knew little or nothing about. I understand this is fort lauderdale, just be up front and honest about the charges.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Ask ahead for total charges when comparing with other like hotels
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Shenoya Thomas, Guest Services / Front Office at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Responded 29 Feb 2024
Hello Valued Guest, Thank you for taking the time to leave us your valuable feedback. We take pride in providing the utmost hospitality to our guest, so we appreciate you sharing your concerns. We apologize to hear about your experience with our team. We hold ourselves to the highest standards and have addressed this issue. We always strive for transparency with our extra fees and we make sure the guests know about it while making their reservation. We list any additional fees on our website as well as all third party websites that we partner with. We appreciate you sharing your concerns, and we look forward to ensuring we can exceed your expectations in the future. Best regards, Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had two nights at this hotel before we went on a cruise. The first room we were shown to.(201) had an extremely loud air-conditioning unit. It also looked immediately over a taco restaurant on one side and just industrial roofs on the other we asked if we could have another room and to be fair the staff were helpful and we were given a different, better room. But it was a lot to deal with after a ten hour flight. When we went down to breakfast the next morning, there was no buffet only à la carte with one waiter and a party of 34 plus a number of other couples. We got down at 7 by 7.15 a number of us had still not been allocated a table. We went to reception but their response was that it wasn’t their problem. It was the restaurant problem and to just sit down and the food and beverage manager would be down soon. I asked if we could have a credit for our breakfast and we would go elsewhere to help them out, but I was told to just go and sit down. The food and beverage manager did arrive and by 730 we had a coffee but we didn’t get any food till gone 8 o clock.
On the second day there was a breakfast buffet but we were initially told that it was for a party of guests Then we were told we could have that. But then we were presented with a bill for over $70. when I went to reception, they said yes you have to pay the bill and we will then deduct it from your room bill but no one had explained that this was the process and we hadn’t had to sign the day before. It feels like the different parts of the hotel aren’t communicating with each other.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: I’d probably try a different hotel. It’s a lot of money for what is on offer
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Arron Teague, Guest Services / Front Office at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Responded 4 weeks ago
Hi Sarah, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're deeply disappointed to hear about the challenges you experienced during your time with us. We hold our team to the highest standards and regret that we didn't meet those expectation. We hope you will give us another opportunity to prove ourselves in the future.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The location is perfect, the beach is right across the street, where the beach chairs are set up for you, you do have a charge for the umbrella. Rafael, the gentleman who sets up everything, is on top of it. There is a pizza place, Primanti Brothers, which is right there as well. Hungry on the beach go there. There are a couple great places right there to eat as well We did not eat at the hotel, but the restaurant looked clean. Julien checked us in, very sweet and helpful. We did have one problem, housekeeping did not restock our room. Also they did not empty the refrigerator, but quickly rectified everything. Did not want to take off a star because of it. Perfect place to go, no need for a car. We used Uber for our rides. DO NOT use yellow cab like we were told when I called to ask about transportation. Uber was great way of getting to your places.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â The mattresses are hard, not that great.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Arron TEAGUE, Guest Services / Front Office at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Responded 3 May 2024
Thank you for taking a moment to share your experience at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach. We are so pleased to hear you found our product and services to your liking. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
One of the worst experiences I've ever had in a hotel. Nothing but scams! They describe items to be complementary but they are not. They charged me $46 plus tax per night for a "tourist development fee". When questioning the hidden fee they said it was for "wifi, water, pool, and beach chairs" all described as complimentary. For an umbrella, you need to pay $30. My reservation included breakfast, and when I checked out, they charged me because the complimentary breakfast only covered $35 pp. The breakfast employees mistreated me because I didn't want to leave them a tip, which seems exaggerated if everything is included in the price. The employees treat you with discrepancies—nothing like the Marriot or the Hilton, where you feel welcome and are treated well. The communication between the staff is terrible. One says something, and the next day another says something else. You have to check everything because if you don't, they will charge you. I needed to ask for my balance daily to check if they set me with something. The hotel is not exclusive... Many people come in to use the pool and towels without being hotel guests. The front desk does not care about that. Room service is after 3:00 p.m. Not early. If you returned from the pool or beach in the afternoon, your room would not be clean. There is nowhere to park at all. So when you arrive there's only valet. Again, not described or warned about, the charge for having your car valeted (again the ONLY way of parking your vehicle) is $51 plus tax per night! I write articles about my hotel exper iences, and I have never had an experience like this. I feel ripoff.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Shenoya Thomas, Guest Services / Front Office at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Responded 6 Aug 2023
Hello Daniela, Thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback. We deeply regret to hear that you were dissatisfied with your stay with us at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach. Upon reviewing your reservation, I do see that you booked through Booking.com. Booking.com provides all of the breakdown of your stay before you decide to book your reservation. Once you reserved your reservation, Booking.com sends an email with all the hotel information, policies and fees. Our Valet fee, daily fee, daily incidental hold fee is all listed on this email. Just to warn you for the next time you visit Fort Lauderdale Beach, every hotel on the beach has a daily resort fee and nightly valet fee. Once again thank you for your feedback. Best regards, Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Fort Lauderdale area.
PRICE RANGE
HK$1,834 - HK$3,086 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
b ocean fort lauderdale hotel fort lauderdale
LOCATION
United StatesFloridaBroward CountyFort LauderdaleCentral Beach
NUMBER OF ROOMS
240
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
